Kairat, a football club from Almaty, Kazakhstan, has made history by qualifying for the Champions League league phase for the first time, following a dramatic penalty shootout victory over Celtic. This achievement marks them as the club from the furthest east ever to participate in the competition, with Almaty being geographically closer to Tokyo than Paris. Founded in 1954 during the Soviet era, Kairat has a rich history in Kazakhstani football, having won the national league four times and previously played in the Soviet top flight.

Kazakhstan, while mostly in Asia, has a small portion in Europe, which allowed its clubs to join UEFA in 2002. Kairat's squad features a mix of local and international players, and the team is managed by Rafael Urazbakhtin, who led them to a league title in his first year. The club will host four home fixtures at Central Stadium, presenting logistical challenges for visiting teams and fans due to the significant travel distances and varying climate conditions.

Kairat's participation highlights the geographical diversity of the Champions League, with clubs from extreme northern, southern, eastern, and western locations now represented. The upcoming draw will determine which European giants will travel to Kazakhstan, as Kairat prepares to face eight different opponents in the league phase.