Real Madrid to Play Historic Champions League Match in Kazakhstan Against Debutants FC Kairat
By Sayer Zaland, AIPS Member
Almaty: Football history will be made later this month as Kazakhstan’s FC Kairat Almaty prepares to host European giants Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League group stage on September 30 at Almaty Ortalyk Stadion, just 300 kilometers from the Chinese border.
For Kairat, who stunned FC Celtic in a dramatic penalty shootout to qualify for the group stage for the first time, the clash marks a dream come true. The hero of that night, 21-year-old goalkeeper Temirlan Anarbekov, made three crucial saves in the shootout, securing Kairat’s place among Europe’s elite.
Travel and Schedule Challenges
Real Madrid face a grueling 6,000-kilometer journey — nearly ten hours by air — just two days after the Madrid Derby against Atlético on September 28. Head coach Xabi Alonso is expected to rotate his squad, possibly resting several first-choice stars due to the demanding travel and fixture list.
Meanwhile, Kairat will embark on even longer journeys, with away games scheduled in Lisbon, London, Milan, and Copenhagen, covering over 45,000 kilometers in total — a new Champions League record for travel distance in a single campaign.
Group of Heavyweights
Kairat joins a group featuring some of Europe’s most storied clubs: Real Madrid (ranked 1st in UEFA), Inter Milan (3rd), Arsenal (14th), Club Brugge (20th), Sporting Lisbon (24th), Olympiacos (38th), Copenhagen (42nd), and debutants Pafos (97th).
At home in Almaty, Kairat will host Real Madrid, Club Brugge, Olympiacos, and Pafos, while traveling away to face Inter, Arsenal, Sporting, and Copenhagen.
A New Era for Central Asian Football
Kazakhstan only became a UEFA member in 2022, but Kairat’s breakthrough reflects the growing ambitions of Central Asian football. Founded in 1954, the club has won 4 Kazakhstan Premier League titles, 10 Kazakhstan Cups, and 2 Super Cups since its revival under businessman Kairat Boranbayev in 2012.
With rising stars like Dastan Satpayev, set to join Chelsea when he turns 18, and penalty hero Anarbekov, Kairat now carries the hopes of a nation eager to make its mark on European football’s biggest stage.
