2026–27 Scottish League Cup

2026–27 Scottish League Cup
Premier Sports Cup logo
Tournament details
CountryScotland
Dates11 July – 13 December 2026
Teams45
Tournament statistics
Matches played88
Goals scored274 (3.11 per match)
Attendance186,707 (2,122 per match)
Top goal scorer(s)Kevin Nisbet
(8 goals)

All statistics correct as of 16 August 2026.
Defending champions St Mirren

The 2026–27 Scottish League Cup, also known as the Premier Sports Cup for sponsorship reasons, is the 81st season of Scotland's second-most prestigious football knockout competition.

Schedule

Round First match date Fixtures Clubs
Group stage11 July 2026[1]8045 → 16
Second round15 August 2026[1]816 → 8
Quarter-finals12 September 2026[1]48 → 4
Semi-finals31 October 2026[1]24 → 2
Final13 December 2026[1]12 → 1

Format

The competition begins with eight groups of five teams.[2] In addition, the five clubs initially competing in the UEFA Champions League (Celtic and Heart of Midlothian), Europa League (Rangers) and Conference League (Motherwell and Hibernian) receive a bye to the second round. The group stage consists of 40 teams:

The winners of each of the eight groups, as well as the three best runners-up, progress to the second round, where they are joined by the five teams given byes (last 16; 8 + 3 + 5). At this stage, the competition reverts to the traditional knock-out format. The three group winners with the highest points total and the European entrants are seeded.

Bonus point system

Three points are awarded for a win and one point for a draw. In addition, in each group stage match that finishes in a draw, there is a penalty shoot-out, with the winner being awarded a bonus point.[3]

Group stage

The teams were seeded according to their final league positions in 2025–26 and drawn into eight groups, with each group comprising one team from each pot. The draw for the group stage took place on 27 May 2026 and was broadcast live on the Premier Sports Player and SPFL YouTube channel.[4]

Group A

Pos Team Pld W PW PL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification ABE QPA KEL QOS BRO
1 Aberdeen 4 4 0 0 0 11 2 +9 12 Qualification for the second round — 2–1 3–0 — —
2 Queen's Park 4 3 0 0 1 9 4 +5 9 — — — 3–1 3–1
3 Kelty Hearts 4 1 1 0 2 4 8 −4 5 — 0–2 — — 3–2
4 Queen of the South 4 1 0 1 2 6 8 −2 4 1–4 — 1–1p — —
5 Brora Rangers 4 0 0 0 4 3 11 −8 0 0–2 — — 0–3 —
Source: [5]
Rules for classification: 1) goal difference, 2) goals scored, 3) away goals scored, 4) matches won, 5) away matches won, 6) drawing of lots.[6]

Group B

Pos Team Pld W PW PL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification DUN MON ARB STI SPA
1 Dundee United 4 3 0 0 1 8 1 +7 9 Qualification for the second round — — 3–0 — 4–0
2 Montrose 4 3 0 0 1 5 2 +3 9 1–0 — — — 0–2
3 Arbroath 4 2 0 0 2 3 6 −3 6 — 0–2 — 1–0 —
4 Stirling Albion 4 1 0 0 3 3 5 −2 3 0–1 0–2 — — —
5 The Spartans 4 1 0 0 3 4 9 −5 3 — — 1–2 1–3 —
Source: [5]
Rules for classification: 1) goal difference, 2) goals scored, 3) away goals scored, 4) matches won, 5) away matches won, 6) drawing of lots.[6]

Group C

Pos Team Pld W PW PL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification STM DNF EKB DUM COV
1 St Mirren 4 3 0 0 1 12 4 +8 9 Qualification for the second round — 0–1 4–3 — —
2 Dunfermline Athletic 4 3 0 0 1 10 4 +6 9 — — — 4–1 5–0
3 East Kilbride 4 2 0 0 2 13 10 +3 6 — 3–0 — 5–3 —
4 Dumbarton 4 1 0 0 3 6 13 −7 3 0–4 — — — 2–0
5 Cove Rangers 4 1 0 0 3 3 13 −10 3 0–4 — 3–2 — —
Source: [5]
Rules for classification: 1) goal difference, 2) goals scored, 3) away goals scored, 4) matches won, 5) away matches won, 6) drawing of lots.[6]

