The SPFL has today confirmed the fixture list for the group stage of the 2025/26 Premier Sports Cup, following Wednesday’s draw at Hampden Park.
Five matches have been selected for live coverage on Premier Sports, beginning with Heart of Midlothian v Dunfermline Athletic on Saturday July 12, kick-off 5.15pm, as new Hearts manager Derek McInnes takes charge of his first competitive game at Tynecastle.
The other TV fixtures are Kilmarnock v Livingston (Wednesday July 16, ko 7.45pm), Stirling Albion v Heart of Midlothian (Saturday July 19, ko 5.15pm), Motherwell v Greenock Morton (Tuesday July 22, ko 7.45pm) and St Mirren v Ayr United (Sunday July 27, ko 3.00pm).
As was the case last season, a number of other matches will be broadcast on the Premier Sports app so fixtures not selected for TV remain subject to change at this stage.
A total of 80 games will be played over five matchdays across the group stage, involving 37 SPFL clubs plus Highland League winners Brora Rangers, Highland League runners-up Brechin City and Bonnyrigg Rose of the Lowland League.
The eight group winners and three best runners-up will join European representatives Celtic (the current holders), Rangers, Aberdeen, Hibernian and Dundee United in the last 16 on the weekend of August 16/17.
The quarter-finals will be played on the weekend of September 20/21 and the semi-finals are scheduled for the weekend of November 1/2. The 2025/26 Premier Sports Cup final will take place on Sunday December 14.
SPFL Chief Operating Officer Calum Beattie: “We are delighted to be able to announce the fixtures and TV selections for the group stage of the Premier Sports Cup as we look forward to the start of the new season kicking off in July.
“In addition to the five matches selected for live coverage on Premier Sports, supporters will also have the opportunity to watch additional games via the Premier Sports app and we hope to be in a position to confirm those selections shortly.”
PREMIER SPORTS CUP 2025/26 - GROUP STAGE FIXTURE LIST
GROUP A
Saturday July 12
Brechin City v Falkirk (3.00pm)
The Spartans v Queen's Park (3.00pm)
Tuesday July 15
Cove Rangers v The Spartans (7.45pm)
Queen's Park v Brechin City (7.45pm)
Saturday July 19
Cove Rangers v Falkirk (3.00pm)
The Spartans v Brechin City (3.00pm)
Tuesday July 22
Brechin City v Cove Rangers (7.45pm)
Falkirk v Queen's Park (7.45pm)
Saturday July 26
Falkirk v The Spartans (3.00pm)
Queen's Park v Cove Rangers (3.00pm)
GROUP B
Saturday July 12
Edinburgh City v Partick Thistle (3.00pm)
Stranraer v Ross County (3.00pm)
Tuesday July 15
Partick Thistle v Stranraer (7.45pm)
Queen of the South v Edinburgh City (7.45pm)
Saturday July 19
Edinburgh City v Stranraer (3.00pm)
Queen of the South v Ross County (3.00pm)
Tuesday July 22
Partick Thistle v Queen of the South (7.45pm)
Ross County v Edinburgh City (7.45pm)
Saturday July 26
Ross County v Partick Thistle (3.00pm)
Stranraer v Queen of the South (3.00pm)
GROUP C
Saturday July 12
Bonnyrigg Rose v Alloa Athletic (3.00pm)
Dundee v Airdrieonians (3.00pm)
Tuesday July 15
Airdrieonians v Bonnyrigg Rose (7.45pm)
Alloa Athletic v Montrose (7.45pm)
Saturday July 19
Alloa Athletic v Dundee (3.00pm)
Montrose v Bonnyrigg Rose (3.00pm)
Tuesday July 22
Bonnyrigg Rose v Dundee (7.45pm)
Montrose v Airdrieonians (7.45pm)
Saturday July 26
Airdrieonians v Alloa Athletic (3.00pm)
Dundee v Montrose (3.00pm)
