With the domestic calendar officially in hibernation, all eyes now turn to the 2026 World Cup as the sport’s global stars prepare to take centre stage.
The United States of America, Mexico and Canada are co-hosting football’s biggest tournament, and several Celtic stars are set to feature.
As everyone has seen, the United States, in particular, have welcomed everybody with open arms, as this summer’s World Cup is starting with a bitter taste in everybody’s mouth.
If you are tuning in from the UK or Ireland to watch Celtic’s top stars perform, prepare for a serious test of your body clock.
Catching the action live will mean either staying up late into the night or setting your alarm for the very early hours of the morning.
Celtic fans, will you be tuning into the 2026 World Cup?
🚨 A lot of off-field noise around it 🚨
Hyunjun Yang, South Korea, Group A
The first Celtic representative to see action will be Hyunjun Yang, who comes into the tournament on the back of a much-improved domestic season.
He will be looking to make an immediate impact as his South Korea side get proceedings underway with a Group A clash against Czechia.
- South Korea v Czechia, Friday, 12 June, 03:00 (BST), Estadio Guadalajara, Mexico
- Mexico v South Korea, Friday, 19 June, 02:00 (BST), Estadio Guadalajara, Mexico
- South Africa v South Korea, Thursday, 25 June, 02:00 (BST), Estadio Monterrey, Mexico
Alistair Johnston, Canada, Group B
One of two players who will be playing a World Cup on home soil. This is going to be a special moment for Alistair Johnston.
Johnston had his injury issues at Celtic this season, but he returned to action just at the right time, as some consider Canada to be dark horses in this tournament.
- Canada v Bosnia and Herzegovina, Friday, 12 June, 20:00 (BST), Toronto Stadium, Canada
- Canada v Qatar, Thursday, 18 June, 23:00 (BST), BC Place, Vancouver, Canada
- Canada v Switzerland, Wednesday, 24 June, 20:00 (BST), BC Place, Vancouver, Canada
Auston Trusty, United States of America, Group D
Auston Trusty isn’t expected to start for the United States men’s national soccer team (USMNT), but still expect him to feature at some point.
There is going to be immense pressure on the United States, given that they have done everything they can to put all the attention on themselves, despite two other nations co-hosting alongside them.
- USA v Paraguay, Saturday, 13 June, 02:00 (BST), Los Angeles Stadium, USA
- USA v Australia, Friday, 19 June, 20:00 (BST), Seattle Stadium, USA
- USA v Türkiye, Friday, 26 June, 03:00 (BST), Los Angeles Stadium, USA
Kieran Tierney and Anthony Ralston, Scotland, Group C
From a Celtic perspective, this is undoubtedly where the majority of eyes will be drawn, especially given that it marks Scotland’s first World Cup appearance since 1998.
Two Hoops stars will feature, Kieran Tierney and Anthony Ralston. The latter isn’t expected to start, but Steve Clarke does use him regularly from the bench.
Tierney ended the campaign strongly, so Clarke must surely find a way to get him into the XI, as Scotland’s Group D ends with a showpiece showdown against the mighty Brazil.
- Haiti v Scotland, Saturday, 14 June, 02:00 (BST), Boston Stadium, USA
- Scotland v Morocco, Friday, 19 June, 23:00 (BST), Boston Stadium, USA
- Scotland v Brazil, Wednesday, 24 June, 23:00 (BST), Miami Stadium, USA
Daizen Maeda, Japan, Group F
Daizen Maeda went goal crazy towards the end of the season, scoring in every post-split fixture game, and he is hoping to continue that for Japan in Group F.
This is where Maeda will meet a few of his current Celtic teammates.
- Netherlands v Japan, Sunday, 14 June, 21:00 (BST), Dallas Stadium, USA
- Tunisia v Japan, Sunday, 21 June, 05:00 (BST), Estadio Monterrey, Mexico
- Japan v Sweden, Friday, 26 June, 00:00 (BST), Dallas Stadium, USA
How much is Daizen Maeda worth now after his post-split form? 🔥📈🔥
Tell us what you think, Celtic fans…🍀💚
Sebastian Tounekti, Tunisia, Group F
Tunisia’s preparations for the World Cup have been a nightmare, including being well beaten by a free-flowing Belgium and losing to ten-man Austria.
Sebastian Tounekti hasn’t been a starter during those warm-up matches, so you expect that to continue, as his first game will be against Benjamin Nygren’s Sweden.
- Sweden v Tunisia, Monday, 15 June, 03:00 (BST), Estadio Monterrey, Mexico
- Tunisia v Japan, Sunday, 21 June, 05:00 (BST), Estadio Monterrey, Mexico
- Tunisia v Netherlands, Friday, 26 June, 00:00 (BST), Kansas City Stadium, USA
Benjamin Nygren, Sweden, Group F
One of three Celtic players in Group F, Nygren played a key role in Graham Potter’s Sweden sneaking into the World Cup right at the death.
Expect Nygren to start, and if he scores goals, then his reputation will only grow on the world stage after finishing Celtic’s double-winning season as the top scorer.
- Sweden v Tunisia, Monday, 15 June, 03:00 (BST), Estadio Monterrey, Mexico
- Netherlands v Sweden, Saturday, 20 June, 18:00, Houston Stadium, USA
- Japan v Sweden, Friday, 26 June, 00:00 (BST), Dallas Stadium, USA
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