Group D

Pos Team Pld W PW PL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification ROS DND CLY AIR ANN
1 Ross County 4 3 1 0 0 11 3 +8 11 Qualification for the second round — p1–1 3–1 — —
2 Dundee 4 3 0 1 0 14 3 +11 10 — — 4–0 4–2 —
3 Clyde 4 2 0 0 2 6 8 −2 6 — — — 1–0 4–1
4 Airdrieonians 4 1 0 0 3 5 8 −3 3 0–3 — — — 3–0
5 Annan Athletic 4 0 0 0 4 2 16 −14 0 1–4 0–5 — — —
Source: [5]
Rules for classification: 1) goal difference, 2) goals scored, 3) away goals scored, 4) matches won, 5) away matches won, 6) drawing of lots.[6]

Group E

Pos Team Pld W PW PL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification STE PAR LIV FOR BRE
1 Stenhousemuir 4 2 2 0 0 6 3 +3 10 Qualification for the second round — — 0–0p 2–0 —
2 Partick Thistle 4 2 1 1 0 13 3 +10 9 2–2p — — — 6–0
3 Livingston 4 2 0 2 0 11 1 +10 8 — 1–1p — 8–0 —
4 Forfar Athletic 4 1 0 0 3 3 15 −12 3 — 0–4 — — 3–1
5 Brechin City 4 0 0 0 4 2 13 −11 0 1–2 — 0–2 — —
Source: [5]
Rules for classification: 1) goal difference, 2) goals scored, 3) away goals scored, 4) matches won, 5) away matches won, 6) drawing of lots.[6]

Group F

Pos Team Pld W PW PL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification ICT EFI STJ LIN MOR
1 Inverness Caledonian Thistle 4 3 1 0 0 5 1 +4 11 Qualification for the second round — p1–1 1–0 — —
2 East Fife 4 2 1 1 0 7 3 +4 9 — — — 3–1 2–0
3 St Johnstone 4 2 0 1 1 6 2 +4 7 — 1–1p — — 3–0
4 Linlithgow Rose 4 1 0 0 3 2 7 −5 3 0–2 — 0–2 — —
5 Greenock Morton 4 0 0 0 4 0 7 −7 0 0–1 — — 0–1 —
Source: [5]
Rules for classification: 1) goal difference, 2) goals scored, 3) away goals scored, 4) matches won, 5) away matches won, 6) drawing of lots.[6]

Group G

Pos Team Pld W PW PL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification AYR FAL EDI ALL STR
1 Ayr United 4 4 0 0 0 11 3 +8 12 Qualification for the second round — — 3–0[a] 4–1 —
2 Falkirk 4 2 0 1 1 9 2 +7 7 0–1 — — — 3–0
3 Edinburgh City 4 2 0 0 2 4 8 −4 6 — 0–5 — 2–0 —
4 Alloa Athletic 4 0 2 0 2 3 8 −5 4 — p1–1 — — p2–2
5 Stranraer 4 0 0 1 3 4 10 −6 1 2–3 — 0–2 — —
Source: [5]
Rules for classification: 1) goal difference, 2) goals scored, 3) away goals scored, 4) matches won, 5) away matches won, 6) drawing of lots.[6]
Notes:
  1. ↑ Ayr United were awarded a technical 3−0 win over Edinburgh City, who fielded an ineligible player. The match had originally finished 2–0 to Ayr United.[7]

Group H

Pos Team Pld W PW PL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification KIL HAM RAI PET ELG
1 Kilmarnock 4 2 1 1 0 2 0 +2 9 Qualification for the second round — 1–0 p0–0 — —
2 Hamilton Academical 4 2 1 0 1 7 2 +5 8 — — p1–1 — 5–0
3 Raith Rovers 4 2 0 2 0 5 2 +3 8 — — — 1–0 3–1
4 Peterhead 4 1 1 0 2 3 3 0 5 0–0p 0–1 — — —
5 Elgin City 4 0 0 0 4 2 12 −10 0 0–1 — — 1–3 —
Source: [5]
Rules for classification: 1) goal difference, 2) goals scored, 3) away goals scored, 4) matches won, 5) away matches won, 6) drawing of lots.[6]

