JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia (AP) — Iranian club Tractor has arrived in Saudi Arabia amid the war in the Middle East and confirmed on Monday it will play in the AFC Champions League Elite round of 16.
The West Asia playoffs were postponed in March after the United States and Israel launched a war against Iran. After the round of 16 was rescheduled and Iran's game against Shabab Al-Ahli of the United Arab Emirates moved to the Saudi city of Jeddah, questions lingered over whether Tractor — the 2025 Iranian league champion — would take part.
Iran has fired missiles into Saudi Arabia, a U.S. ally.
Tractor arrived in Jeddah on Sunday after a long journey; traveling by land from its home city of Tabriz in northwestern Iran into Turkey and then flying from Istanbul.
"Our situation going into this match is complicated, and the 90 minutes against Shabab Al-Ahli will be difficult for us,” Tractor coach Mohammad Rabiei said in a press conference on Monday, a day before the match.
The team has not played a competitive game since Feb. 28 as the Iranian league has been suspended.
“We have high ambitions to win our upcoming matches and reach the Asian final,” Rabiei added. ”Starting tomorrow everyone will see the high level we possess, despite the major challenges we have faced recently."
On Monday, Karim Benzema missed a penalty in a shootout as Saudi Arabia’s Al-Hilal lost to Qatar’s Al-Sadd 4-2 after their round-of-16 match ended 3-3 after extra time.
Sergej Milinkovic-Savic opened the scoring for Al-Hilal, a four-time champion, in the first half but Brazilian forward Claudinho equalized seven minutes later. Shortly after halftime, Salem Al-Dawsari put Al-Hilal back in front, only for Rafa Mujica to level again.
Marcos Leonardo restored the lead in the 67th minute, and three minutes later former Liverpool forward Roberto Firmino made it 3-3 to send the game into extra time and then penalties.
Elsewhere, Riyad Mahrez scored after 117 minutes to give defending champion Al-Ahli of Saudi Arabia a 1-0 win over Al-Duhail of Qatar. Earlier in extra time, England striker Ivan Toney missed a penalty for Al-Ahli.
Jeddah will stage the rest of the tournament. The quarterfinals begin on Thursday and the final is scheduled for April 25.
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
FILE - Al Ittihad's Karim Benzema celebrates at the end of the Soccer Club World Cup first round soccer match between Al Ittihad and Auckland City FC at King Abdullah Sports City stadium in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Dec. 12, 2023. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez, File)
BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Apr 14, 2026--
Tesport, a design-driven travel brand, officially launches today to elevate the travel experience through joyful, thoughtfully designed gear.
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260414901058/en/
Built for how people travel today, Tesport introduces a unified system of luggage and bags designed to move seamlessly with travelers, from departure to destination. At a time when consumers seek more spontaneity, flexibility, and energy in their lives, Tesport brings that same mindset to its products.
The launch addresses a growing market gap. Travel products often prioritize either style over function or utility over experience. Tesport bridges that divide by combining intuitive design, refined aesthetics, and practical performance. Tesport is not just a luggage company — it is a thoughtful, experience-driven travel brand that reflects the spirit of playful travelers: those happiest on the move, by plane, train, or car.
At the core of the collection is Tesport’s Ride or Fly ™ System. It is designed to be the ultimate travel companion and can adapt to how travelers move in real time. Backpacks and totes slide directly onto luggage handles. This keeps everything connected and easy to manage. Whether navigating crowded terminals or exploring a new city, Tesport products keep pace and never slow you down.
Tesport is among the first brands to offer both hard-shell luggage and soft goods with a consistent design language. This creates a cohesive system where each piece works together effortlessly.
“Tesport was born from a simple belief: travel should feel exciting, not frustrating,” said Nobuo Maeda, Co-Founder and Chief Creative & Design Officer. He is a multi-time Red Dot Design Award winner and former Head of Design at one of the world’s largest luggage brands. Maeda brings decades of experience to the company. “We focus on the invisible details that make movement easier so people can focus on the journey, not the baggage.”
“We see travel as a way to say yes to new experiences, new places, and new perspectives,” said Ella Yin, CEO and Co-Founder, a retail veteran with over 20 years of experience in global sourcing and product development.
“We want to bring joy back to the journey by removing the small frictions that weigh people down. When your gear works perfectly, every journey feels lighter and more inspiring.”
Key features make travel easier. Light luggage means easy lifting and smart interior layouts help you find things fast. A removable divider doubles as a hanging organizer, and there are also dedicated wet pockets and a custom hook for flexible access to essentials. With its debut collection, Cloud, Tesport reimagines travel gear as an enabler of better journeys, simplifying movement, eliminating unnecessary complexity, and bringing a sense of joy back to travel.
About Tesport
Tesport is a modern travel brand creating luggage and bags that combine thoughtful design with everyday functionality. Its integrated Ride or Fly™ System allows travelers to roll or carry with ease, adapting seamlessly to different travel scenarios. Tesport brings simplicity, energy, and joy back to every journey.
Experience pure travel joy with the new Tesport Cloud Collection and its Ride or Fly™ System (shown here in Pink and Apple Green). Visit www.tesporttravel.com to purchase.
