LIONEL Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lewis Hamilton are among the sports stars whose schedules are in doubt because of the spreading war in the Middle East.
Cancellations and travel shutdowns are already affecting events since the United States and Israel launched a wave of strikes on Iran on Saturday. Organizers of Formula 1 and major soccer games will face decisions soon on whether the competitions can go ahead as scheduled.
Middle Eastern nations have become crucial to the world sports landscape over the last decade as event hosts, financial backers and employers for some of the world’s top athletes.
Key upcoming events
The clock is ticking for a decision on whether to cancel or move the Finalissima soccer game on March 27 in Qatar between Spain and Argentina, the champions of Europe and South America. That match would offer Messi a chance to win yet another trophy in a glittering career.
Qatar suspended all soccer games until further notice on Sunday. Argentina was also scheduled to play Qatar in a friendly on March 31.
“UEFA is monitoring and carefully assessing all developments of the situation in cooperation with [South American soccer body] CONMEBOL and the [local organizing committee],” UEFA told the Associated Press on Monday.
Ronaldo’s soccer team, Saudi club Al-Nassr, has already been affected by a wave of cancellations of Asian Champions League games. The Saudi Pro League, which includes Ballon d’Or winners Ronaldo and Karim Benzema, was continuing to play.
F1 has races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia next month. F1 and its teams typically start to fly in staff and freight weeks in advance, limiting the time to make a decision on whether to go ahead. Governing body the FIA says its priority is “safety and well-being.” F1 reportedly chartered flights to move hundreds of affected staff to Melbourne this week for the season-opening Australian Grand Prix.
The FIA on Tuesday postponed the season-opener for its main sports car competition, the World Endurance Championship, which had been set for March 28 in Qatar until “later in the year.”
The men’s and women’s tennis tours and golf’s European tour have just finished their Middle East tournament swings and aren’t due back for months. But at a second-tier challenger in Fujairah, United Arab Emirates, play on Tuesday was suspended because of a security alert from fires caused by an intercepted drone.
The LPGA Tour is in China this week, then most of the players will head east back to North America so their travel should be unaffected.
Iran is set to play in US at World Cup
Iran is due to send its men’s soccer team to the US for the World Cup in just over three months, with a first game on June 16 against New Zealand in Inglewood, California.
There’s doubt over whether Iran can or will take part in the tournament. Iranian soccer federation president Mehdi Taj has said “we cannot be expected to look forward to the World Cup with hope.”
The US government has promised exemptions from its travel bans for athletes and coaches at events like the World Cup and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Athletes stranded
Even if some events go ahead, a major concern for athletes and teams will be how they can travel in and out of the region safely.
Former US Open champion Daniil Medvedev was among tennis players waiting in Dubai for a chance to fly out after a tournament there concluded last week.