Knockout phase

Second round

Draw and seeding

Celtic, Heart of Midlothian, Rangers, Motherwell and Hibernian enter the competition at this stage, due to their participation in UEFA club competitions.[2] The draw for the second round took place on 26 July 2026 broadcast live on Premier Sports 1 following the St Mirren v Dunfermline Athletic match.[8]

Teams in bold advanced to the quarter-finals.

Seeded Unseeded

Matches

14 August 2026 Kilmarnock 3–2Ayr UnitedKilmarnock
19:45
[9]
Stadium: Rugby Park
Attendance: 11,365
Referee: Matthew MacDermid
15 August 2026 Dunfermline Athletic1–2 Ross County Dunfermline
15:00
[10]
Stadium: East End Park
Attendance: 3,535
Referee: Ryan Lee
15 August 2026 Aberdeen 3–0DundeeAberdeen
15:00
[11] Stadium: Pittodrie Stadium
Attendance: 10,018
Referee: Nick Walsh
15 August 2026 Dundee United0–4 Celtic Dundee
17:45 [12]
Stadium: Tannadice Park
Attendance: 9,136
Referee: Steven McLean
16 August 2026 Hibernian 1–0Partick ThistleEdinburgh
14:00
[13] Stadium: Easter Road
Attendance: 10,608
Referee: Duncan Nicolson
16 August 2026 Heart of Midlothian 6–2Inverness Caledonian ThistleEdinburgh
14:00
[14]
Stadium: Tynecastle Park
Attendance: 15,327
Referee: Calum Scott
16 August 2026 Stenhousemuir 1–0 (a.e.t.)MotherwellStenhousemuir
14:00
  • O'Reilly 114'
 [15] Stadium: Ochilview Park
Attendance: 1,943
Referee: Colin Steven
16 August 2026 Rangers 5–1St MirrenGlasgow
16:00
[16]
Stadium: Ibrox Stadium
Attendance: 34,387
Referee: John Beaton

Quarter-finals

Draw and seeding

The draw for the quarter-finals took place on 16 August 2026 broadcast live on Premier Sports 1 following the Rangers v St Mirren match.[17]

Premiership Championship League One

Matches

11 September 2026 Stenhousemuir v Heart of Midlothian Stenhousemuir
19:45 Stadium: Ochilview Park
12 September 2026 Ross County v Hibernian Dingwall
15:00 Stadium: Victoria Park
12 September 2026 Kilmarnock v Aberdeen Kilmarnock
17:45 Stadium: Rugby Park
13 September 2026 Rangers v Celtic Glasgow
12:00 Stadium: Ibrox Stadium


Media coverage

The domestic broadcasting rights for the competition are held exclusively by Premier Sports, who broadcast between 12 and 16 live matches per season, as well as highlights.[18]

The following matches will be broadcast live:

