The SPFL has confirmed the seeding pots for the 2026/27 Premier Sports Cup group stage draw. The draw takes place tomorrow, Wednesday May 27, at 1.00pm.
The draw will be shown live online by Premier Sports and will also be broadcast live on the SPFL YouTube channel.
Teams Participating in the Group Stage
The five SPFL clubs competing in UEFA competitions will enter the tournament at the knock-out stage. The group stage draw involves the remaining 37 SPFL clubs. Participating as guest clubs for 2026/27 are Lowland League champions Linlithgow Rose, Highland League champions Brora Rangers and Highland League runners-up Brechin City.
There is no regionalised aspect to the draw, as has been the case for the previous four seasons. The 40 participating clubs have been split into five seeding pots based on final league placings in season 2025/26. One club from each pot will be drawn into the eight Groups A-H.
Key Dates for the 2026/27 Tournament
The 2026/27 Premier Sports Cup will kick off on the weekend of July 11/12, with further group stage matchdays on July 14/15, July 18/19, July 21/22 and July 25/26.
The eight group winners and three best runners-up will join the five clubs who have qualified for Europe – Celtic, Heart of Midlothian, Rangers, Motherwell and Hibernian – in the last 16 on the weekend of August 15/16.
The quarter-finals will be played on the weekend of September 12/13, and the semi-finals are scheduled for the weekend of October 31 and November 1. The Premier Sports Cup final will take place at Hampden Park on Sunday December 13.
Prize Money Remains the Same
Last season’s prize money has been maintained for the 2026/27 tournament. All participating clubs are again guaranteed a minimum of £30,000. Reaching the last 16 is worth at least £60,000 while the cup winners will receive £400,000 and the runners-up £200,000.
Confirmed Seeding Pots
- POT 1: Falkirk, Dundee United, Dundee, Aberdeen, Kilmarnock, St Mirren, Livingston, St Johnstone
- POT 2: Partick Thistle, Arbroath, Dunfermline Athletic, Raith Rovers, Queen’s Park, Ayr United, Greenock Morton, Airdrieonians
- POT 3: Ross County, Inverness Caledonian Thistle, Stenhousemuir, Queen of the South, Alloa Athletic, Peterhead, Montrose, Cove Rangers
- POT 4: East Fife, Hamilton Academical, Kelty Hearts, East Kilbride, The Spartans, Clyde, Forfar Athletic, Stranraer
- POT 5: Elgin City, Annan Athletic, Stirling Albion, Dumbarton, Edinburgh City, Linlithgow Rose, Brora Rangers, Brechin City
The 2026/27 Premier Sports Cup group stage draw is set for Wednesday, May 27, and the tournament will commence on the weekend of July 11/12.