Celtic will be targeting a domestic double when they face Dunfermline Athletic in the Scottish FA Cup final at Hampden Park on Saturday afternoon.
Fresh from sealing another dramatic Scottish Premiership title, the Bhoys now have the chance to add more silverware to an already memorable campaign.
Martin O’Neill’s return to the dugout in January completely transformed Celtic’s season after a difficult spell under Wilfried Nancy.
The experienced tactician steadied the ship and guided the Glasgow giants through an outstanding run in the league, winning 13 of their final 17 Premiership matches to overhaul Hearts in a thrilling title race.
The Bhoys eventually clinched the crown in dramatic fashion on the final day of the season. An 87th-minute strike sparked wild celebrations before Callum Osmand wrapped up Celtic’s fifth consecutive league title with a stoppage-time finish deep into added time.
With momentum firmly behind them, Celtic now head into the cup final chasing a second domestic trophy. Their road to Hampden has included victories over Dundee, Rangers and St Mirren, with the semi-final demolition of St Mirren underlining the attacking quality within O’Neill’s squad.
Celtic have looked sharp in the final third in recent weeks, pressing aggressively from the front and moving the ball quickly through midfield areas.
Daizen Maeda has been a constant threat with his direct running and movement in behind defensive lines, while Kelechi Iheanacho’s impact off the bench has added another dimension to the attack.
Dunfermline Athletic, meanwhile, arrive at Hampden looking to complete one of the biggest cup upsets in recent Scottish football history. Neil Lennon’s men may have fallen short in their bid for promotion to the Premiership after losing to Partick Thistle in the playoffs, but their cup journey has captured attention across the country.
The Pars have eliminated Hibernian, Aberdeen and Falkirk en route to the final and have shown tremendous resilience throughout the competition. Their semi-final victory over Falkirk was settled on penalties after a tightly contested encounter.
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Lennon, who enjoyed enormous success during his time as Celtic manager, now faces his former club in what will be an emotional occasion. Dunfermline are expected to sit compact defensively and look to hit Celtic on the counterattack through quick transitions and set-piece situations.
What time does Celtic vs Dunfermline Athletic start?
Kick-off is at 6:00 PM (EAT) on Saturday, May 23, 2026, at Hampden Park in Glasgow.
Celtic vs Dunfermline Athletic team news
Celtic continue to deal with several injury concerns ahead of the final. Tomas Cvancara, Julian Araujo, Kasper Schmeichel, Cameron Carter-Vickers and Jota remain unavailable.
Kelechi Iheanacho is pushing for a starting role after making a huge impact in recent matches, including scoring a crucial goal against Motherwell. If he starts through the middle, Daizen Maeda is expected to shift to the left wing.
Captain Callum McGregor will once again be key in midfield, dictating the tempo and helping Celtic dominate possession in central areas.
Dunfermline Athletic are also missing several players through injury, including Zak Rudden, Graham Carey and Ewan Otoo.
Goalkeeper Aston Oxborough is expected to return between the posts after rejoining the squad following his temporary recall by Motherwell. The shot-stopper could have a busy afternoon against Celtic’s relentless attacking pressure.
Predicted lineups
- Celtic possible starting XI: Sinisalo; Johnston, Trusty, Scales, Tierney; McGregor, Engels; Hyun-Jun, Nygren, Maeda; Iheanacho
- Dunfermline Athletic possible starting XI: Oxborough; Mullen, Ngwenya, Fraser; Kearney, Gilmour, Amade, Todd; Morrison, Kane, Tod
Celtic vs Dunfermline Athletic head-to-head record and current form
Celtic head into the final on an eight-match winning streak and are currently playing with confidence, intensity and attacking freedom. Their high press and quick ball circulation have overwhelmed opponents in recent weeks.
The Bhoys have also shown strong mentality in big moments, particularly during the closing stages of the Premiership title race where they consistently found late goals under pressure.
Dunfermline’s recent form has been less convincing after missing out on promotion, but their cup performances have been impressive. The Pars have defended with discipline throughout the competition and will hope to frustrate Celtic for long periods.
However, the gulf in quality, squad depth and experience between the two sides remains significant heading into the final.
Celtic vs Dunfermline Athletic prediction
Dunfermline Athletic are expected to battle bravely and attempt to keep the game compact, especially during the early exchanges. Still, Celtic’s movement in attack, control in midfield and overall quality should eventually break down the Pars’ resistance.
With confidence high after their dramatic title triumph, the Bhoys look well positioned to complete the domestic double at Hampden Park.