Scottish Challenge Cup Enters New Era with Innovative Format

A Fresh Approach to Scottish Football’s Third Trophy

The Scottish Challenge Cup, currently known as the KDM Evolution Trophy due to sponsorship reasons, is the 34th season of the competition. This season marks a significant shift in how the tournament operates, offering renewed excitement for clubs competing below Scotland’s top tier.

The Scottish Professional Football League Challenge Cup is recognised as the third most prestigious knockout trophy in Scottish football, after the Scottish Cup and the Scottish League Cup. Originally established in 1990 to celebrate the centenary of the Scottish Football League, the competition has grown from a one-off celebration into a beloved fixture on the Scottish football calendar.

Revolutionary League Phase Format

For the 2025/26 season, organisers have introduced a groundbreaking change. In May 2025, it was announced that for the 2025–26 edition, the cup would be reformatted to involve a ‘League Phase’, similar to that introduced in UEFA club competitions. This innovative approach represents a significant departure from traditional knockout tournaments.

The total number of participating clubs is 40. The competition began on 12 August 2025 with the new league phase and the final will take place on either the weekend of 28/29 March or 4/5 April 2026. The participating teams include thirty teams from the Championship, League One and League Two, along with 10 B teams from the 12 clubs who compete in the Scottish Premiership.

Critical Draw Approaching

As the competition progresses through its knockout stages, attention turns to the upcoming fixture announcements. The draw will be made on 15 January at 1pm along with the quarter-final draw, determining which clubs will advance toward glory. The Round of 16 matches took place in early January 2026, with recent results including Raith Rovers 1 – 0 Queen of the South and Airdrieonians 3 – 1 Montrose.

Why It Matters for Scottish Football

The Scottish Challenge Cup provides vital competitive opportunities for clubs in Scotland’s lower leagues and development squads from top-tier teams. The introduction of the league phase format mirrors modern European competition structures, potentially increasing fan engagement and providing more meaningful matches throughout the tournament.

For many clubs, success in this competition represents a realistic pathway to silverware and the prestige that comes with it. As the knockout stages intensify, teams are just weeks away from semi-final action scheduled for late February, with the final bringing the season to a climactic conclusion in spring 2026.