*This content was translated by AI.
The recent military conflict between the United States, Israel, and Iran has significantly shaken global security and the economy. The sports world is no exception. There were players who lost their lives in the bombing, and various competitions were on the verge of suspension or collapse.
There was a series of sad news of death. According to Lebanese media 'Almayadin', a gym in the southern Iranian state of Fars was attacked, killing all 20 volleyball players at the scene. In addition, the quarters of Iranian wrestling national athletes were bombed, causing casualties among athletes and officials.
With the closure of airports in Doha, Qatar, and Dubai, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in the Middle East, players who stayed there were stranded.
Lee Westwood (England), who was training in Dubai ahead of the LIV Golf Hong Kong Games, managed to participate in the tournament through urgently deployed chartered flights.
About 40 players and officials, including Daniil Medvedev (Russia), who recently participated in the men's professional tennis (ATP) Dubai Duty Free Championship in the UAE, were once isolated, but they reportedly escaped by alternating cars and aircraft over two days.
Iranian professional football has been suspended altogether. In addition, the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North Korea, China, and the U.S., which is only three months away, is expected to have an impact.
Mehdi Taj, president of the Iranian Football Association, hinted at the possibility of not participating in the World Cup, saying on his country's state-run broadcast, "It is practically difficult to expect to participate in the World Cup in a situation where the U.S. attacks have taken place."
Iran, which is in Group G along with Belgium, New Zealand and Egypt, coincidentally will play three group games in Los Angeles (LA) and Seattle. On top of that, concerns are growing over the possibility of retaliatory terrorism around the World Cup.
The 2025-2026 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League match, which was scheduled to be held in the Middle East, has been postponed indefinitely. These are games in which West Asian teams compete among the second round of the Champions League Elite (ACLE) round of 16, the second round of the Champions League (ACL2), and the second round of the Challenge League quarterfinals.
The confrontation between Spain (Eurowin) and Argentina (Copa America win), which was scheduled to be held in Doha, Qatar on the 27th (local time), has also become unclear due to the Qatar government's declaration of a complete suspension of sports activities.
Fortunately, Korean sportsmen who stayed there successfully returned home safely.
Lee Ki-je (35), who moved to Mesrafsanjan FC of the Persian Gulf League in Iran in January, was evacuated to the Korean Embassy in Tehran and returned after twists and turns. On the 4th, Lee Ki-je posted a picture of the arrival hall at Incheon International Airport on his SNS, saying, "I arrived in Korea safely. I would like to thank those who were worried," he wrote.
Lee Do-hee (58), who was at the helm of the Iranian women's national volleyball team, was reportedly playing in Isfahan, a six-hour distance from Tehran, at the time of the airstrike. He urgently evacuated to the Korean embassy in Iran and stayed in an underground bunker for two days before fortunately returning to Korea.
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*This content was translated by AI.