GROUP D
Saturday July 12
Annan Athletic v Forfar Athletic (3.00pm)
Arbroath v St Mirren (3.00pm)
Tuesday July 15
Annan Athletic v Ayr United (7.45pm)
Forfar Athletic v St Mirren (7.45pm)
Saturday July 19
Ayr United v Arbroath (3.00pm)
St Mirren v Annan Athletic (3.00pm)
Tuesday July 22
Arbroath v Annan Athletic (7.45pm)
Ayr United v Forfar Athletic (7.45pm)
Saturday July 26
Forfar Athletic v Arbroath (3.00pm)
Sunday July 27
St Mirren v Ayr United (Premier Sports, 3.00pm)
GROUP E
Saturday July 12
Heart of Midlothian v Dunfermline Athletic (Premier Sports, 5.15pm)
Stirling Albion v Hamilton Academical (3.00pm)
Tuesday July 15
Dumbarton v Stirling Albion (7.45pm)
Hamilton Academical v Heart of Midlothian (7.45pm)
Saturday July 19
Dumbarton v Dunfermline Athletic (3.00pm)
Stirling Albion v Heart of Midlothian (Premier Sports, 5.15pm)
Tuesday July 22
Dunfermline Athletic v Hamilton Academical (7.45pm)
Wednesday July 23
Heart of Midlothian v Dumbarton (7.45pm)
Saturday July 26
Dunfermline Athletic v Stirling Albion (3.00pm)
Hamilton Academical v Dumbarton (3.00pm)
GROUP F
Saturday July 12
East Kilbride v St Johnstone (3.00pm)
Elgin City v Raith Rovers (3.00pm)
Tuesday July 15
Inverness CT v Elgin City (7.45pm)
Raith Rovers v East Kilbride (7.45pm)
Saturday July 19
Elgin City v East Kilbride (3.00pm)
Inverness CT v St Johnstone (3.00pm)
Tuesday July 22
East Kilbride v Inverness CT (7.45pm)
St Johnstone v Raith Rovers (7.45pm)
Saturday July 26
Raith Rovers v Inverness CT (3.00pm)
St Johnstone v Elgin City (3.00pm)
GROUP G
Saturday July 12
Clyde v Motherwell (3.00pm)
Peterhead v Greenock Morton (3.00pm)
Tuesday July 15
Greenock Morton v Stenhousemuir (7.45pm)
Motherwell v Peterhead (7.45pm)
Saturday July 19
Peterhead v Clyde (3.00pm)
Stenhousemuir v Motherwell (3.00pm)
Tuesday July 22
Clyde v Stenhousemuir (7.45pm)
Motherwell v Greenock Morton (Premier Sports, 7.45pm)
Saturday July 26
Greenock Morton v Clyde (3.00pm)
Stenhousemuir v Peterhead (3.00pm)
GROUP H
Saturday July 12
Brora Rangers v Kilmarnock (3.00pm)
East Fife v Livingston (3.00pm)
Tuesday July 15
Brora Rangers v Kelty Hearts (7.45pm)
Wednesday July 16
Kilmarnock v Livingston (Premier Sports, 7.45pm)
Saturday July 19
Kelty Hearts v East Fife (3.00pm)
Livingston v Brora Rangers (3.00pm)
Tuesday July 22
East Fife v Brora Rangers (7.45pm)
Kelty Hearts v Kilmarnock (7.45pm)
Saturday July 26
Kilmarnock v East Fife (3.00pm)
Livingston v Kelty Hearts (3.00pm)
Live broadcast
Please note that fixtures not selected for live TV coverage remain subject to change for broadcast on the Premier Sports app.
Format
Three points for a win and one point for a draw. Drawn matches in the group stage go straight to a penalty shoot-out, with the winners awarded a bonus point. The eight group winners and three best runners-up qualify for the last 16, where they are joined by European entrants Celtic, Rangers, Aberdeen, Hibernian and Dundee United.
Venues
A number of clubs are carrying out summer pitch works and any changes to venues will be shared on club channels in due course. Hamilton Academical have received permission to play their group stage home fixtures at K-Park, East Kilbride.
Dates for future rounds
Second round - Weekend of August 16/17
Quarter-finals - Weekend of September 20/21
Semi-finals - Weekend of November 1/2
Final - Sunday December 14
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