AFC postpones Champions League matches amid escalating Middle East tensions

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.