Overview
- Kairat ousted Celtic on penalties after two 0-0 legs, with 21-year-old Temirlan Anarbekov saving three spot kicks.
- The Kazakh champions advanced through Olimpija Ljubljana, KuPS and Slovan Bratislava before the playoff win over Celtic.
- Pafos sealed a first-ever berth after a run that included victories over Red Star Belgrade away, Dynamo Kyiv and Maccabi Tel Aviv, with a late equalizer from Jaja proving pivotal.
- Teen forward Dastan Satpaev has been reported as joining Chelsea in 2026 for around €4 million, with sources differing on whether he is 16 or 17.
- Almaty sits far to the east of most European clubs, with a time difference of up to four hours from Italy, raising scheduling and travel considerations for group-stage opponents.