What's Happening?
Celtic FC, the reigning Scottish champions, will host Kairat Almaty, the Kazakh champions, at Celtic Park in Glasgow for the first leg of their UEFA Champions League qualifier playoffs. Celtic is favored to win at home, aiming to qualify for the UCL group stages for the fourth time in five years. They have started the 2025/26 campaign strong, with recent victories against St. Mirren and Aberdeen. Kairat has surprised many by advancing through the qualifiers, defeating Olimpija Ljubljana and overcoming a deficit against KuPS, and recently winning against Slovan Bratislava on penalties. The match will be streamed on Paramount+, ViX, and Amazon Prime Video, but not available for live TV broadcast.
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Why It's Important?
This match is crucial for Celtic as they seek to maintain their dominance in European competitions and secure a spot in the lucrative Champions League group stages. Success in this qualifier would bolster their reputation and financial standing. For Kairat, advancing further in the Champions League would be a significant achievement, enhancing their international profile and providing valuable experience against top-tier European teams. The streaming availability on platforms like Paramount+ reflects the growing trend of digital sports consumption, offering fans flexible viewing options and expanding the reach of European soccer in the U.S.
