An earthquake has occurred, and the Champions League will be held in Asia next season.

Kairat Almaty — a team from the Kazakhstan Premier League — made history by defeating Celtic in a penalty shootout to secure a spot in the 2025/26 Champions League group stage.

Kairat Almaty caused a major upset in football history Champions League by beating Celtic on penalties after a goalless 120 minutes in the play-off second leg. Coach Rafael Urazbakhtin’s team fought bravely and overcame the Scottish side in a tense match, winning 3-2 on penalties overall.

Before the match, Celtic was expected to easily advance after a 0-0 draw in the first leg. However, after traveling 3,500 miles to Kazakhstan, Brendan Rodgers’ team struggled and faced a painful defeat. Kairat Almaty’s 21-year-old goalkeeper, Temirlan Anarbekov, became the hero with three crucial saves during the shootout to help his team win.

Following their victory, Kairat Almaty became the first club from Kazakhstan and the easternmost team geographically to participate in the Champions League group stage. Previously, only one Kazakhstani team, FC Astana, had reached the group stage in the 2015/16 season.

This achievement is not only a great source of pride for Kairat Almaty but also a significant milestone for Kazakhstani football. One fan shared: “The second largest city in Kazakhstan, located at the far East, 4,500 km from Central Europe, will now be a challenging destination for Europe’s top clubs.” Another wrote: “The Champions League will be played in the heart of Asia — an incredible landmark!”

After the match, Celtic coach Brendan Rodgers expressed his disappointment: “It’s very disappointing and bitter because we were on the right track last season, playing really good football, so missing out this season is a huge shock for us.”

He also added: “We all understand the consequences. We wanted to be in the Champions League. But we couldn’t. The Europa League is still a prestigious competition, but we missed a big opportunity in these two matches.”

This is a historic win not only for Kairat Almaty but also for Kazakhstani football — a country with limited impact in European competitions. By reaching the Champions League group stage, Kairat Almaty has not only proven their strength but also opened a new era for Kazakhstani football, where they can compete against Europe’s top clubs in the 2025/26 season.

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