Celtic to play 3 matches in Australia

Published May. 18, 2011 2:02 a.m. ET

foxsports

Glasgow Celtic, 42-time Scottish football champions, will play friendlies against A-League teams in Sydney, Perth and Melbourne in July, the club's third tour of Australia after previous visits in 1977 and 2009.

Football Federation Australia and tour promoters said Wednesday that Celtic will play the Central Coast Mariners in Sydney on July 2, the Perth Glory on July 9 and the Melbourne Victory on July 13.

Melbourne Victory managing director Richard Wilson said the tour was ''crucial to Celtic's preseason training and we're expecting them to bring a full-strength squad.''