2025–26 Scottish League Cup

2025–26 Scottish League Cup
Premier Sports Cup logo
Tournament details
CountryScotland
Dates11 July – 14 December 2025
Teams45
Defending championsCeltic
Tournament statistics
Matches played94
Goals scored312 (3.32 per match)
Attendance349,569 (3,719 per match)
Top goal scorerMikael Mandron (7 goals)
2026–27 →

All statistics correct as of 2 November 2025.

The 2025–26 Scottish League Cup, also known as the Premier Sports Cup for sponsorship reasons, is the 80th season of Scotland's second-most prestigious football knockout competition. Celtic are the defending champions.

Schedule

[edit]
Round First match date Fixtures Clubs
Group stage 12 July 2025[1] 80 45 → 16
Second round 15 August 2025[1] 8 16 → 8
Quarter-finals 19 September 2025[1] 4 8 → 4
Semi-finals 1 November 2025[1] 2 4 → 2
Final 14 December 2025[1] 1 2 → 1

Format

[edit]

The competition begins with eight groups of five teams.[2] In addition, the five clubs initially competing in the UEFA Champions League (Celtic and Rangers), Europa League (Aberdeen and Hibernian) and Conference League (Dundee United) 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

[edit]

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

[edit]

The teams were seeded according to their final league positions in 2024–25 and drawn into eight groups, with each group comprising one team from each pot. The draw for the group stage took place on 28 May 2025 and was broadcast live on the Premier Sports and SPFL YouTube channels.[4]

Group A

[edit]
Pos Team Pld W PW PL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification FAL COV QPA SPA BRE
1 Falkirk 4 3 1 0 0 14 1 +13 11 Qualification for the second round 3–1 4–0
2 Cove Rangers 4 2 0 1 1 5 2 +3 7 0–0p 1–0
3 Queen's Park 4 2 0 0 2 9 6 +3 6 2–1 5–0
4 The Spartans 4 2 0 0 2 4 6 −2 6 2–1 2–0
5 Brechin City 4 0 0 0 4 0 17 −17 0 0–7 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

[edit]
Pos Team Pld W PW PL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification PAR ROS STR QOS EDI
1 Partick Thistle 4 4 0 0 0 11 2 +9 12 Qualification for the second round 2–0 2–0
2 Ross County 4 2 0 1 1 11 4 +7 7 1–3 8–0
3 Stranraer 4 1 1 1 1 2 3 −1 6 p1–1 1–0
4 Queen of the South 4 1 0 0 3 4 4 0 3 0–1 4–0
5 Edinburgh City 4 0 1 0 3 1 16 −15 2 1–4 p0–0
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

[edit]
Pos Team Pld W PW PL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification ALL AIR DND MON BON
1 Alloa Athletic 4 4 0 0 0 7 3 +4 12 Qualification for the second round 1–0 2–1
2 Airdrieonians 4 3 0 0 1 8 4 +4 9 2–3 3–0
3 Dundee 4 2 0 0 2 8 3 +5 6 0–1 5–0
4 Montrose 4 1 0 0 3 6 10 −4 3 1–2 4–1
5 Bonnyrigg Rose 4 0 0 0 4 2 11 −9 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]

Group D

[edit]
Pos Team Pld W PW PL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification STM AYR ARB FOR ANN
1 St Mirren 4 3 0 1 0 12 4 +8 10 Qualification for the second round 2–1 8–2
2 Ayr United 4 3 0 0 1 14 3 +11 9 4–0 3–0
3 Arbroath 4 1 1 0 2 6 5 +1 5 p0–0 6–0
4 Forfar Athletic 4 1 1 0 2 3 6 −3 5 1–2 1–0
5 Annan Athletic 4 0 0 1 3 4 21 −17 1 1–6 1–1p
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

[edit]
Pos Team Pld W PW PL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification HOM DNF DUM HAM STI
1 Heart of Midlothian 4 4 0 0 0 16 1 +15 12 Qualification for the second round 4–1 4–0
2 Dunfermline Athletic 4 3 0 0 1 9 5 +4 9 2–1 2–0
3 Dumbarton 4 2 0 0 2 2 8 −6 6 0–4 1–0
4 Hamilton Academical 4 1 0 0 3 3 7 −4 3 0–4 0–1
5 Stirling Albion 4 0 0 0 4 0 9 −9 0 0–4 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

