How sporting events are being impacted by Middle East conflict

BBC Sport takes a look at how the ongoing conflict in the Middle East has affected sporting events in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain and the wider area. The Qatar Grand Prix is scheduled to be held at the Lusail International Circuit between 27and 29 November. The 2027 Asian Cup is just the latest event to be postponed in the Middle East amid concerns about missile attacks by Yemen's Houthi movement. The 24-team tournament – Asia's version of the Euros – was scheduled to take place in Saudi Arabia from 7 January to 5 February next year. The Asian Cup has now been delayed by almost a year, and will be held between 23 December, 2027 and 21 January, 2028.

Sport in the region had already been heavily affected by the US-Iran conflict, which led to the cancellation of the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Formula 1 Grand Prix weekends in April this year. Now the races in Qatar and Abu Dhabi at the end of the year are also in doubt due to that ongoing situation and the current conflict involving the Houthis. If they are cancelled, F1 would have lost four of its 24 events this year. It is not just football and F1 that have been forced to cancel, reschedule or move high-profile events, and many more remain under