Viaplay Cup format 2023/24

Format
The group stage involves 40 clubs - the 37 SPFL clubs from 2022/23 who did not qualify for Europe plus Brechin City (Highland League champions), The Spartans (Lowland League champions) and Cowdenbeath, who were relegated from cinch League 2 in May 2022.

Teams are drawn into eight groups of five based on final league positions. As was the case last season, there is no regionalisation in the group stage.

Group matches
Clubs are awarded the usual three points for a win but all drawn games in the group stage go straight to penalties - the shoot-out winners receive a bonus point. ie three points for a win, two points for a shoot-out win and one point for losing on penalties.

If clubs are level on points at the end of the group stage, the criteria for separating them is 1) goal difference, 2) goals scored, 3) away goals scored, 4) matches won, 5) away matches won, 6) head-to-head record, 7) drawing of lots.

Knock-out rounds
The eight group winners and three best runners-up progress to the second round, where they are joined by the five clubs competing in European competitions - Celtic, Rangers, Aberdeen, Heart of Midlothian and Hibernian.

The seeded teams in the last 16 will be the five European representatives and the three group winners with the best records.

The tournament reverts to a traditional knock-out format from the second round onwards, with ties decided by extra time and penalties if the scores are level after 90 minutes.

Viaplay Cup dates 2023/24

Group stage
MD1: Weekend of July 15/16
MD2: Midweek of July 18/19
MD3: Weekend of July 22/23
MD4: Midweek of July 25/26
MD5: Weekend of July 29/30

Second round
Weekend of August 19/20

Quarter-finals
Midweek of September 26-28

Semi-finals
Weekend of November 4/5

Final
Sunday December 17