Celtic and Rangers will closely monitor the World Cup clash between the USA and Belgium tonight, as the result could determine the availability of key players for the Scottish Premiership opener.
World Cup implications for SPFL players
Only three SPFL players remain in the tournament after the round of 16: Celtic's Auston Trusty (USA), Rangers' Nicolas Raskin (Belgium), and Thelo Aasgaard (Norway). Trusty and Raskin face off tonight in Seattle, with the loser eliminated.
FIFA's agreement with players' unions mandates a 21-day break after major tournaments before players must return to training. For most SPFL players, this is manageable, but for those still playing, it creates a tight timeline.
Rangers' concerns
Rangers already know Aasgaard will miss their opener against Dundee United on July 31, as Norway plays England on July 11, leaving only 20 days before the match. If Raskin advances, Belgium would play on July 10, also too close for him to feature.
Celtic's potential loss
If Trusty and the USA win, they advance to a quarterfinal on July 10. That would give Trusty only 23 days before Celtic's opener against Dundee on August 3, leaving just two days of training and virtually ruling him out as a starter. Conversely, Raskin would have 21 days from July 7 to July 31, making him available.
The 21-day leave is a recommendation, but clubs generally honour it. Both clubs face uncertainty depending on tonight's outcome.
