The SPFL has confirmed the seeding pots for the 2026/27 Premier Sports Cup group stage draw, which 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.

The five SPFL clubs competing in UEFA competitions will enter the tournament at the knock-out stage, with the group stage draw involving 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.

As has been the case for the previous four 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 2025/26. One club from each pot will be drawn into the eight Groups A-H.

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.

Last season’s prize money has been maintained for the 2026/27 tournament, with all participating clubs 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.

Group stage draw seeding pots

POT 1

1 Falkirk
2 Dundee United
3 Dundee
4 Aberdeen
5 Kilmarnock
6 St Mirren
7 Livingston
8 St Johnstone

POT 2

9 Partick Thistle
10 Arbroath
11 Dunfermline Athletic
12 Raith Rovers
13 Queen’s Park
14 Ayr United
15 Greenock Morton
16 Airdrieonians

POT 3

17 Ross County
18 Inverness Caledonian Thistle
19 Stenhousemuir
20 Queen of the South
21 Alloa Athletic
22 Peterhead
23 Montrose
24 Cove Rangers

POT 4

25 East Fife
26 Hamilton Academical
27 Kelty Hearts
28 East Kilbride
29 The Spartans
30 Clyde
31 Forfar Athletic
32 Stranraer

POT 5

33 Elgin City
34 Annan Athletic
35 Stirling Albion
36 Dumbarton
37 Edinburgh City
38 Linlithgow Rose
39 Brora Rangers
40 Brechin City

Premier Sports Cup Group Stage dates 2026/27

MD1: Weekend of July 11/12
MD2: Midweek of July 14/15
MD3: Weekend of July 18/19
MD4: Midweek of July 21/22
MD5: Weekend of July 25/26

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