[edit]
Pos Team Pld W PW PL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification STJ RAI ICT EKB ELG
1 St Johnstone 4 4 0 0 0 15 2 +13 12 Qualification for the second round 3–1 8–0
2 Raith Rovers 4 2 0 0 2 13 9 +4 6 5–1 2–4
3 Inverness Caledonian Thistle 4 2 0 0 2 9 8 +1 6 0–1 2–0
4 East Kilbride 4 2 0 0 2 11 12 −1 6 1–3 2–6
5 Elgin City 4 0 0 0 4 2 19 −17 0 1–5 1–4
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

[edit]
Pos Team Pld W PW PL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification MOT GMO CLY STE PET
1 Motherwell 4 3 1 0 0 8 3 +5 11 Qualification for the second round 3–0 2–1
2 Greenock Morton 4 3 0 0 1 10 5 +5 9 3–0 3–0
3 Clyde 4 1 1 1 1 6 8 −2 6 2–2p p2–2
4 Stenhousemuir 4 1 0 1 2 3 6 −3 4 0–1 1–0
5 Peterhead 4 0 0 0 4 4 9 −5 0 2–4 1–2
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 H

[edit]
Pos Team Pld W PW PL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification KIL LIV EFI KEL BRO
1 Kilmarnock 4 3 0 1 0 7 0 +7 10 Qualification for the second round 1–0 4–0
2 Livingston 4 3 0 0 1 10 2 +8 9 6–0 2–0
3 East Fife 4 2 0 0 2 5 6 −1 6 1–2 3–0
4 Kelty Hearts 4 1 1 0 2 4 7 −3 5 p0–0 0–1
5 Brora Rangers 4 0 0 0 4 0 11 −11 0 0–2 0–4
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]

Best runners-up

[edit]
Pos Grp Team Pld W PW PL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 D Ayr United 4 3 0 0 1 14 3 +11 9 Qualification for the second round
2 H Livingston 4 3 0 0 1 10 2 +8 9
3 G Greenock Morton 4 3 0 0 1 10 5 +5 9
4 E Dunfermline Athletic 4 3 0 0 1 9 5 +4 9
5 C Airdrieonians 4 3 0 0 1 8 4 +4 9
6 B Ross County 4 2 0 1 1 11 4 +7 7
7 A Cove Rangers 4 2 0 1 1 5 2 +3 7
8 F Raith Rovers 4 2 0 0 2 13 9 +4 6
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

[edit]

Second round

[edit]

Draw and seeding

[edit]

Celtic, Rangers, Aberdeen, Hibernian and Dundee United entered the competition at this stage, due to their participation in UEFA club competitions.[2]

The draw for the second round was made following the St Mirren v Ayr United match on 27 July 2025, and broadcast live on Premier Sports 1.[7]

Teams in bold advanced to the quarter-finals.

Seeded Unseeded

Matches

[edit]
15 August 2025 Celtic 4–1FalkirkGlasgow
19:45
[8]
  • Adams 67'
Stadium: Celtic Park
Attendance: 46,063
Referee: Lloyd Wilson
16 August 2025 Greenock Morton0–3 Aberdeen Greenock
15:00 [9]
Stadium: Cappielow
Attendance: 4,885
Referee: Matthew MacDermid
16 August 2025 Partick Thistle 2–0Ayr UnitedGlasgow
15:00 [10] Stadium: Firhill Stadium
Attendance: 3,124
Referee: Ryan Lee
16 August 2025 St Johnstone0–1 (a.e.t.) Motherwell Perth
15:00 [11]
Stadium: McDiarmid Park
Attendance: 4,330
Referee: David Dickinson
16 August 2025 St Mirren 1–1 (a.e.t.)
(5–4 p)
Heart of MidlothianPaisley
15:00
[12]
Stadium: St Mirren Park
Attendance: 4,738
Referee: Steven McLean
Penalties
16 August 2025 Rangers 4–2Alloa AthleticGlasgow
17:45
[13]
Stadium: Ibrox Stadium
Attendance: 33,959
Referee: Dan McFarlane
17 August 2025 Kilmarnock 2–1Dundee UnitedKilmarnock
15:00
[14]
Stadium: Rugby Park
Attendance: 4,853
Referee: Kevin Clancy
17 August 2025 Livingston0–2 Hibernian Livingston
15:00 [15]
Stadium: Almondvale Stadium
Attendance: 4,696
Referee: Ross Hardie

Quarter-finals

[edit]

Draw and seeding

[edit]

The draw for the quarter-finals was made following the Rangers v Alloa Athletic match on 16 August 2025, and broadcast live on Premier Sports 1.[16]

Teams in Italics were not known at the time of the draw.

