Premier Sports Cup group stage draw in FULL as first competitive clashes of 2025/26 season mapped out
UP FOR THE CUP
UP FOR THE CUP Premier Sports Cup group stage draw in FULL as first competitive clashes of 2025/26 season mapped out
THE curtain has only literally come down on the Scottish football season.
But the early part of NEXT season has already been mapped out by the Premier Sports Cup group stage draw.
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Celtic are the holders of the Premier Sports Cup
Credit: Getty
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Derek McInnes' first competitive Hearts games will take place in the competition
Credit: PA
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East Kilbride and Mick Kennedy will get an early season taste of SPFL opposition
Credit: Michael Schofield, News Group Newspapers Ltd
As has now become the norm, the coveted competition kicks-off in mid-July.
That means an early start to the campaign for several of the Scottish Premiership's big hitters.
The five top flight clubs playing in Europe won't enter until the next round, but for the other seven they'll get underway right from the off.
Derek McInnes' career as Hearts boss will get underway in the Premier Sports Cup, with his first competitive game in charge taking place in this competition.
St Mirren, Kilmarnock and Motherwell are also among the clubs entering here.
SPFL newcomers East Kilbride will test themselves against some higher level opposition, while Highland League champions will face TWO top flight clubs in their group.
Here's the Premier Sports Cup group stage draw in full.
What teams have been drawn to face each other in the Premier Sports Cup group stage draw?
Group A: Falkirk, Queen's Park, Cove Rangers, The Spartans, Brechin City
Group B: Ross County, Partick Thistle, Queen of the South, Edinburgh City, Stranraer
Group C: Dundee, Airdrieonians, Alloa Athletic, Montrose, Bonnyrigg Rose
Group D: St Mirren, Ayr United, Arbroath, Annan Athletic, Forfar Athletic
Group E: Hearts, Dunfermline Athletic, Hamilton Academical, Dumbarton, Stirling Albion
Group F: St Johnstone, Raith Rovers, Inverness CT, Elgin City, East Kilbride
Group G: Motherwell, Greenock Morton, Stenhousemuir, Peterhead, Clyde
Group H: Kilmarnock, Livingston, Kelty Hearts, East Fife, Brora Rangers
How does the Premier Sports Cup group stage work?
40 teams are taking part in the group stage
The clubs have been drawn into eight groups of five teams from seeded pots one to five
All SPFL clubs take part in the group stage apart from the five Premiership clubs competing in European competition (Celtic, Rangers, Hibs, Dundee United and Aberdeen)
Bonnyrigg Rose, who were relegated out of the SPFL last season via the play-offs, are taking part as well as the top two teams from the Highland League, Brora Rangers and Brechin City
Each team will play their group opponents once, with two games at home and two games away
All eight group winners will progress to the second round
The three best-runners up will also advance to the second round with all other clubs eliminated from the competition
As always, three points are awarded for a win and a point for a draw - but matches ending in a draw will see the teams take part in a penalty shoot-out with a bonus point awarded to the winners
When does the Premier Sports Cup group stage take place?
The first matchday will take place across the weekend of July 12/13
This will be followed by matches on the midweek of July 15/16, weekend of July 19/20 and the midweek of July 22/23
The final round of matches will he be held on the weekend of July 26/27
Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
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