Celtic to host Middlesbrough in friendly on July 18

Celtic will host English Championship side Middlesbrough in a preseason friendly at Celtic Park in Glasgow on Saturday, July 18, 2026, with kickoff scheduled for 3 p.m. local time. The match marks the Scottish champions' first appearance on home soil since clinching the Scottish Premiership title on the final day of last season.

For Celtic, managed by Martin O’Neill, the game is part of a series of warm-up fixtures ahead of the new domestic campaign. The team has already played two friendlies, drawing 1-1 with Shelbourne in Dublin and losing 4-1 to Sporting CP in Portugal earlier this week. New £6 million signing Camilo Duran, who scored in the defeat to Sporting, is expected to feature and could make his first start for the club in front of the home support.

Middlesbrough, managed by Kim Hellberg, are beginning their own preseason schedule with this match. The team recently concluded a warm-weather training camp in Portugal, where they drew 2-2 with SC Farense. Hellberg has indicated he views the Celtic fixture as a significant step in preparations, describing it as "like a real game" compared to their earlier outing. He noted that over 5,000 Middlesbrough supporters are...