Teams in bold advanced to the semi-finals.

Premiership Championship

Matches

[edit]
19 September 2025 Kilmarnock2–2 (a.e.t.)
(3–5 p)
St Mirren Kilmarnock
19:45
[17] Stadium: Rugby Park
Attendance: 7,192
Referee: David Dickinson
Penalties
20 September 2025 Aberdeen0–1 Motherwell Aberdeen
15:00 [18] Stadium: Pittodrie Stadium
Attendance: 10,533
Referee: John Beaton
20 September 2025 Rangers 2–0HibernianGlasgow
17:45
[19] Stadium: Ibrox Stadium
Attendance: 34,682
Referee: Nick Walsh
21 September 2025 Partick Thistle0–4 Celtic Glasgow
15:30 [20]
Stadium: Firhill Stadium
Attendance: 8,817
Referee: Kevin Clancy

Semi-finals

[edit]

Draw and seeding

[edit]

The draw for the semi-finals was made following the Partick Thistle v Celtic match on 21 September 2025 and was broadcast live on Premier Sports 1.[21]

Teams in bold advanced to the final.

Matches

[edit]
1 November 2025 Motherwell1–4 St Mirren Glasgow
17:30 Hendry 83' [22]
Stadium: Hampden Park
Attendance: 21,277
Referee: Don Robertson
2 November 2025 Celtic 3–1 (a.e.t.)RangersGlasgow
14:00
[23]
Stadium: Hampden Park
Attendance: 49,446
Referee: Nick Walsh

Final

[edit]
14 December 2025 St Mirren v Celtic Glasgow
15:30 Stadium: Hampden Park

Media coverage

[edit]

The domestic broadcasting rights for the competition are held exclusively by Premier Sports, who will broadcast between 12 and 16 live matches per season, as well as highlights.[24] Premier Sports further announced they would stream up to 25 additional games from the group stage on their website. The broadcaster will also broadcast all games live from the second round onwards, either streamed or televised, subject to blackout rules.[25]

The following matches will be broadcast live:

