Premier Sports Cup fixtures announced as Derek McInnes lands heavyweight Hearts opener.
The next Tynecastle manager will take on Lennon’s Pars. Derek McInnes’ first competitive match as Hearts manager will be against Neil Lennon’s side, Dunfermline Athletic, at Tynecastle. McInnes was appointed Hearts manager earlier this month, and he will make his Gorgie debut when the Pars come on Saturday, July 12, with the game starting at 5.15pm and shown live on Premier Sports.
Dunfermline confirmed on Thursday that Lennon, who helped keep them in the Championship last term, has committed to the East End Park side for another two years and will pose a stern test to McInnes’ side.
As was the case last season, a handful of other matches will be aired on the Premier Sports app, with the SPFL stating that fixtures not selected for TV are still susceptible to change at this time. The group stage will feature 80 games spread across five matchdays, with 37 SPFL clubs competing alongside Highland League winners Brora Rangers, Highland League runners-up Brechin City, and Lowland League club Bonnyrigg Rose.
How the competition will unfold
The eight group winners and three best runners-up will face European representatives Celtic (the current champions), Rangers, Aberdeen, Hibs, and Dundee United in the round of 16 on August 16 and 17. The quarter-finals will be contested over the weekend of September 20/21, with the semi-finals slated for the weekend of November 1/2. The 2025/26 Premier Sports Cup final will be held on Sunday, December 14. Calum Beattie, Chief Operating Officer of the SPFL, said, “We are happy to be able to announce the fixtures and TV selections for the Premier Sports Cup group stage as we look ahead to the new season, which begins in July.
“In addition to the five matches selected for live coverage on Premier Sports, supporters will also have the opportunity to watch additional games via the Premier Sports app and we hope to be in a position to confirm those selections shortly.”
Premier Sports Cup group stage fixtures
Saturday, July 12 (3pm unless stated): Brechin v Falkirk, Spartans v Queen’s Park, Edinburgh City v Partick Thistle, Stranraer v Ross County, Bonnyrigg Rose v Alloa Athletic, Dundee v Airdrieonians, Annan Athletic v Forfar Athletic, Arbroath v St Mirren, Hearts v Dunfermline (5.15pm), Stirling v Hamilton, East Kilbride v St Johnstone, Elgin v Raith, Clyde v Motherwell, Peterhead v Morton, Brora Rangers v Kilmarnock. Tuesday, July 15 (7.45pm unless specified): Cove v Spartans, Queen’s Park v Brechin, Partick v Stranraer, Queen of the South v Edinburgh City. Airdrieonians v Bonnyrigg Rose, Alloa v Montrose, Annan v Ayr, Forfar v St Mirren, Dumbarton v Stirling, Hamilton v Hearts, Inverness v Elgin, Raith v East Kilbride, and Morton v Stenhousemuir, Motherwell v Peterhead, Brora Rangers v Kelty Hearts.
Kilmarnock vs Livingston takes place on Wednesday, July 16 at 7.45pm. Saturday, July 19 (3pm unless stated): Cove Rangers v Falkirk, Spartans v Brechin, Edinburgh City v Stranraer, Queen of the South v Ross County, Alloa v Dundee, Montrose v Bonnyrigg Rose, Ayr v Arbroath, St Mirren v Annan, Dumbarton v Dunfermline, Stirling v Hearts (5.15pm), Elgin v East Kilbride, Inverness v St Johnstone, Peterhead v Clyde, Stenhousemuir v Motherwell, Kelty Hearts v East Fife, Kelty Hearts v Kilmarnock. Tuesday, July 22 (7.45pm unless stated): Brechin v Cove Rangers, Falkirk v Queen’s Park, Partick v Queen of the South, and Ross County v Edinburgh City. Bonnyrigg Rose v Dundee, Montrose v Airdrieonians, Arbroath v Annan, Ayr v Forfar, and Dunfermline v Hamilton, East Kilbrdie v Inverness, St Johnstone v Raith, Clyde v Stenhousemuir, Motherwell v Morton, East Fife v Brora, Kelty Hearts v Kilmarnock.
Wednesday, July 23 (7.45pm): Hearts vs Dumbarton. Saturday, July 26 (3pm): Falkirk v Spartans, Queen’s Park v Cove Rangers, Ross County v Partick, Stranraer v Queen of the South, Airdrieonians v Alloa, Dundee v Montrose, Forfar v Arbroath, Dunfermline v Stirling, Hamilton v Dumbarton, Raith v Inverness, St Johnstone v Elgin, Morton v Clyde, Stenhousemuir v Peterhead, Kilmarnock v East Fife, and Livingston v Kelty Hearts.
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