The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has announced the postponement of several major club fixtures in its West Region competitions due to the rapidly deteriorating security situation in the Middle East.

In a statement released Monday, the AFC confirmed that the AFC Champions League Elite 2025/26 Round of 16 first-leg matches in the West Region — originally scheduled for Monday, March 2, and Tuesday, March 3 — will be rescheduled.

The decision affects top clubs from countries including Saudi Arabia, Iran, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Iraq, and Uzbekistan, many of whom were preparing for high-stakes knockout ties.

The postponements also extend to the AFC Champions League Two 2025/26 and the AFC Challenge League 2025/26, where West Region quarter-final first-leg matches set to take place between March 3 and 4 have been delayed until further notice.

These competitions feature emerging and mid-tier clubs from across West and Central Asia, for whom continental progression carries significant financial and sporting importance.

The move comes amid escalating military tensions across parts of the Middle East, with airstrikes and cross-border hostilities raising concerns about travel safety, airspace closures, and the security of players and supporters.

Several countries in the region have experienced heightened alert levels, leading to logistical complications for international sporting events.

Clubs from nations directly or indirectly affected by the conflict — including teams from Iran, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates — now face uncertainty over revised travel plans, fixture congestion, and potential impacts on domestic league schedules.

However, the AFC confirmed that matches involving clubs from the East Region — including sides from Japan, South Korea, China, Thailand, Australia, and other East and Southeast Asian nations — will proceed as originally scheduled across all AFC club competitions.

“The AFC will continue to closely monitor this rapidly evolving situation and remains resolute in ensuring the safety and security of all players, teams, officials, and fans,” the governing body said in its statement.

The postponements underscore how escalating geopolitical tensions are now reverberating beyond politics and security, disrupting one of Asia’s premier sporting competitions and affecting clubs, supporters, and broadcasters across the continent.

As Afghanistan continues to grapple with a severe humanitarian crisis compounded by economic hardship and heightened military tensions in the region, the Bayat Foundation has stepped up efforts to support vulnerable families in Kabul through its annual Ramadan assistance program.

This week, the foundation distributed food packages to dozens of struggling households in Kabul’s District 18. The packages include essential staples such as rice, flour, and cooking oil — basic necessities that many families are increasingly unable to afford amid high levels of unemployment, reduced incomes, and rising living costs.

Afghanistan remains one of the world’s most fragile humanitarian settings. Years of conflict, recurring natural disasters, economic isolation, and widespread poverty have left millions dependent on aid.

According to humanitarian agencies, a significant portion of the population faces food insecurity, with many families forced to skip meals or rely on limited assistance to survive. The situation has been further strained by recent regional tensions, which have disrupted trade routes and deepened economic uncertainty.

Speaking during the distribution, Haji Mohammad Esmail, Deputy Director of the Bayat Foundation, emphasized the organization’s ongoing commitment to assisting those in need.

“Continuing our annual Ramadan assistance [campaign], we are once again distributing aid this year. Today, we are in Kabul’s 18th district, providing food packages — including flour, oil, and rice — to a number of eligible families whose list was prepared by our team. Our assistance will continue both in Kabul and other provinces.”

For many recipients, the support offers not just food, but a measure of stability during an otherwise precarious time.

“I have no breadwinner at home; I am the one providing for my family. We are seven members,” said one woman receiving assistance. “Thank you — may God help you for assisting us poor people.”

Founded by Afghan businessman and philanthropist Dr Ehsanullah Bayat, the Bayat Foundation has been active in humanitarian and development work across Afghanistan for years. In addition to its annual Ramadan food drives, the organization has supported communities affected by earthquakes, floods, and harsh winters, provided healthcare initiatives, and contributed to educational and infrastructure projects in underserved areas.

As the holy month of Ramadan continues, the foundation says distributions will expand to other districts of Kabul and additional provinces, aiming to reach as many vulnerable families as possible during a period traditionally marked by charity, solidarity, and compassion.