Round Date Match
Group stage 12 July 2025
(Matchday 1)
Arbroath v St Mirren (streamed)
Brechin City v Falkirk (streamed)
Brora Rangers v Kilmarnock (streamed)
Clyde v Motherwell (streamed)
Dundee v Airdrieonians (streamed)
East Kilbride v St Johnstone (streamed)
Heart of Midlothian v Dunfermline Athletic[26]
15 July 2025
(Matchday 2)
Forfar Athletic v St Mirren (streamed)
Hamilton Academical v Heart of Midlothian (streamed)
Motherwell v Peterhead (streamed)
Kilmarnock v Livingston (16 July 2025)[26]
19 July 2025
(Matchday 3)
Alloa Athletic v Dundee (streamed)
St Mirren v Annan Athletic (streamed)
Inverness Caledonian Thistle v St Johnstone (streamed)
Stenhousemuir v Motherwell (streamed)
Livingston v Brora Rangers (streamed)
Stirling Albion v Heart of Midlothian[26]
22 July 2025
(Matchday 4)
Falkirk v Queen's Park (streamed)
Kelty Hearts v Kilmarnock (streamed)
Partick Thistle v Queen of the South (streamed)
St Johnstone v Raith Rovers (streamed)
Motherwell v Greenock Morton
Heart of Midlothian v Dumbarton (23 July 2025) (streamed)[26]
26 July 2025
(Matchday 5)
Dundee v Montrose (streamed)
Falkirk v The Spartans (streamed)
Kilmarnock v East Fife (streamed)
Livingston v Kelty Hearts (streamed)
Ross County v Partick Thistle (streamed)
St Johnstone v Elgin City (streamed)
St Mirren v Ayr United (27 July 2025)[26]
Second round 15 August 2025 Celtic v Falkirk[27]
16 August 2025 Greenock Morton v Aberdeen (streamed)
Partick Thistle v Ayr United (streamed)
St Johnstone v Motherwell (streamed)
St Mirren v Heart of Midlothian (streamed)
Rangers v Alloa Athletic[27]
17 August 2025 Kilmarnock v Dundee United (streamed)
Livingston v Hibernian (streamed)
Quarter-Finals 19 September 2025 Kilmarnock v St Mirren (streamed)[28]
20 September 2025 Aberdeen v Motherwell
Rangers v Hibernian[28]
21 September 2025 Partick Thistle v Celtic[28]
Semi-Finals 1 November 2025 Motherwell v St Mirren[29]
2 November 2025 Celtic v Rangers[29]
Final 14 December 2025 St Mirren v Celtic[30]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e "Premier Sports Cup 2025/26". SPFL. 1 May 2025. Retrieved 26 May 2025.
  2. ^ a b c "Premier Sports Cup seedings". SPFL. 27 May 2025. Retrieved 27 May 2025.
  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 group stage draw". SPFL. 28 May 2025. Retrieved 28 May 2025.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Summary - League Cup". Soccerway. Retrieved 27 July 2025.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Format". SPFL. Retrieved 7 June 2023.
  7. ^ "Premier Sports Cup R2 draw". SPFL. 27 July 2025. Retrieved 27 July 2025.
  8. ^ "Celtic vs. Falkirk - 15 August 2025". Soccerway. 15 August 2025. Retrieved 15 August 2025.
  9. ^ "Greenock Morton vs. Aberdeen - 16 August 2025". Soccerway. 16 August 2025. Retrieved 17 August 2025.
  10. ^ "Partick Thistle vs. Ayr United - 16 August 2025". Soccerway. 16 August 2025. Retrieved 17 August 2025.
  11. ^ "St Johnstone vs. Motherwell - 16 August 2025". Soccerway. 16 August 2025. Retrieved 17 August 2025.
  12. ^ "St Mirren vs. Hearts - 16 August 2025". Soccerway. 16 August 2025. Retrieved 17 August 2025.
  13. ^ "Rangers vs. Alloa Athletic - 16 August 2025". Soccerway. 16 August 2025. Retrieved 17 August 2025.
  14. ^ Cohen, Charlotte (17 August 2025). "Kilmarnock vs Dundee United". BBC. Retrieved 17 August 2025.
  15. ^ McLauchlin, Brian (17 August 2025). "Livingston vs Hibernian". BBC. Retrieved 17 August 2025.
  16. ^ "Premier Sports Cup quarter-final draw". SPFL. 16 August 2025. Retrieved 17 August 2025.
  17. ^ "Kilmarnock vs St Mirren". BBC. 19 September 2025. Retrieved 19 September 2025.
  18. ^ "Aberdeen vs Motherwell". BBC. 20 September 2025. Retrieved 20 September 2025.
  19. ^ "Rangers vs Hibernian". BBC. 20 September 2025. Retrieved 20 September 2025.
  20. ^ "Partick Thistle vs Celtic". BBC. 21 September 2025. Retrieved 21 September 2025.
  21. ^ "Premier Sports Cup semi-final draw". SPFL. 21 September 2025. Retrieved 21 September 2025.
  22. ^ "Motherwell vs St Mirren". BBC. 1 November 2025. Retrieved 2 November 2025.
  23. ^ "Celtic vs Rangers". BBC. 2 November 2025. Retrieved 2 November 2025.
  24. ^ "Premier Sports to sponsor League Cup". SPFL. 27 April 2021. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
  25. ^ "More matches on Premier Sports". SPFL. 3 July 2024. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
  26. ^ a b c d e "Premier Sports Cup update". SPFL. 16 June 2025. Retrieved 16 June 2025.
  27. ^ a b "Premier Sports Cup R2 fixtures". SPFL. 1 August 2025. Retrieved 1 August 2025.
  28. ^ a b c "Premier Sports Cup quarter-finals". SPFL. 29 August 2025. Retrieved 29 August 2025.
  29. ^ a b "Premier Sports Cup semi-final details". SPFL. 24 September 2025. Retrieved 26 September 2025.
  30. ^ "Celtic beat Rangers to reach final". SPFL. 2 November 2025. Retrieved 2 November 2025.