Celtic’s Champions League group stage draw lineup confirmed following Wednesday night’s results.

Celtic now know the full list of clubs they could face in the UEFA Champions League play-off round after Wednesday night’s second qualifying round fixtures completed the picture ahead of Monday’s draw.

The Scottish champions had already secured their place among the seeded teams for the Champions Route play-off draw, meaning they will avoid facing several of the strongest clubs remaining in qualification. However, they still face a series of potentially difficult opponents as they attempt to book a place in Europe’s premier club competition for another season.

Celtic are set to take part in the UEFA Champions League play-off round in August. (Image: PA)

With the qualifying picture now finalized, Celtic can begin preparing for what promises to be one of the most significant ties of their campaign.

Seeded Status Offers Celtic an Advantage

By earning a seeded position in the draw, Celtic have improved their chances of receiving a more favorable opponent compared to the unseeded clubs.

The Champions Route features ten teams, divided equally into seeded and unseeded pots before Monday’s draw.

Celtic are comfortably positioned among the five seeded clubs, ensuring they cannot face any of the other top-ranked teams at this stage of qualification.

While being seeded provides some protection, it certainly does not guarantee an easy path into the competition’s league phase. Every remaining opponent has earned its place through domestic success or impressive qualifying performances, meaning Celtic must still overcome quality opposition to progress.

LASK and Viking Among Confirmed Opponents

Two clubs have already secured their positions as confirmed potential opponents for Celtic.

Austrian champions LASK remain one possible challenge, while Norwegian title holders Viking have also advanced into the pool of teams Celtic could meet.

Both clubs have built strong domestic reputations and would present difficult tests over two legs.

LASK possess valuable European experience after regularly competing in UEFA competitions over recent years, while Viking continue to establish themselves as one of Scandinavia’s strongest teams.

Neither fixture would be straightforward for the Scottish champions.

Three Qualifying Winners Complete the List

Alongside LASK and Viking, Celtic could also face the winners of three ongoing third qualifying round ties.

Those pairings are yet to be decided because Monday’s draw will take place before the third qualifying round matches are completed.

The remaining possible opponents include either Danish side AGF or Azerbaijan’s Sabah.

Another potential opponent will emerge from the meeting between Kazakhstan’s Kairat Almaty and Bulgarian club Levski Sofia.

The final possible pairing features Slovenian champions NK Celje or Armenian side Ararat-Armenia.

Whichever clubs emerge victorious from those ties will join LASK and Viking in the unseeded section of the play-off draw.

Celtic’s Full List of Possible Opponents

The complete list of clubs Celtic could face includes:

• LASK of Austria.
• Viking of Norway.
• The winner of AGF against Sabah.
• The winner of Kairat Almaty against Levski Sofia.
• The winner of NK Celje against Ararat-Armenia.

Those five possibilities will form the unseeded half of the draw when UEFA conducts the ceremony on Monday.

Home Advantage Still Determined by the Draw

Although Celtic are seeded, that status does not guarantee they will play the decisive second leg at home.

UEFA’s draw procedure determines the order of fixtures by chance rather than seeding.

The first team drawn in each tie will host the opening leg, while the second leg will take place at the opponent’s stadium.

As a result, Celtic’s seeded status provides protection regarding opponents but offers no influence over where either leg will be played.

Painful Memories From Last Season

Supporters will undoubtedly remember last season’s disappointment at exactly the same stage of the competition.

Celtic came agonizingly close to reaching the Champions League proper but were eliminated by Kairat Almaty after a dramatic penalty shootout.

The tie proved especially demanding due to the enormous travel involved, with the Scottish side facing a journey of approximately 3,500 miles to Kazakhstan.

Despite battling throughout both legs, Celtic ultimately fell short in the shootout, ending their hopes of immediate qualification.

That painful experience remains fresh in the minds of players, staff, and supporters alike.

Key Dates Already Confirmed

UEFA has already confirmed the schedule for the decisive play-off round.

The first legs are scheduled to take place on August 18 and 19.

The return fixtures will then be played one week later on August 25 and 26.

Those matches will determine which clubs secure places in the expanded 36-team Champions League League Phase.

For every team involved, the ties represent one of the most financially and competitively important moments of the season.

Huge Financial Rewards Await

Qualification for the Champions League brings enormous sporting prestige, but the financial benefits are equally significant.

UEFA’s financial reports released earlier this year showed that Celtic earned approximately £40.3 million from participating in the 2024/25 Champions League campaign.

That season proved highly successful as Celtic advanced from the League Phase before eventually suffering a narrow knockout elimination against Bayern Munich.

Repeating that achievement would once again provide substantial revenue while allowing the club to compete against Europe’s elite.

Missing out, meanwhile, would represent a significant financial setback.

Europa League Safety Net Remains

Although the stakes are extremely high, elimination would not end Celtic’s European campaign.

The losers of the Champions League play-off round automatically transfer into the UEFA Europa League.

While that competition remains prestigious, it does not offer the same financial rewards or global exposure as the Champions League.

For that reason, Celtic’s priority remains securing progression into Europe’s top competition.

Martin O’Neill Highlights Importance of Recruitment

Speaking during the club’s training camp in Portugal earlier this month, manager Martin O’Neill stressed the importance of strengthening the squad before these crucial fixtures arrive.

He explained that recruitment remains a major priority, emphasizing the need to add further quality before competitive action intensifies.

According to O’Neill, the Champions League play-off arrives remarkably early in the season, leaving little time for players to settle before facing one of the biggest matches of the campaign.

The manager acknowledged that victory would secure a place in the Champions League League Phase, while defeat would instead send Celtic into the Europa League.

He also reflected on last season’s elimination, admitting the disappointment lingered within the squad for a considerable period.

Even though Celtic continued their European journey in the Europa League, O’Neill believes the missed opportunity to reach the Champions League remained difficult for everyone associated with the club.

A Defining Moment Awaits

Monday’s draw will officially reveal Celtic’s next obstacle on the road toward Champions League qualification.

Whether they are paired with LASK, Viking, or one of the successful third-round qualifiers, the Scottish champions know two high-pressure matches now stand between them and another lucrative campaign among Europe’s elite.

With significant financial rewards, sporting prestige, and the chance to compete against the continent’s biggest clubs all at stake, Celtic’s upcoming play-off tie promises to be one of the defining moments of their 2026/27 season.