Celtic vs St. Mirren: Scottish Cup Semi-Final 2026

Scottish football's most compelling rivalry returns to Hampden Park today as Celtic face St. Mirren in the Scottish Cup semi-final, with a 2pm kick-off on April 19, 2026. This isn't just another cup tie — it's a rematch loaded with recent history, tactical intrigue, and genuine stakes. The winner earns a place in the Scottish Cup final on May 23 against Dunfermline Athletic, who knocked out Falkirk in Saturday's other semi-final. For fans trying to understand what's really at play here — who has the edge, how the teams compare, and what to watch for — this breakdown has everything you need.

For US-based viewers, the match streams live via ESPN Select, the ESPN app, and Fubo. If you're looking for more live sport action today, check out our coverage of NBA Playoff Games Today April 19: Suns vs Thunder and RR vs KKR Live Score IPL 2026 for a packed Saturday of sport.

The Context: Why This Match Matters More Than a Typical Semi-Final

On the surface, this is a straightforward Scottish Cup last-four clash. Dig one layer deeper and you find one of the most charged short-term rivalries in British football right now. Just five months ago, St. Mirren ended a 12-year wait for a major trophy by beating Celtic in the Premier Sports Cup final at this exact venue, Hampden Park. That result wasn't a fluke or a smash-and-grab — it was a statement that Craig McLeish's side could match the Glasgow giants on the biggest stages.

Since that December triumph, however, Celtic have extracted a measure of revenge in the league. St. Mirren have lost all three Scottish Premiership meetings against Celtic this season, each by the same scoreline: 1-0. The most recent came just last weekend, when Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain's goal settled a tight match at Celtic Park. That form line tells an interesting story: St. Mirren are clearly competitive against Celtic, but Celtic's defensive structure in league play has been difficult to breach.

The cup, of course, is a different animal entirely.

Team-by-Team Breakdown: Celtic

Current Form and League Position

Celtic enter this semi-final under interim manager Martin O'Neill, a figure whose name carries enormous weight in the green half of Glasgow thanks to his trophy-laden stint in the early 2000s. His return in an interim capacity has brought a degree of stability, though Celtic's league campaign tells a mixed story. They currently sit three points behind leaders Hearts, meaning a league title is still very much in play but not guaranteed. Winning the Scottish Cup would go a significant way toward salvaging a season that has felt inconsistent at times.

Starting XI and Team News

O'Neill has made three changes from Celtic's most recent outing. Arne Engels comes into midfield, bringing creativity and forward passing in a role that should help Celtic control possession in the middle of the park. Benjamin Arthur slots into defence in place of the suspended Liam Scales — a forced change that introduces a degree of uncertainty at the back. And Sebastian Tounekti replaces Tomas Cvancara in the attack.

Celtic's confirmed starting XI: Sinisalo; Ralston, Arthur, Trusty, Tierney; McGregor, Engels; Nygren, Yang, Maeda; Tounekti.

The spine of this team — Sinisalo in goal, Callum McGregor anchoring midfield, and the pace of Daizen Maeda up front — represents genuine quality. Kyogo's absence from the XI is notable, with Tounekti handed the central striking role. The flanks, with Yang and Maeda, give Celtic width and directness that can trouble any defence.

Strengths

• Midfield control: McGregor and Engels should dominate possession in central areas against a St. Mirren side that tends to sit compact.
• Pace on the counter: Maeda and Yang can punish defensive lines that push too high.
• Cup final experience: Multiple players in this squad have appeared in major finals and know how to manage high-pressure occasions.
• Recent head-to-head league dominance: Three 1-0 wins in a row against this opponent builds psychological confidence.

Weaknesses

• Suspension-forced defensive change: Arthur replacing Scales introduces an unfamiliar partnership at centre-back alongside Trusty.
• Interim instability: Playing under a caretaker — even one as decorated as O'Neill — can create background uncertainty over team identity and long-term tactics.
• Tounekti as focal point: The striker hasn't been a consistent starter and may struggle to hold up play against St. Mirren's physical defenders.

Team-by-Team Breakdown: St. Mirren

Current Form and Cup Pedigree

St. Mirren manager Craig McLeish has built something genuinely impressive in Paisley. The League Cup victory in December wasn't built on luck — it was the product of an organised, well-drilled defensive unit that frustrates opponents and punishes them on the break. The Buddies have shown they can beat anyone on a given day, and their record of conceding only 1-0 margins to Celtic in the league (rather than heavier defeats) suggests they are by no means outclassed.

In the Scottish Cup, St. Mirren have reached this stage on merit. They are a side that believes in themselves, and with the memory of Hampden glory still fresh, they return to this stadium as reigning League Cup holders — a psychological advantage that shouldn't be underestimated.

Team News

The one notable change for St. Mirren is in goal: Ryan Mullen replaces Shamal George, who sustained an ankle injury in training. George was outstanding in the League Cup final run, so his absence is a genuine blow — though Mullen is a capable deputy. How the goalkeeper handles the occasion, in his biggest match potentially to date, may prove decisive.

Aside from that enforced change, McLeish is expected to set St. Mirren up in their familiar shape: defensively solid, compact in midfield, with a clear plan to limit Celtic's time and space in dangerous areas.

Strengths

• Proven Hampden mentality: They've already beaten Celtic at this ground this season. They know how to win big games on the big stage.
• Defensive organisation: Three 1-0 league losses to Celtic isn't a collapse — it's evidence of a side that competes hard even when not at their best.
• McLeish's tactical acuity: The manager's ability to identify and exploit weaknesses — including Celtic's forced defensive changes today — makes St. Mirren dangerous.
• Counter-attacking threat: St. Mirren are at their most dangerous when they win possession quickly in transition and move forward with speed and numbers.

