{
  "id": 15639034,
  "title": "Canelo, WWE Stay on Saudi Sports Calendar Despite U.S. Security Alerts",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/19/canelo-wwe-stay-on-saudi-sports-calendar-despite-u-s-security-alerts",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-19T18:02:58.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Front Office Sports",
    "slug": "front-office-sports",
    "url": "https://frontofficesports.com/article/canelo-wwe-stay-on-saudi-calendar-us-security-alerts/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Recent security alerts from the U.S. have raised concerns for citizens traveling in Saudi Arabia due to continued instability in the country stemming from the U.S.–Iran conflict. Despite these warnings, multiple major sporting events remain scheduled to take place in Saudi Arabia as part of the country's Riyadh Season 2026. The U.S. Embassy & Consulates in Saudi Arabia advised Americans to \"exercise heightened vigilance due to the complex security environment,\" noting potential flight cancellations, airspace closures and travel disruptions. The U.S. Department of State echoed these warnings a day later.\n\nThe Riyadh Season, a 10-week event kicking off on October 21, is still moving forward, including sporting competitions as well as other entertainment elements. The Six Kings Slam tennis tournament featuring Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz, originally set to begin on Riyadh Season's opening day, was postponed to December due to organizational and logistical hurdles. However, the boxing match between Canelo Álvarez and Christian Mbilli on October 31, as well as the WWE premium live event Crown Jewel on November 7, have not faced any changes.\n\nCanelo Álvarez has assured Saudi government official Turki Alalshikh that he will face Christian Mbilli in Riyadh in October, regardless of security concerns. Alalshikh remarked, \"Canelo reached out and told me he'll still fight in Riyadh this October, no matter what happens. He fears nothing.\" Alalshikh added, \"Hard times reveal true friends.\" It remains uncertain if any contractual provisions exist for rescheduling or canceling these events, but such cancellations would likely incur significant costs.\n\nFollowing Crown Jewel, WWE, which established a partnership with Saudi Arabia in 2018, is slated to host WrestleMania 43 in April 2027. Morgan Stanley estimates that WWE is receiving $150 million in site fees for WrestleMania 43. UFC, whose parent company TKO also owns WWE, is planning an event in Riyadh on December 5. WWE CEO Vince McMahon declared on Saturday that the event \"remains planned as scheduled.\" Additionally, motorsports events like the FIA Extreme H World Cup from October 29-31, Rally Saudi Arabia from November 11-14, and Formula E from December 18-19 are also set to occur in the country.",
  "summary": "The Six Kings Slam was moved to December.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}