Gulf's decades-long strategy of sporting investment rocked by Mideast warThe Spanish Supercopa, hosted by Saudi Arabia in January, is just one of dozens of major sporting events now held in the Gulf. The Gulf countries have invested vast sums of money in bringing global sporting events to their shores as they try to diversify their hydrocarbon-dependant economies and improve their images abroad. Since the start of war in February, dozens of events due to be held in the Gulf have been cancelled or postponed. Qatar hosted the World Cup in 2022, one of the sporting world's crown jewels and a climactic moment for the country's strategy. But if there is chaos, or a more hardline Iranian government, organising major events in the Gulf would be "extremely difficult".

Source: Bangkok Post March 20, 2026 21:51 UTC