Round Date Match
Group stage 11 July 2026
(Matchday 1)		 Dumbarton v St Mirren (streamed)
Dundee v Airdrieonians (streamed)
East Kilbride v Dunfermline Athletic (streamed)
Edinburgh City v Falkirk (streamed)
Stirling Albion v Dundee United
14 July 2026
(Matchday 2)		 Annan Athletic v Dundee
Brora Rangers v Aberdeen
Falkirk v Ayr United
Kilmarnock v Raith Rovers
Linlithgow Rose v St Johnstone
Montrose v Dundee United (all streamed)
18 July 2026
(Matchday 3)		 Cove Rangers v St Mirren (streamed)
Elgin City v Kilmarnock (streamed)
Livingston v Partick Thistle (streamed)
St Johnstone v Greenock Morton (streamed)
Aberdeen v Queen's Park
Dundee United v Arbroath
21 July 2026
22 July 2026
(Matchday 4)		 Alloa Athletic v Falkirk (streamed)
Dundee United v The Spartans (streamed)
Inverness Caledonian Thistle v St Johnstone (streamed)
Kilmarnock v Hamilton Academical (streamed)
Ross County v Dundee (streamed)
St Mirren v East Kilbride (streamed)
Queen of the South v Aberdeen
(streamed matches 21 July 2026, Queen of the South v Aberdeen 22 July 2026)
25 July 2026
26 July 2026
(Matchday 5)		 Aberdeen v Kelty Hearts (streamed)
Dundee v Clyde (streamed)
Falkirk v Stranraer (streamed)
Peterhead v Kilmarnock (streamed)
St Johnstone v East Fife (streamed)
St Mirren v Dunfermline Athletic
(streamed matches 25 July 2026, St Mirren v Dunfermline Athletic 26 July 2026)[19]
Second round 14 August 2026 Kilmarnock v Ayr United
15 August 2026 Aberdeen v Dundee (streamed)
Dunfermline Athletic v Ross County (streamed)
Dundee United v Celtic
16 August 2026 Heart of Midlothian v Inverness Caledonian Thistle (streamed)
Hibernian v Partick Thistle (streamed)
Stenhousemuir v Motherwell (streamed)
Rangers v St Mirren[20]
Quarter-finals 11 September 2026 Stenhousemuir v Heart of Midlothian
12 September 2026 Ross County v Hibernian (streamed)
Kilmarnock v Aberdeen
13 September 2026 Rangers v Celtic[21]
Semi-finals
Final

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Premier Sports Cup 2026/27 draw". SPFL. 20 May 2026. Retrieved 26 May 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 "Premier Sports Cup 2026/27 draw". SPFL. 26 May 2026. Retrieved 26 May 2026.
  3. ↑ "New League Cup format and TV deal". SPFL. 7 December 2015. Archived from the original on 22 March 2017. Retrieved 7 June 2023.
  4. ↑ "Premier Sports Cup draw". SPFL. 27 May 2026. Retrieved 27 May 2026.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Standings - League Cup". Soccerway. Retrieved 26 July 2026.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Format". SPFL. Retrieved 7 June 2023.
  7. ↑ "SPFL statement: Premier Sports Cup MD3". SPFL. 22 July 2026. Retrieved 22 July 2026.
  8. ↑ "Premier Sports Cup last-16 draw". SPFL. 26 July 2026. Retrieved 26 July 2026.
  9. ↑ "Kilmarnock vs Ayr United". SPFL. Retrieved 14 August 2026.
  10. ↑ "Dunfermline Athletic vs Ross County". SPFL. Retrieved 15 August 2026.
  11. ↑ "Aberdeen vs Dundee". SPFL. Retrieved 15 August 2026.
  12. ↑ "Dundee United vs Celtic". SPFL. Retrieved 15 August 2026.
  13. ↑ "Hibernian vs Partick Thistle". SPFL. Retrieved 16 August 2026.
  14. ↑ "Heart of Midlothian vs Inverness Caledonian Thistle". SPFL. Retrieved 16 August 2026.
  15. ↑ "Stenhousemuir vs Motherwell". SPFL. Retrieved 16 August 2026.
  16. ↑ "Rangers vs St Mirren". SPFL. Retrieved 16 August 2026.
  17. ↑ "Premier Sports Cup quarter-final draw". SPFL. 16 August 2026. Retrieved 16 August 2026.
  18. ↑ "Premier Sports to sponsor League Cup". SPFL. 27 April 2021. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
  19. ↑ "Premier Sports Cup fixtures 2026/27". SPFL. 11 June 2026. Retrieved 11 June 2026.
  20. ↑ "Premier Sports Cup last-16 fixtures". SPFL. 31 July 2026. Retrieved 31 July 2026.
  21. ↑ "Premier Sports Cup quarter-finals confirmed". SPFL. 18 August 2026. Retrieved 18 August 2026.
This page is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.