Kairat could face Real Madrid or which European giants may come to Almaty

Tengrinews.kz – For the first time in history, Almaty’s FC Kairat has qualified for the main stage of the UEFA Champions League – and now the Kazakh club could welcome some of Europe’s biggest teams.

Who might come to Almaty

Kairat advanced after defeating Glasgow Celtic in the playoff round, securing a spot among Europe’s elite. The format guarantees that one club from the top seed pot will travel to Kazakhstan.

The first pot for the 2025/26 Champions League includes:

• Real Madrid (Spain)
• Manchester City (England)
• Bayern Munich (Germany)
• Liverpool (England)
• Paris Saint-Germain (France)
• Inter Milan (Italy)
• Chelsea (England)
• Borussia Dortmund (Germany)
• Barcelona (Spain)

That means football fans in Almaty could soon witness one of these giants playing on Kazakh soil.

How the draw will work

The official draw will take place on August 28 in Monaco. A total of 36 clubs will participate, including 29 that qualified directly and 7 via playoffs. Alongside Kairat, Norway’s Bodø/Glimt and Cyprus’s Pafos also advanced through the qualification stage.

Clubs will be divided into four pots according to their UEFA ranking. Each team will be drawn against two opponents from each pot, playing one home and one away match. Clubs from the same country cannot face each other, and no more than two teams from one association will be placed in the same group.

The final match calendar will be published no later than August 30.

What’s at stake

Apart from the sporting challenge, Kairat has already secured significant financial benefits. The club is guaranteed at least €18.6 million in prize money, with additional rewards of €2.1 million for each group-stage victory and €750,000 for a draw.

The draw will decide whether fans in Almaty get to see Kairat host Real Madrid, Barcelona, or another European powerhouse – a historic moment for Kazakh football.

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