Scottish Premier Sports Cup 2026/27 Groups Announced
The dust has barely settled on an “unforgettable” 2025/26 campaign, but Scottish football is already lacing up its boots again. The SPFL has confirmed the full fixture list for the 2026/27 Premier Sports Cup group stage, and with it the first real storylines of the new season.
Eighty games. Five matchdays. Forty clubs, from European contenders to ambitious non-league champions, all funneled into a competition that so often shapes the tone of the year ahead.
And this time, the cameras are ready from day one.
TV spotlight falls early
Premier Sports has picked out five headline ties for live coverage, beginning with a fascinating curtain-raiser at Forthbank on Saturday July 11.
Stirling Albion v Dundee United, 5.30pm, under the lights and under scrutiny. New Binos boss Steven Whittaker gets his first real look at the job in front of him, trying to bloody the nose of Jim Goodwin’s United. It’s exactly the kind of early-July fixture that can either settle nerves or set off alarms.
A week later, the focus swings to a double-header on Saturday July 18. Six-time League Cup winners Aberdeen host Queen’s Park at Pittodrie at 5.00pm, before Dundee United meet Arbroath at Tannadice at 7.00pm. Two grounds, two different pressures: Aberdeen expected to dominate at home, United expected to show their hand as contenders.
The cameras then roll into Palmerston on Wednesday July 22. Queen of the South, under new manager Nicky Clark, welcome Stephen Robinson’s Aberdeen at 7.45pm. A lower-league side with a fresh voice in the dugout against a Premiership club already under the microscope – classic group-stage jeopardy.
The group phase closes in Paisley on Sunday July 26, when holders St Mirren face Neil Lennon’s Dunfermline Athletic at 3.00pm. A live TV slot for the champions and an early test of Lennon’s Dunfermline project. That one already feels bigger than a standard July fixture.
Beyond the main TV selections, a number of other games will be streamed on the Premier Sports app, with details to follow. Some fixtures may still move, with several clubs managing major summer pitch works.
New season, familiar gauntlet
This is the competition’s modern identity: a sprawling, high-stakes warm-up. Thirty-seven SPFL clubs are joined by Lowland League champions Linlithgow Rose, Highland League winners Brora Rangers and Highland League runners-up Brechin City, all thrown together across eight groups.
The task is brutal in its simplicity. Eight group winners and the three best runners-up will progress to the last 16, where they’ll be joined by European representatives Celtic, Heart of Midlothian, Rangers, Motherwell and Hibernian on August 15/16.
From there, the calendar tightens. Quarter-finals land on the weekend of September 12/13, semi-finals on October 31 and November 1, and the final is locked in for Sunday December 13. By then, someone will have turned a good July into a trophy in winter.
SPFL Chief Operating Officer Calum Beattie framed it bluntly: with a memorable season just finished, the league is wasting no time in laying out the next chapter and thanking Premier Sports for its continued backing. The message is clear – the reset button has been pressed.
Group A: Aberdeen’s early examinations
Group A hands Aberdeen a mix of familiar hazards and awkward away days.
Queen of the South and Queen’s Park kick off at home on Saturday July 11, with Kelty Hearts and Brora Rangers the early visitors. Brora then host Aberdeen on Tuesday July 14, a Highland trip that has tripped up bigger names in the past. Kelty face Queen’s Park on the same night.
The pressure really ramps up on Saturday July 18 when Aberdeen v Queen’s Park goes live on Premier Sports at Pittodrie. On that day, Brora meet Queen of the South in a tie that could shape the middle of the group.
By Tuesday July 21, Kelty v Brora and Queen of the South v Aberdeen feel like sorting fixtures, the kind that decide whether the final day is a procession or a scramble. The group closes on Saturday July 25 with Aberdeen at home to Kelty Hearts and Queen’s Park hosting Queen of the South.
Group B: United under the lights
Group B throws Dundee United straight into the spotlight.
They open away to Stirling Albion live on TV on July 11, with The Spartans hosting Arbroath earlier that afternoon. United then travel to Montrose on Tuesday July 14, while Spartans take on Stirling Albion.
On July 18, United finally get home advantage against Arbroath, with Stirling Albion facing Montrose. The following Tuesday, Arbroath v Montrose and Dundee United v The Spartans could be decisive, especially if United slip early.
