Celtic must submit their full squad for the Champions League play-off round by midnight on Thursday, August 14.
This deadline applies to all clubs entering the final qualifying phase of the competition, with the first leg scheduled for August 19 or 20 and the return leg on August 26 or 27.
Under UEFA rules, Brendan Rodgers can register up to 25 players for the tie. The regulations also allow for two late additions to be made up until the day before the first leg, giving Celtic a narrow window to finalise any late transfer business or adjust for injuries.
The draw for the play-off round takes place this Monday, and Celtic will be seeded thanks to their UEFA coefficient. That means they avoid some of the more established European names, including FC Copenhagen, Red Star Belgrade, Ferencvaros and Bodo/Glimt. However, the route to the group stages is far from straightforward.
Among the potential opponents are Swiss champions Basel, Austrian side Sturm Graz, Slovan Bratislava from Slovakia, and Qarabag of Azerbaijan. Celtic could also be drawn against Kairat of Kazakhstan, Pafos of Cyprus, Dynamo Kyiv from Ukraine, or Shkendija of North Macedonia.
Once the draw is made, Celtic will know exactly who stands in their way of a return to the Champions League league stage. With the squad submission deadline fast approaching, the club will have little time to finalise preparations and make any late tweaks to Rodgers’ group.
