2024–25 Scottish League Cup

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2024–25 Scottish League Cup
Premier Sports Cup logo
Tournament details
CountryScotland
Dates13 July – 15 December 2024
Teams45
Defending championsRangers
← 2023–24
2024–25 →

The 2024–25 Scottish League Cup, also known as the Premier Sports Cup for sponsorship reasons, will be the 79th season of Scotland's second-most prestigious football knockout competition. Rangers are the defending champions.

Schedule[edit]

Round First match date Fixtures Clubs
Group stage 13 July 2024[1] 80 45 → 16
Second round 17 August 2024[1] 8 16 → 80
Quarter-finals 21 September 2024[1] 4 8 → 4
Semi-finals 2 November 2024[1] 2 4 → 2
Final 15 December 2024[1] 1 2 → 1

Format[edit]

The competition begins with eight groups of five teams.[2] The five clubs initially competing in the UEFA Champions League (Celtic and Rangers), Europa League (Heart of Midlothian and Kilmarnock) and Conference League (St Mirren) receive a bye to the second round. The group stage consists of 40 teams: all remaining teams that competed across the SPFL in 2023–24, the 2023–24 Highland Football League champions (Buckie Thistle) and runners-up (Brechin City), and the 2023–24 Lowland Football League champions (East Kilbride).[2]

The winners of each of the eight groups, as well as the three best runners-up, progress to the second round (last 16). At this stage, the competition reverts to the traditional knock-out format. The three group winners with the highest points total and the European entrants are seeded.

Bonus point system[edit]

The traditional point system of awarding three points for a win and one point for a draw is used. In addition, for each group stage match that finishes in a draw, a penalty shoot-out takes place, with the winner being awarded a bonus point.[3]

Group stage[edit]

Main article: 2024–25 Scottish League Cup group stage

The teams are seeded according to their final league positions in 2023–24 and drawn into eight groups, with each group comprising one team from each pot. The draw for the group stage took place on 29 May 2024 and was broadcast live on the Premier Sports and SPFL YouTube channels.[4]

Group A[edit]

Pos Team
 Pld W PW PL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification ABE AIR QOS DUM EKB
1 Aberdeen 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Qualification for the second round — 23 Jul — 27 Jul —
2 Airdrieonians 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Possible qualification for the second round — — 27 Jul — 16 Jul
3 Queen of the South 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 13 Jul — — 16 Jul —
4 Dumbarton 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 — 20 Jul — — 13 Jul
5 East Kilbride 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 20 Jul — 23 Jul — —
First match(es) will be played: 13 July 2024. Source: [5]
Rules for classification: 1) goal difference, 2) goals scored, 3) away goals scored, 4) matches won, 5) away matches won, 6) drawing of lots.[6]

Group B[edit]

Pos Team
 Pld W PW PL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification DUN AYR FAL STE BUC
1 Dundee United 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Qualification for the second round — 20 Jul — 16 Jul —
2 Ayr United 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Possible qualification for the second round — — 16 Jul — 27 Jul
3 Falkirk 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 13 Jul — — 27 Jul —
4 Stenhousemuir 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 — 23 Jul — — 13 Jul
5 Buckie Thistle 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 23 Jul — 20 Jul — —
First match(es) will be played: 13 July 2024. Source: [7]
Rules for classification: 1) goal difference, 2) goals scored, 3) away goals scored, 4) matches won, 5) away matches won, 6) drawing of lots.[6]

Group C[edit]

Pos Team
 Pld W PW PL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification HIB QPA KEL PET ELG
1 Hibernian 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Qualification for the second round — 16 Jul — 27 Jul —
2 Queen's Park 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Possible qualification for the second round — — 27 Jul — 23 Jul
3 Kelty Hearts 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 20 Jul — — 23 Jul —
4 Peterhead 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 — 13 Jul — — 20 Jul
5 Elgin City 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 13 Jul — 16 Jul — —
First match(es) will be played: 13 July 2024. Source: [8]
Rules for classification: 1) goal difference, 2) goals scored, 3) away goals scored, 4) matches won, 5) away matches won, 6) drawing of lots.[6]

Group D[edit]

Pos Team
 Pld W PW PL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification DND ICT ARB ANN BON
1 Dundee 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Qualification for the second round — 27 Jul — 23 Jul —
2 Inverness Caledonian Thistle 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Possible qualification for the second round — — 23 Jul — 20 Jul
3 Arbroath 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 16 Jul — — 20 Jul —
4 Annan Athletic 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 — 13 Jul — — 16 Jul
5 Bonnyrigg Rose 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 13 Jul — 27 Jul — —
First match(es) will be played: 13 July 2024. Source: [9]
Rules for classification: 1) goal difference, 2) goals scored, 3) away goals scored, 4) matches won, 5) away matches won, 6) drawing of lots.[6]

Group E[edit]

Pos Team
 Pld W PW PL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification LIV DNF COV SPA FOR
1 Livingston 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Qualification for the second round — 20 Jul — 27 Jul —
2 Dunfermline Athletic 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Possible qualification for the second round — — 27 Jul — 16 Jul
3 Cove Rangers 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 23 Jul — — 16 Jul —
4 The Spartans 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 — 13 Jul — — 23 Jul
5 Forfar Athletic 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 13 Jul — 20 Jul — —
First match(es) will be played: 13 July 2024. Source: [10]
Rules for classification: 1) goal difference, 2) goals scored, 3) away goals scored, 4) matches won, 5) away matches won, 6) drawing of lots.[6]