The final Saturday sees Arbroath host Stirling Albion and Montrose welcome The Spartans. It has the feel of a group where every point will be argued over.
Group C: Holders St Mirren and Lennon’s Dunfermline collide
The reigning champions are back in the mix in Group C, and the narrative writes itself.
St Mirren start away at Dumbarton on July 11, while East Kilbride host Dunfermline Athletic. On July 14, Cove Rangers face East Kilbride and Dunfermline welcome Dumbarton.
The middle of the group is busy: Cove v St Mirren and East Kilbride v Dumbarton on July 18, followed by Dunfermline v Cove and St Mirren v East Kilbride on July 21.
Then comes the big one. Sunday July 26, live on Premier Sports: St Mirren v Dunfermline Athletic in Paisley at 3.00pm. The holders against Lennon’s side, with qualification, seeding and early-season statements all in play.
Group D: Dundee and Ross County circle each other
Group D feels tight from the outset.
Annan Athletic v Ross County and Dundee v Airdrieonians open the group on July 11. Annan then host Dundee on July 14, with Clyde taking on Airdrieonians.
Airdrieonians v Annan Athletic and Ross County v Clyde on July 18 give everyone a clearer picture of who’s chasing and who’s clinging on. By July 21, Clyde v Annan and Ross County v Dundee look like the key barometers.
The group wraps on July 25 with Airdrieonians v Ross County and Dundee v Clyde. It’s the kind of section where a single slip could cost a Premiership club dearly.
Group E: Livingston, Partick and a Highland threat
Group E has a sharp edge to it.
Partick Thistle host Brechin City on July 11, while Stenhousemuir meet Forfar Athletic. Brechin then welcome Livingston on July 14, the same night Forfar host Partick.
Brechin v Stenhousemuir and Livingston v Partick Thistle on July 18 look like the real tone-setters. By July 21, Livingston v Forfar and Partick v Stenhousemuir could either tidy up the group or blow it wide open.
The final Saturday sees Forfar v Brechin and Stenhousemuir v Livingston. For the Highland League runners-up, this is a chance to test themselves against full-time opposition in meaningful games, not just glamour friendlies.
Group F: Linlithgow Rose step into the frame
Group F offers one of the more romantic angles.
Greenock Morton host Linlithgow Rose on July 11, with Inverness CT at home to East Fife. Four days later, East Fife v Morton and Linlithgow Rose v St Johnstone give the Lowland League champions a crack at Premiership opposition.
On July 18, Linlithgow Rose welcome Inverness CT, while St Johnstone host Morton. The next Tuesday brings East Fife v Linlithgow Rose and Inverness CT v St Johnstone, a night that could decide everything.
The group finishes on July 25 with Morton v Inverness CT and St Johnstone v East Fife. For Rose, every fixture is a marker of how far they’ve come – and how far they still want to go.
Group G: Open field, no hiding places
Group G looks wide open.
Edinburgh City v Falkirk and Stranraer v Ayr United start things off on July 11. Edinburgh City then face Alloa Athletic on July 14, while Falkirk host Ayr United in a meeting that could set the tone for the section.
Alloa v Stranraer and Ayr United v Edinburgh City on July 18 keep the pressure on, before Alloa v Falkirk and Stranraer v Edinburgh City on July 21.
The last day brings Ayr United v Alloa and Falkirk v Stranraer. It has the feel of a group where momentum, not just quality, will decide who escapes.
Group H: Raith, Kilmarnock and a northern edge
Finally, Group H mixes established names with long journeys.
Peterhead v Hamilton Accies and Raith Rovers v Elgin City open the section on July 11. Elgin then host Peterhead on July 14, while Kilmarnock face Raith Rovers in a heavyweight early tie.
Elgin v Kilmarnock and Hamilton Accies v Raith on July 18 give the group real shape, and by July 21, Kilmarnock v Hamilton and Raith v Peterhead could be make-or-break.
From there, it’s a straight line to the knockouts. For some, this is a chance to fine-tune before league business. For others, it’s the best route to silverware they’ll see all year.
By the time the final rolls around in mid-December, someone will be able to point back to a hot afternoon in July and say: that’s where it really started.
