The group-stage draw for next season's Premier Sports Cup has been announced, setting the stage for exciting matchups across Scottish football. Defending champions St Mirren will take on Dunfermline Athletic, Cove Rangers, East Kilbride, and Dumbarton in Group C.
Falkirk, who finished sixth in the Premiership, are grouped with Ayr United, Alloa Athletic, Stranraer, and Edinburgh City in Group G. Championship winners St Johnstone face Greenock Morton, Inverness Caledonian Thistle, East Fife, and Linlithgow Rose in Group F.
Highland League champions Brora Rangers have been drawn alongside Aberdeen, Queen's Park, Queen of the South, and Kelty Hearts in Group A. Brechin City, runners-up in the Highland League, will compete against Livingston, Partick Thistle, Stenhousemuir, and Forfar Athletic in Group E.
Group B promises local derbies as Dundee United are joined by Arbroath, Montrose, The Spartans, and Stirling Albion. Dundee are in Group D with Airdrieonians, Ross County, Clyde, and Annan Athletic. Kilmarnock complete Group H with Raith Rovers, Peterhead, Hamilton Academical, and Elgin City.
Action begins on July 11-12 and runs through July 25-26. The eight group winners and three best runners-up will advance to the last 16, joining European qualifiers Celtic, Hearts, Rangers, Motherwell, and Hibernian on August 15-16. The quarter-finals are set for September 12-13, semi-finals on October 31-November 1, and the final on December 13.
Group A
- Aberdeen, Queen's Park, Queen of the South, Kelty Hearts, Brora Rangers
Group B
- Dundee United, Arbroath, Montrose, The Spartans, Stirling Albion
Group C
- St Mirren, Dunfermline Athletic, Cove Rangers, East Kilbride, Dumbarton
Group D
- Dundee, Airdrieonians, Ross County, Clyde, Annan Athletic
Group E
- Livingston, Partick Thistle, Stenhousemuir, Forfar Athletic, Brechin City
Group F
- St Johnstone, Greenock Morton, Inverness Caledonian Thistle, East Fife, Linlithgow Rose
Group G
- Falkirk, Ayr United, Alloa Athletic, Stranraer, Edinburgh City
Group H
- Kilmarnock, Raith Rovers, Peterhead, Hamilton Academical, Elgin City