Sporting CP v Celtic: When It’s On and How to Watch

Celtic are back in action on Tuesday when Martin O’Neill’s side take on Sporting CP in Portugal.

The game is being played at the Estádio Algarve, with kick-off at 5.30pm UK time.

There has been a bit of confusion online over the kick-off time, with different times appearing in different places, but the match is scheduled to start at 5.30pm.

How to watch Sporting CP v Celtic

The match will be shown live on CelticPlayer, the club’s official subscription service.

It doesn’t look as though the game will be shown on Sky Sports, Premier Sports or any other mainstream UK channel, so CelticPlayer is the place to watch it.

Match details

Sporting CP v Celtic
Tuesday, 14 July 2026
Kick-off: 5.30pm UK time
Venue: Estádio Algarve, Portugal
Live on: CelticPlayer

This should be a much tougher test for Celtic than the opening friendly against Shelbourne.

Sporting are a good side and they should give Martin O’Neill a better idea of where his squad is at after the training camp in Portugal.

The result is never the most important thing in pre-season. It is about fitness, giving players minutes and getting the team ready for the serious games.

It will also be interesting to see the shape Celtic play.

Will O’Neill stick with a back four? Will Celtic play with one striker or two? Will the midfield be built around control, or will he want more pace and direct running?

There will also be plenty of interest in Camilo Durán.

The new striker is now in the building, and supporters will want to see where he fits into O’Neill’s plans. He could lead the line on his own, play as part of a front two or be eased into things from the bench.

We will also be looking for a clearer structure, players understanding their roles and some signs of what this Celtic team could look like when the league begins.

It may only be a friendly, but it will be interesting to see the shape of Martin O’Neill’s side and where Durán fits into it.