Ajax will face reigning Scottish champions Celtic on Thursday in the inaugural Como Cup as part of their pre-season preparations.
De Godenzonen are coming into this club friendly on the back of a six-match unbeaten streak. The Dutch club beat PAOK Thessaloniki FC 2-1 in a recent outing. The strong performances herald well for their new manager Johnny Heitinga, who is looking to restore the club glory after two disappointing seasons.
On the other side, Celtic are coming off an impressive 4-0 victory over the Premier League club Newcastle United. The Bhoys lifted their fifth consecutive Scottish Premiership title this summer, taking their title to 14 championships in last 15 years.
Here’s everything you need to know about Ajax vs. Celtic, including TV channel and streaming options for the preseason friendly.
Where to watch Ajax vs. Celtic: Live stream, TV channel
Here’s how to watch this club friendly match in the US:
TV channel: N/A
Live stream: Paramount+, CBS Golazo
This game is not available for live TV broadcast in the United States. Streaming options are available on CBS Golazo and Paramount+, which offers a FREE trial for new subscribers.
Ajax vs. Celtic start time
- Date: Thursday, July 24
- Time: 2:30 p.m. ET | 11:30 a.m. PT
Ajax vs. Celtic will kick off at 8:30 p.m. local time (CEST) on Thursday, July 24, from the Giuseppe Sinigaglia Stadium in Como, Italy.
Here’s how that time translates across the U.S.:
| Date | Kickoff time | |
| Eastern Time | Thu, Jul. 24 | 2:30 p.m. |
| Central Time | Thu, Jul. 24 | 1:30 p.m. |
| Mountain Time | Thu, Jul. 24 | 12:30 p.m. |
| Pacific Time | Thu, Jul. 24 | 11:30 a.m. |
Ajax vs. Celtic lineups, team news
Ajax’s star defender Josip Sutalo is set to miss the clash due to injury while the long term absentee Branco van den Boomen will remain on bench with a back issue.
Heitinga has been experimenting in the camp ahead of the new season and has a squad primed for action.
Ajax predicted XI (4-3-3, right to left): Jaros (GK) — Regeer, Bouwman, Baas, Wijndal — Berghuis, Mokio, Klaassen — Traore, Weghorst, Moro.
As for the Celtic, their only confirmed absentee is Jota who has been dealing with a long term ligament problem and is expected to remain on bench until January 2026.
Cameron Carter-Vickers and Alistair Johnston have not joined up with the squad and are likely to miss out on Thursday’s clash.
Celtic predicted XI (4-3-3, right to left): Schmeichel (GK) — Ralston, Trusty, Scales, Tierney — McCowan, McGregor, Engels — Forrest, Hyun-Jun, Maeda.
Ajax’s schedule 2025
Here are Ajax’s next three games:
| Date | Opponent | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Jul. 24 | Celtic | 2:30 p.m. |
| Aug. 3 | Monaco | 8:00 a.m. |
| Aug. 10 | Telstar | 9:30 a.m. |
Celtic’s schedule 2025
Here are Celtic’s next three games:
| Date | Opponent | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Jul. 24 | Ajax | 2:30 p.m. |
| Aug. 3 | St Mirren | 11:30 a.m. |
| Aug. 10 | Aberdeen | 7:30 a.m. |
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