The SPFL has confirmed the seeding pots for the 2025/26 Premier Sports Cup group stage draw, which takes place tomorrow, Wednesday May 28, at 1pm.
The draw will be shown live on Premier Sports 1 and can also be followed on the Premier Sports YouTube channel and their X/Twitter page. In addition, the draw will be broadcast live on the SPFL YouTube channel.
The five SPFL clubs competing in UEFA competitions will again enter the tournament at the knock-out stage, with the group stage draw involving the other 37 SPFL clubs for 2025/26, including newcomers East Kilbride. Also participating as guest clubs this season are Bonnyrigg Rose of the Lowland League, Highland League champions Brora Rangers, and Highland League runners-up Brechin City.
As has been the case for the previous three seasons, there is no regionalised aspect to the draw. The 40 participating clubs have been split into five seeding pots based on final league placings in season 2024/25. One club from each pot will be drawn into the eight Groups A-H.
The 2025/26 Premier Sports Cup will kick off on the weekend of July 12/13, with further group stage matchdays on July 15/16, July 19/20, July 22/23 and July 26/27.
The eight group winners and three best runners-up will join the five clubs who qualified for Europe – Celtic, 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 at Hampden Park on Sunday December 14.
Last season’s competition saw record prize money on offer and that has been maintained for the 2025/26 edition, with participating clubs guaranteed a minimum of £30,000. Reaching the last 16 is worth at least £60,000 while the cup winners will receive £400,000.
Group stage draw seeding pots
Pot 1
1 | St Mirren
2 | Heart of Midlothian
3 | Motherwell
4 | Kilmarnock
5 | Dundee
6 | Ross County
7 | St Johnstone
8 | Falkirk
Pot 2
9 | Livingston
10 | Ayr United
11 | Partick Thistle
12 | Raith Rovers
13 | Greenock Morton
14 | Dunfermline Athletic
15 | Queen's Park
16 | Airdrieonians
Pot 3
17 | Hamilton Academical
18 | Arbroath
19 | Cove Rangers
20 | Queen of the South
21 | Stenhousemuir
22 | Alloa Athletic
23 | Kelty Hearts
24 | Inverness Caledonian Thistle
Pot 4
25 | Montrose
26 | Annan Athletic
27 | Dumbarton
28 | Peterhead
29 | East Fife
30 | Edinburgh City
31 | Elgin City
32 | The Spartans
Pot 5
33 | Stirling Albion
34 | Clyde
35 | Stranraer
36 | Forfar Athletic
37 | Bonnyrigg Rose
38 | East Kilbride
39 | Brora Rangers
40 | Brechin City
Premier Sports Cup dates 2025/26
Group stage
MD1 | Weekend of July 12/13
MD2 | Midweek of July 15/16
MD3 | Weekend of July 19/20
MD4 | Midweek of July 22/23
MD5 | Weekend of July 26/27
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
