Two domestic champions, zero prior history, and one spot in the Champions League league phase on the line. Celtic Park plays host to LASK Linz on August 19, 2026, in a play-off first leg that represents the final hurdle before Europe’s most lucrative club competition.
Kick-off is set for 8pm BST in Glasgow, with the return leg scheduled for August 25 in Linz. The winner across two legs earns a place in the 2026/27 Champions League league phase.
A fresh rivalry with familiar stakes
This is the first competitive meeting between Celtic FC and LASK Linz in any UEFA competition.
Both sides arrive with domestic silverware freshly polished. Celtic secured the Scottish Premiership title, continuing their sustained dominance north of the border. LASK clinched the Austrian Bundesliga championship.
