Is Celtic Star Destined To Miss Out on a Unique Opportunity? | OneFootball

Is Celtic Star Destined To Miss Out on a Unique Opportunity?

Cameron Carter-Vickers. Dundee v Celtic. 19 October 2025. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

Opportunities in which to compete for major honours on home soil are few and far between in professional football. Be that cup finals or major tournaments, only the very fortunate get the chance to compete at the highest level in a familiar backyard.

Looking ahead, Atletico Madrid know that the 2027 Champions League final will be heading to their Metropolitano Stadium. The Liga giants have added incentive when it comes to the pursuit of a continental crown.

Rivals across Europe will, however, be looking to block their path while plotting their own route to the Spanish capital. Heavyweight outfits from Graz to Glasgow will have sights locked on the ultimate prize.

Added significance

Scottish giants Celtic have work to do when it comes to rejoining the European elite, with Champions League odds in 2025-26 siding with 4/1 favourites Arsenal and 9/2 shots Bayern Munich after seeing the Hoops tumbled into the Europa League.

Cameron Carter-Vickers modelling the brand new Celtic FC x adidas Terrace Icons collection

There is, however, a determination within Parkhead to earn favour in domestic bet on football markets, allowing more major titles and trophies to be chased down. Many of those on the books at ‘Paradise’ also have a season-ending World Cup to think about.

Said competition takes the form of a sizeable carrot dangling in front of Celtic’s collection of international superstars. It does, however, hold added significance to some due to geographical reasons.

FIFA’s flagship event is heading to the United States, Canada and Mexico in 2026. For those of Northern and Central American heritage, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity has presented itself.

Cameron Carter-Vickers wins the header. Partick Thistle v Celtic. Premier Sports League Cup. Sunday 21 September. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

Sporting careers are notoriously short, meaning that any time spent at the top needs to be maximised. If the World Cup heads to your homeland – or an adopted home in the case of some – then every effort must be made to ensure that tickets to said party are secured.

Celtic defender Cameron Carter-Vickers has already graced the grandest of stages. The Southend native, who qualifies to represent the USMNT through his father, formed part of Team America at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

Cameron Carter Vickers of Celtic arrives at the stadium prior to the match between theRangers and Celtic at Ibrox on August 31, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Many happy memories were made there, but turning out for the USA on home soil would be an altogether different experience. Carter-Vickers has said: “Every player wants to play at World Cups and in big international tournaments. But for me it’s about focusing on the present and that’s the only way you end up there.”

Unfortunately for Carter-Vickers, current events are threatening to dash his dreams.

Race against time

Having picked up an unfortunate Achilles injury when turning out at club level, former Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers conceded that “not great news” means CCV could be out of action for “between three and five months”.

With that untimely knock being suffered in October 2025, it may be March 2026 before the commanding centre-half is seen again. If that were to be the case, then he would face a race against time to prove his worth and fitness to USMNT boss Mauricio Pochettino.

Carter-Vickers has not been ruled out of contention entirely, but a unique opportunity is in danger of passing him by. He will not get another chance to grace a World Cup in the States, with supposed home comforts suddenly delivering some serious discomfort.