The SPFL has confirmed the arrangements for the 2025/26 KDM Evolution Trophy league phase fixture launch, which will be broadcast on the SPFL YouTube channel tomorrow, Thursday July 17, at 1.00pm.
The opening-round league phase of the new format will comprise of 10 William Hill League 1 clubs, 10 William Hill League 2 clubs and 10 William Hill Premiership B teams. Each club will play six league phase matches on a broadly regionalised basis, with the top 22 progressing to the knock-out stage, where they will be joined by the 10 William Hill Championship clubs.
The 30 participating clubs have been divided into three pots by division and regionalised into North and South sections. All 30 clubs will be physically drawn from their respective pots, which will inform the order in which clubs’ league phase fixtures are launched.
The launch will start with the North region, with one club drawn from each of pot A, pot B and pot C consecutively. The six league phase opponents for each club drawn from each of the three pots will then be revealed on screen. The procedure is repeated until all clubs are drawn and all 90 KDM Evolution Trophy league phase fixtures are launched. The full fixture details for all matches will be confirmed in due course.
The league phase will kick off on the midweek of August 12/13 and conclude with matchday six on Tuesday November 11. The knock-out stages begin with the Round of 32 on December 9/10 and the final will take place on the weekend of March 28/29 or April 4/5, 2026.
KDM Evolution Trophy league phase fixture launch pots
North Pot A
- 1 Cove Rangers
- 2 Inverness Caledonian Thistle
- 3 Montrose
- 4 Peterhead
North Pot B
- 5 Elgin City
- 6 Forfar Athletic
- 7 Stirling Albion
- 8 The Spartans
North Pot C
- 9 Aberdeen B
- 10 Dundee B
- 11 Dundee United B
- 12 Hibernian B
South Pot A
- 13 Alloa Athletic
- 14 East Fife
- 15 Hamilton Academical
- 16 Kelty Hearts
- 17 Queen of the South
- 18 Stenhousemuir
South Pot B
- 19 Annan Athletic
- 20 Clyde
- 21 Dumbarton
- 22 East Kilbride
- 23 Edinburgh City
- 24 Stranraer
South Pot C
- 25 Celtic B
- 26 Heart of Midlothian B
- 27 Kilmarnock B
- 28 Motherwell B
- 29 Rangers B
- 30 St. Mirren B
KDM Evolution Trophy dates 2025/26
League phase
MD1: Midweek of August 12/13, 2025
MD2: Midweek of August 26/27, 2025
MD3: Weekend of September 6/7, 2025
MD4: Midweek of September 23/24, 2025
MD5: Weekend of October 11/12, 2025
MD6: Tuesday November 11, 2025
Round of 32
Midweek of December 9/10, 2025
Round of 16
Midweek of January 6/7, 2026
Quarter-finals
Midweek of January 27/28, 2026
Semi-finals
Midweek of February 24/25, 2026
Final
Weekend of March 28/29 or April 4/5, 2026
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