# Tractor SC AFC Champions League campaign > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/tractor-sc-afc-champions-league-campaign > Updated: 2026-10-11T16:36:36.000Z. Sources: 4. Developments: 2. Tractor SC has begun its AFC Champions League Elite campaign facing significant roster and logistical challenges. The club started its season in Dubai against Shabab Al Ahli, missing three key players: goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand due to suspension, and Mehdi Torabi and Mehdi Hashemnejad due to injuries. Following an initial loss, the team played to a 0-0 draw against Qatar’s Al Shamal SC at the Sultan Qaboos Stadium in Oman. The match was held in Oman because Iranian clubs are currently prohibited from hosting matches in their home country. The squad faced an 18-hour travel itinerary due to flight restrictions and continued to play without the three previously mentioned players. Tractor SC currently holds one point from its first two matches. Following the match against Al-Shamal SC, head coach Javad Nekounam and player Danial Esmaeilifar expressed strong frustration regarding the team’s travel logistics. Nekounam criticized the lack of support from football authorities, stating that the current arrangements do not align with fair play principles. He suggested that if conditions do not improve, he would consider participating in future competitions with the club’s youth team instead. Esmaeilifar described the difficulty of the journey, noting it felt “as if we walked to Oman,” and emphasized that these external burdens limit the team’s ability to recover and train. Club supervisor Khodadad Azizi and captain Shuja' Khalilzadeh have joined these criticisms, highlighting inequality in travel arrangements. They noted that while other major Iranian clubs receive direct flights, Tractor SC must endure grueling multi-leg journeys. Khalilzadeh emphasized that physical exhaustion and lack of preparation violate fair play principles. Consequently, club leadership has called upon the Football Federation of Iran and the AFC to intervene to ensure better planning for future travels. ## Timeline ### 2026-10-11: Tractor SC officials protest grueling travel conditions for AFC match Tractor SC leadership and coach Javad Nekounam have criticized grueling 18-hour travel conditions for their AFC Champions League match, calling for AFC intervention to ensure fair play and better logistics. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/tractor-sc-staff-protest-difficult-travel-conditions-in-asia ### 2026-09-12: Tractor SC travels to Dubai for AFC Champions League opener Tractor SC travels to Dubai for their AFC Champions League opener against Shabab Al Ahli without stars Alireza Beiranvand, Mehdi Torabi, and Mehdi Hashemnejad. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/tractor-sc-travels-to-dubai-for-afc-champions-league-opener --- Cite as: Tractor SC AFC Champions League campaign. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/tractor-sc-afc-champions-league-campaign