Celtic vs Ferencváros: Europa League preview, predictions team news and TV info

Celtic have won nine of 15 previous encounters with Hungarian opposition. This includes beating Ferencváros home and away in the Europa League five years ago under Ange Postecoglou. However, 12 months before that, the Green Eagles did oust Neil Lennon's side from Champions League qualifying, courtesy of a 2-1 win behind-closed-doors.

This is not the competition the Celts wanted to be involved in, but the Europa League is once again their reality. So, ahead of this league phase opener, check out our preview, predictions team news and TV info.

Celtic vs Ferencváros match info

• Date: Thursday 17 September 2026.
• Kick off times: 8pm (local) & 3pm (ET)
• Competition: UEFA Europa League league phase matchday 1
• Venue: Parkhead - Glasgow, Scotland.
• How to watch: TNT Sports 3 (UK) and Paramount+ (USA).

How can I watch Celtic vs Ferencváros?

In the United Kingdom and Ireland, this match will be broadcast live on TNT Sports 3 and HBO Max. Fans in the United States can find the action on Paramount+.

Other broadcasters around the world include OneSoccer in Canada, Stan Sport in Australia, Movistar+ in Spain, beIN Sports in the Arab world, DAZN in New Zealand and Portugal, Sky Sport in Austria, Germany and Switzerland and M4 Sports in Hungary.

Celtic vs Ferencváros match preview

Celtic have played ten matches so far this season, winning eight of them, but losing the two that have really counted. Thus, Martin O'Neill is under pressure to rebuild this side into a team fans can trust again. On Sunday, the Hoops were demolished 3-0 by Rangers in the League Cup quarter-finals at Ibrox. The Gers dominated throughout, with the Celts shambolic and second best from start to finish.

Meantime, 4-0 up on aggregate with only an hour to play, Celtic capitulated in last month's Champions League play-off, eventually dumped out 5-4 by LASK, following the most ignominious defeats in the club's European history. There's plenty to choose from. As a result, for a second successive season, the Celts find themselves in the Europa League, so how far will they go?

A year ago, the Scottish champions snuck through to the knockout stages, finishing 21st, before being comfortably swept aside by VfB Stuttgart in the first knockout round. This time, Celtic's league phase fixtures appear challenging again. Celta Vigo, Beşiktaş and Marseille will also visit Glasgow, while O'Neill's team will take on Benfica, Torreense, Omonia and Royale Union Saint-Gilloise on the road. Thus, every point counts, making an opening night victory of vital importance.

As for Ferencváros, their streak of seven successive Hungarian titles came to an end in May, but they did get their hands on the Magyar Kupa, defeating Zalaegerszeg in the final. Former Celtic player Robbie Keane was in charge that day, but has since departed and replaced by Balázs Borbély.

As cup winners, just to get into the league phase, the Green Eagles have already played eight European matches. They enjoyed impressive qualifying victories over Vojvodina, FC Twente, Górnik Zabrze and then Trabzonspor, hammering the Turkish side 5-0 over two legs.

Last season too, Ferencváros finished 12th in the league phase, beaten only by Nottingham Forest, before going one round further than Celtic, ousted by Braga in the last 16. Thus, the Green Eagles cannot be underestimated, albeit this is a match Celtic fans will expect their side to win.

Celtic team news

Following Sunday's disastrous derby defeat, fans will be demanding changes from Martin O'Neill, with another Old Firm to come on Sunday. Yang Hyun-jun remains unavailable, starting Korea Republic's 4-1 win over Qatar in Nagoya at the Asian games on Tuesday.

Meantime, Colby Donovan will continue to deputise for the injured Alistair Johnston at right-back, while Auston Trusty could displace Liam Scales in the middle. Deadline day signing Sam Johnstone has started the last two matches in goal but, after a poor display at the weekend, could Viljami Sinisalo be restored?

This is the third and final match of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain's UEFA suspension, one that has been hanging over him since December 2023, while Haissem Hassan is highly likely to come into attack, with Sebastian Tounekti dropping out.

Ferencváros team news

Balázs Borbély's side hammered third-tier Debreceni 7-0 in a cup match on Saturday, with many key players rested, all of whom will return here. Former Celtic loanee Daniel Arzani is likely to be on the bench, but Naby Keïta, a Champions League winner with Liverpool, is in line to start in midfield.

Kristoffer Zachariassen is the Green Eagles' top-scorer with six so far, of which three came during qualifying.

Predicted Line-ups

• Celtic predicted lineup: Johnstone; Donovan, Carter-Vickers, Trusty, Tierney; McGregor, Baur, Nygren; Hassan, Durán, Høgh.

• Ferencváros predicted lineup: Dibusz; Nagy, Gómez, Raemaekers, Cadu; Corbu, Keïta, Yusuf,

O'Dowda; Zachariassen, Joseph.

• Score prediction: Celtic 2-1 Ferencváros.

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