Celtic set to take on Wolves in Aviva Stadium pre-season fixture

Scottish champions Celtic F.C. will take on English Premier League side Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. at Aviva Stadium on Saturday 29th July at 2.00pm local time, in a one-off fixture. 

Celtic come into this pre-season after securing a world-record eighth Treble last season, and it will be the first time since 2018 that the team has played in Dublin. 

The club has a rich history with Ireland and enjoys strong support across the whole country since the club’s foundation in 1888 by Irishman, Brother Walfrid. Many Irish players and managers of the Hoops have maintained this strong link, including current manager Brendan Rodgers. 

The Dublin match will be one of Rodgers’ first as manager of Celtic F.C. since his return to the club over the offseason, whilst it will also see Celtic’s Korean striker, Oh Hyeon Gyu, face his fellow countryman, Hwang Hee Chan, who plays for Wolves. 

Wolves are completing their first pre-season under manager Julen Lopetegui who joined the side late in 2022 and led Wolves to 13th place in the English Premier League. Wolves will play their first match in Ireland since 2014, their penultimate run-out before starting the new English Premier League season. 

This game will mark the second pre-season football match at Aviva Stadium over the summer, with the venue hosting the sold-out fixture between Manchester United and Athletic Club Bilbao eight days later. 

Celtic Manager Brendan Rodgers said: “I’m delighted that we’re heading over to Dublin for this match against Wolves and I’m sure it’s one that all our supporters are looking forward to. It’s the first time we’ve played in Ireland since 2018, when I took the team over in pre-season, and it’s a great opportunity for our Irish supporters to see the team at home.

“I know the dedication that our fans in Ireland show to the club, and the commitment involved in travelling over to support the team week in, week out, whether at Celtic Park or at away matches, so it will be good for us to come over and play in front of them. It’s a great stage for the match, playing at the Aviva Stadium, while we also face very good opponents in Wolves. 

“They’re a team I know very well, having faced them on a number of occasions in recent years, and they’ll provide a good test for us just a week before we kick off the new season. So we’re all looking forward to this trip to Ireland and, in particular, to playing in front of so many of our own fans.”

Wolves’ manager Julen Lopetegui added: “It was a disappointment for all of us when our pre-season tour and match against Celtic in South Korea was called off, so we are really pleased that the game is now going ahead in Ireland. 

“Celtic are a very big club with great players and a very good manager, so we know how difficult the match is going to be, but it’s the kind of challenge we want as it will help prepare the players for our new Premier League season.

“We look forward to our visit to Dublin and the chance to play in front of thousands of supporters in a great stadium, as we know there will be many Wolves fans there giving their amazing support to the team.”

FAI Commercial Director Sean Kavanagh commented: “We’re delighted to welcome Scottish Champions Celtic and English Premier League side Wolverhampton Wanderers to the Aviva Stadium for a pre-season friendly. 

“Celtic has a huge support in Ireland and we’re looking forward to providing an opportunity for their supporters to watch them here in Dublin for the first time since 2018, against top quality opposition in Wolves later this month.”

Exclusive presale tickets will be available starting 12 July, with general on-sale ticket access opening on 13 July at 9am. Ticket prices start at €35 for Adults and €20 for Under-16s and can be purchased via Ticketmaster.