Group F[edit]

Pos Team
 Pld W PW PL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification STJ GMO ALL EFI BRE
1 St Johnstone 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Qualification for the second round — 20 Jul — 27 Jul —
2 Greenock Morton 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Possible qualification for the second round — — 27 Jul — 16 Jul
3 Alloa Athletic 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 23 Jul — — 16 Jul —
4 East Fife 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 — 13 Jul — — 23 Jul
5 Brechin City 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 13 Jul — 20 Jul — —
First match(es) will be played: 13 July 2024. Source: [11]
Rules for classification: 1) goal difference, 2) goals scored, 3) away goals scored, 4) matches won, 5) away matches won, 6) drawing of lots.[6]

Group G[edit]

Pos Team
 Pld W PW PL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification MOT PAR MON EDI CLY
1 Motherwell 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Qualification for the second round — 28 Jul — 13 Jul —
2 Partick Thistle 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Possible qualification for the second round — — 13 Jul — 23 Jul
3 Montrose 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 16 Jul — — 23 Jul —
4 Edinburgh City 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 — 20 Jul — — 17 Jul
5 Clyde 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 20 Jul — 27 Jul — —
First match(es) will be played: 13 July 2024. Source: [12]
Rules for classification: 1) goal difference, 2) goals scored, 3) away goals scored, 4) matches won, 5) away matches won, 6) drawing of lots.[6]

Group H[edit]

Pos Team
 Pld W PW PL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification ROS RAI HAM STI STR
1 Ross County 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Qualification for the second round — 20 Jul — 27 Jul —
2 Raith Rovers 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Possible qualification for the second round — — 27 Jul — 16 Jul
3 Hamilton Academical 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 23 Jul — — 16 Jul —
4 Stirling Albion 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 — 13 Jul — — 23 Jul
5 Stranraer 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 13 Jul — 20 Jul — —
First match(es) will be played: 13 July 2024. Source: [13]
Rules for classification: 1) goal difference, 2) goals scored, 3) away goals scored, 4) matches won, 5) away matches won, 6) drawing of lots.[6]

Best runners-up[edit]

Pos Grp Team
 Pld W PW PL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 A TBD 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Qualification for the second round
2 B TBD 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3 C TBD 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
4 D TBD 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
5 E TBD 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
6 F TBD 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
7 G TBD 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
8 H TBD 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
First match(es) will be played: 13 July 2024. Source: [14]
Rules for classification: 1) goal difference, 2) goals scored, 3) away goals scored, 4) matches won, 5) away matches won, 6) drawing of lots.[6]

Knockout phase[edit]

Second round[edit]

Draw and seeding[edit]

Celtic, Rangers, Heart of Midlothian, Kilmarnock and St Mirren enter the competition at this stage, due to their participation in UEFA club competitions.[2]

Seeded Unseeded

Media coverage[edit]

The domestic broadcasting rights for the competition are held exclusively by Premier Sports, who will broadcast between 12 and 16 live matches per season, as well as highlights.[15]

The following matches will be broadcast live on UK television:

Round Date Match
Group stage 13 July 2024 Queen of the South v Aberdeen[16]
16 July 2024 Hibernian v Queen's Park[16]
20 July 2024 Dundee United v Ayr United[16]
23 July 2024 Aberdeen v Airdrieonians[16]
28 July 2024 Motherwell v Partick Thistle[16]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e "Key dates for Season 2024/25". SPFL. 22 January 2024. Retrieved 28 May 2024.
  2. ^ a b c "Premier Sports Cup seedings". SPFL. 28 May 2024. Retrieved 28 May 2024.
  3. ^ "New League Cup format and TV deal". SPFL. 7 December 2015. Archived from the original on 22 March 2017. Retrieved 7 June 2023.
  4. ^ "Premier Sports Cup group stage draw". SPFL. 29 May 2024. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  5. ^ "Summary - League Cup Group A". Soccerway. Retrieved 28 May 2024.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Format". SPFL. Retrieved 7 June 2023.
  7. ^ "Summary - League Cup Group B". Soccerway. Retrieved 28 May 2024.
  8. ^ "Summary - League Cup Group C". Soccerway. Retrieved 28 May 2024.
  9. ^ "Summary - League Cup Group D". Soccerway. Retrieved 28 May 2024.
  10. ^ "Summary - League Cup Group E". Soccerway. Retrieved 28 May 2024.
  11. ^ "Summary - League Cup Group F". Soccerway. Retrieved 28 May 2024.
  12. ^ "Summary - League Cup Group G". Soccerway. Retrieved 28 May 2024.
  13. ^ "Summary - League Cup Group H". Soccerway. Retrieved 28 May 2024.
  14. ^ "Summary - League Cup". Soccerway. Retrieved 28 May 2024.
  15. ^ "Premier Sports to sponsor League Cup". SPFL. 27 April 2021. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
  16. ^ a b c d e "Premier Sports Cup group stage fixtures". SPFL. 31 May 2024. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
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