Celtic will spend another season in the UEFA Europa League after crashing out of the Champions League play-offs.
A dismal display in Austria has sealed Celtic’s fate as they gear up for another campaign in the competition. Martin O’Neill guided the Hoops to the Play-Off round last term, where they were eliminated by Stuttgart.
O’Neill oversaw the Hoops’ first win on German soil, but their first-leg defeat saw them knocked out 4-2 on aggregate.
There were important results in the league phase, with the Celts beating Feyenoord 3-1 for their first win on Dutch soil in 24 years; O’Neill at the helm in 2001 and for the win in Rotterdam in November 2025.
A 2-2 draw away to Bologna was a valuable point in the end, though they were two goals up at halftime but ended the game with ten men.
A 4-2 win over Utrecht ensured progress from the league phase, where Stuttgart awaited.
While the fallout continues from the capitulation in Austria, the Hoops will soon find out who they will face in the upcoming Europa campaign.
The Europa League Draw
Europa League seedings, any groupings and the procedure will be available from 9.30 am BST on the day of the draw.
The UEFA Europa League fixture list with match dates and kick-off times will be communicated no later than Sunday 30 August.
The Hoops will be in Pot 2 for the draw. This doesn’t bear the significance it did under the old format, however, as O’Neill’s side will come up against two teams from each pot regardless.
Teams such as Juventus, Bayer Leverkusen, AC Milan and Marseille are already confirmed for the top pot.
When does the Europa League begin?
There are still 12 play-off ties to be played on Thursday night (August 27), but the Bhoys are automatically in after dropping down.
The league phase begins on Wednesday 16 September.
The full list of league phase matchday figures that we currently know is:
- Matchday 1: 16/17 September 2026
- Matchday 2: 15 October 2026
- Matchday 3: 22 October 2026
- Matchday 4: 5 November 2026
- Matchday 5: 26 November 2026
- Matchday 6: 10 December 2026
- Matchday 7: 21 January 2027
- Matchday 8: 28 January 2027
Champions League Failure Still Raw
Supporters may not take much notice of the club’s Europa League fate so soon after the LASK defeat. It will take some time, at the very least, for the dust to settle on another qualification failure. But the draw will arrive regardless, and some fans will be eagle-eyed for what European away trips await.
The draw will take place in Monaco this Friday, August 29.
Keep Reading
