Kairat Almaty, the club that will travel around the world in the Champions League | OneFootball

For comparison, they're about to circle the entire planet (40,000 km) plus a Los Angeles–Miami trip as a bonus.

Kairat Almaty, the club that will travel around the world in the Champions League

Kazakh side Kairat Almaty are set to cover nearly 45,000 kilometers in their maiden Champions League campaign. That’s a record-breaking distance, surpassing a full lap around the Earth.

Their qualification, clinched on Tuesday night against Celtic, sparked euphoria across Kazakhstan. But there was barely time to savor the moment before the August 28th draw handed Kairat Almaty a daunting group: Real Madrid, Club Brugge, Olympiacos, and Pafos at home. And, above all, marathon away trips: Inter Milan, Arsenal, Sporting Portugal, and FC Copenhagen.

The numbers are staggering. Copenhagen? 4,664 km round trip. Milan? 5,225 km. London? 5,599 km. But the real epic is Lisbon: 6,908 km to cover, the longest single journey ever recorded in European competitions. Add up all four away trips and Kairat clocks 22,396 km one way. Double that for the return journeys and you get a mind-blowing 44,792 km.

For Kairat’s players, this first Champions League adventure will feel as much like a worldwide expedition as a football competition. What an experience awaits the Kazakhs, who are already relishing the dream draw they’ve been handed.