Kairat Almaty have written a new chapter in Kazakh football history, qualifying for the UEFA Champions League group stage for the first time after a nerve-shredding penalty shootout victory over Celtic.
The two-legged play-off ended goalless in both Glasgow and Almaty, forcing the tie to be decided from the spot.
In front of a packed Central Stadium, 21-year-old goalkeeper Temirlan Anarbekov became the hero of the night, making three decisive saves in the shootout as Kairat triumphed 3–2.
The victory is a milestone not only for Kairat but also for Kazakh football as a whole. Until now, only FC Astana had ever reached the Champions League group stage, back in 2015. For Kairat, a club with domestic pedigree but limited European experience, the qualification represents a breakthrough moment.
“This is a victory for Almaty, for Kazakhstan, and for everyone who believed in us,” head coach Rafael Urazbakhtin told reporters after the game. “We showed that with discipline and heart, even the biggest dreams can be achieved.”
Kairat’s qualification also makes Kazakhstan the first Central Asian country to have two clubs reach the Champions League group stage in UEFA history.
Financial Windfall
Kairat’s achievement comes with a major financial reward. By reaching the group stage, the club is guaranteed at least €18.5 million in UEFA prize money, not including revenue from ticket sales, sponsorship, and broadcasting rights.
For a club in Kazakhstan’s Premier League, this windfall could prove transformative, allowing for infrastructure investment and squad strengthening.
Local media hailed the moment as a “footballing revolution” for Kazakhstan, underlining the impact it could have on the country’s football profile on the European stage.
The club’s president, Adilbek Jaxybekov, confirmed that plans are underway to expand the club’s youth academy and upgrade training facilities.
Celtic’s Heartbreak
For Celtic, the defeat represents a bitter disappointment. The Scottish champions, who famously lifted the European Cup in 1967, had been favorites to progress. Yet despite dominating possession over both legs, Brendan Rodgers’ side struggled to break down a disciplined Kairat defense.
The penalty misses by Adam Idah, Luke McCowan, and Daizen Maeda proved decisive, with Maeda’s failure to convert the final spot-kick sealing Celtic’s fate, leaving them to drop into the Europa League, where they will attempt to salvage their European campaign.
Kairat Almaty v Celtic – penalty shoot-out
byu/4gjdtokurwa insoccer
UEFA confirmed Kairat’s qualification alongside Bodø/Glimt and Cypriot side Pafos, all of whom secured group stage spots through the play-offs. The result reverberated across Europe, with many outlets calling Kairat’s victory one of the biggest shocks of the qualifying rounds.
Reuters described the result as Celtic being “stunned in Kazakhstan,” while local fans celebrated long into the night in Almaty, waving flags and chanting in the city’s central streets.
What Comes Next
The Champions League group stage draw will take place on Thursday in Monaco, with Kairat joining 29 automatic qualifiers and the four other play-off winners in the pots.
Matches will kick off from September 16 to 18, offering Kairat the chance to face Europe’s elite for the very first time.
For now, the club and its supporters will savor a historic night, one that ensures Kairat Almaty’s name will forever be etched into the story of Kazakh football.
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