Scottish League Cup Draw 2026/27: Last-16 Fixtures & Key Matches

The draw for the last 16 of the 2026/27 Premier Sports Cup (Scottish League Cup) was made in Paisley, setting up a slate of intriguing matchups across Scottish football. Defending champions St Mirren, who lifted the trophy after a 3-1 victory over Celtic in the 2025/26 final, now face a challenging path to retain the crown. The standout tie sees the Buddies travel to Ibrox to take on Rangers on Friday 31 July 2026 at 20:00.

That fixture carries extra weight given Rangers' recent history in the competition. Celtic beat Rangers 3-1 in a Premier Sports Cup match on 2 November, a result that will still be fresh in the minds of both sets of supporters. For St Mirren, the trip to Glasgow represents a chance to prove their final triumph was no fluke. The Paisley club also recorded a 4-1 win over Motherwell on 1 November in the same competition, demonstrating the depth of their squad.

Full Last-16 Fixture List

The draw produced a mix of Premiership clashes and lower-league ties. Here is the complete schedule for the last 16:

• Friday 31 July 2026
  Dundee United v Rangers (20:00)
• Saturday 1 August 2026
  Falkirk v St Mirren (15:00)
  Aberdeen v Heart of Midlothian (17:30)
  Ayr United v Arbroath (15:00)
  Greenock Morton v Partick Thistle (15:00)
  Inverness Caledonian Thistle v Dunfermline Athletic (15:00)
  Livingston v Queen's Park (15:00)
  Raith Rovers v Stenhousemuir (15:00)
• Sunday 2 August 2026
  St Johnstone v Kilmarnock (14:00)
  Hibernian v Motherwell (16:30)
• Monday 3 August 2026
  Celtic v Dundee (19:30)

Key Matchups to Watch

Rangers v St Mirren is the headline act. The holders arrive with momentum, but Rangers will be eager to avoid a repeat of their earlier cup defeat to Celtic. The Ibrox side's fixture list also includes a league match against Dundee United on Saturday 8 August, meaning squad rotation could come into play.

Aberdeen v Heart of Midlothian pits two top-flight sides against each other in a Saturday evening kick-off. Both teams will view this as a winnable path to the quarter-finals, but the winner will have earned it. Hearts also face a Champions League qualifier against Sturm Graz on the Tuesday before this tie, adding a layer of fixture congestion.

Celtic v Dundee on Monday night sees the Hoops begin their defence of the William Hill Premiership title in cup competition. Celtic's 3-1 win over Rangers earlier in the season shows their firepower, but Dundee will be no pushovers after a solid start to the campaign.

Hibernian v Motherwell is another all-Premiership affair. Motherwell will be seeking revenge after their 4-1 defeat to St Mirren in November, while Hibs will aim to build on their league form.

Lower-League Opportunities

The draw also offers several lower-league sides a chance to cause an upset. Ayr United host Arbroath, Greenock Morton face Partick Thistle, and Inverness Caledonian Thistle take on Dunfermline Athletic. Livingston welcome Queen's Park, and Raith Rovers host Stenhousemuir. These ties could produce the competition's first giant-killing acts.

Ross County's second-round opponent was not specified in the available sources, so their path remains unclear for now. The Staggies will learn their fate in due course.

Tournament Context

The Premier Sports Cup, sponsored by the broadcaster, has grown in stature in recent seasons. St Mirren's victory over Celtic in the 2025/26 final was a major upset, and the holders will be determined to prove it was no one-off. The last-16 draw sets up a weekend of cup football that could reshape the narrative of the early season.

For fans, the fixture list offers a chance to see their teams in knockout action before the league campaign fully settles. The quarter-finals will follow in August, with the winners of these ties moving one step closer to Hampden.

As the tournament progresses, keep an eye on the Premier Sports Cup draw updates for the next round. The competition's format rewards consistency, and the early rounds often produce the most memorable moments.