Weaknesses

• Goalkeeper uncertainty: Mullen replacing George is a meaningful change. Any hesitancy or error under a Hampden crowd could prove costly.
• League form against Celtic: Three defeats in league play to the same opponent in the same season is a pattern that's hard to entirely dismiss.
• Cup fatigue factor: Having already expended energy and emotion on a League Cup victory, maintaining that level of performance against a top opponent in another major cup tie is genuinely difficult.

Key Matchups to Watch

Arne Engels vs. St. Mirren's Midfield Press

Engels' inclusion is one of the most interesting selection decisions today. He's a player who offers genuine creativity when given space, but St. Mirren will be aware of him as a threat and may look to press him aggressively. If Engels can find pockets between the lines and play forward quickly, Celtic have the platform to control the game. If St. Mirren can stifle him, the match becomes more of a grind — which tends to suit the Buddies.

Callum McGregor vs. St. Mirren's Counter

McGregor remains Celtic's most important player in many respects — not just for what he creates, but for what he prevents. When Celtic lose the ball in transition, McGregor's positioning and recovery are critical to breaking up St. Mirren's counter-attacks before they develop. Given how dangerous St. Mirren are on the break, McGregor will need to be at his absolute best in a defensive sense.

Ryan Mullen Under the High Ball

Celtic's attacking shape — with wide players like Maeda and Yang delivering crosses — is likely to test Mullen early. Establishing command of his penalty area in the first twenty minutes will be crucial for St. Mirren's goalkeeper. Celtic will almost certainly probe this area early to test the replacement keeper's nerves.

Head-to-Head: Quick Comparison

The Road to the Final: What's at Stake

The prize for winning today is a place in the Scottish Cup final on May 23 against Dunfermline Athletic, who defeated Falkirk on Saturday to advance from the other semi-final. Dunfermline's presence in the final — a club from the Scottish Championship rather than the top flight — means that whichever of today's Premiership sides advances will be considered favourites for the trophy.

For Celtic, winning the Scottish Cup would provide significant consolation if the league title ultimately slips away to Hearts. A domestic cup would validate O'Neill's interim tenure and give the club silverware to point to in what has been a turbulent period.

For St. Mirren, winning back-to-back major trophies in the same season — the League Cup in December, the Scottish Cup in May — would be one of the most extraordinary achievements in the club's modern history. It would cement McLeish's reputation as one of the most effective managers in Scottish football and signal a genuine shift in the Paisley club's ambitions.

St. Mirren's December League Cup victory ended a 12-year wait for a major trophy. A Scottish Cup win in May would turn that moment from a breakthrough into a dynasty-in-the-making.

Buying Guide: How to Follow Scottish Football All Season

Where to Watch in the US

Celtic vs. St. Mirren is available in the United States via ESPN Select, the ESPN app, and Fubo. The match kicks off at 2pm UK time — check your local time zone for the equivalent start. Full streaming details are available here via Yahoo Sports.

Following the Match Live

For live updates, BBC Sport is running a live text commentary, while The Scottish Sun's live blog provides team news confirmations and rolling match updates. Radio Times has full broadcast and streaming details for UK viewers.

Bottom Line: Who Wins?

Celtic go into this match as marginal favourites, and the data supports that assessment. Three consecutive 1-0 league wins against St. Mirren this season demonstrates a pattern of control — even if those margins are narrow. The forced introduction of Benjamin Arthur at centre-back in place of Scales is a genuine concern, but the overall quality of the Celtic squad, particularly in midfield with McGregor and Engels, should prove decisive over 90 minutes.

That said, picking against St. Mirren at Hampden this season feels dangerous. They've already proven once that they can win a final here. Craig McLeish will have his side organised, motivated, and tactically prepared to make Celtic uncomfortable. If St. Mirren can score first — which is not a fanciful scenario given Celtic's defensive vulnerability today — this match becomes genuinely unpredictable.

Prediction: Celtic to win, 2-1, in a tight match that goes to the wire. St. Mirren will make a game of it, likely through a counter-attack goal, but Celtic's superior squad depth and midfield quality should ultimately prove the difference as the match opens up in the final half hour.

Frequently Asked Questions

What time does Celtic vs. St. Mirren kick off?

The Scottish Cup semi-final kicks off at 2pm local UK time on April 19, 2026 at Hampden Park in Glasgow. US viewers should check time zone conversions accordingly.

Why is this match particularly significant?

Beyond being a Scottish Cup semi-final, this rematch carries extra weight because St. Mirren beat Celtic in December's League Cup final at the same venue. It's a rivalry defined by a very recent, very specific piece of history, and Celtic will be motivated to prevent St. Mirren from completing a cup double over them this season.

Who is the Celtic manager for this match?

Celtic are managed on an interim basis by Martin O'Neill, who previously led the club to multiple titles in the early 2000s. His return in a caretaker role has stabilised the squad, but the permanent managerial question remains a background storyline throughout the rest of the season.

What happens to the loser?

The losing team is eliminated from the Scottish Cup entirely. However, both clubs continue to compete in the Scottish Premiership, with Celtic still chasing Hearts at the top of the table. There is no relegation play-off or third-place match — this is a straight knockout semi-final. Full team news and lineup details are available at Yahoo Sports.