Why Aren’t Celtic and Rangers in the Scottish Cup Second Round?
Celtic and Rangers are not in the Scottish Cup second round because Scottish Premiership clubs enter the competition in the fourth round, not October’s early ties. The 2026-27 format gives top-flight sides an exemption until January 2027. Neither Glasgow club has been eliminated or withdrawn: their Scottish Cup campaign simply has not started yet.
When Do Celtic and Rangers Enter the Scottish Cup?
Both clubs are due to join the fourth-round draw for fixtures across the weekend of 16 January 2027. The second round is scheduled for 24 October and the third for 28 November. That staggered entry protects the structure of a competition mixing Premiership giants, SPFL lower-league clubs and non-league qualifiers. It also creates an unusually valuable October spotlight for teams rarely seen on a national stage.
Which Scottish Clubs Join in Each Round?
The Scottish FA’s 2026-27 competition rules specify exemptions by division. Their effect is straightforward: lower divisions start earlier, while the twelve Premiership clubs wait until the last 32.
| Division | First eligible round |
|---|---|
| Highland and Lowland leagues | First |
| Scottish League Two | Second |
| Championship and League One | Third |
| Scottish Premiership | Fourth |
Other eligible licensed and qualifying sides enter through the preliminary rounds. This season has three preliminary stages, a change introduced because more licensed clubs are involved. A league’s entry stage should not be confused with the date of its first match. A bye or a rearranged fixture can change when an individual club actually takes the pitch.
Why Do the Premiership Clubs Get a Bye?
It is a competition-wide exemption, rather than special treatment reserved for the Old Firm. Aberdeen, Hearts, Hibernian and every other current Premiership side follow the same basic timetable.
At the opposite end of the pyramid, the early rounds give clubs from smaller leagues a route towards a potentially transformative draw. For supporters, that is the point: one Saturday in autumn can lead to a winter trip to a famous stadium.
Can Celtic or Rangers Win the Scottish Cup in 2027?
Both can, but the draw and their form will determine how their chances develop. Avoid treating a previous trophy record or a league position as a substitute for the current knockout path. For readers considering an outright wager, the markets below are useful checkpoints before the fourth-round draw. No unverified current Scottish Cup prices are presented as bookmaker quotes.
| Market | Key consideration |
|---|---|
| Celtic outright | Draw and squad fitness |
| Rangers outright | Draw and squad fitness |
| Either to reach final | Route through last 32 |
| Next tie to qualify | Opponent and venue |
When Does the Scottish Cup Really Come Alive?
For October’s competitors, the Cup is already alive: places in the third round are on the line, and a larger payday may be waiting. Celtic and Rangers remain on the sidelines by design, not by failure.
Patience is useful at the betting counter too. Wait for the fourth-round draw, assess the opponents and resist paying a premium for a famous shirt alone. Cup history can explain a club’s stature, but it cannot guarantee an easy tie, an available first-choice striker or favourable travelling conditions. Those details belong in any serious pre-match assessment, especially when a short-priced favourite is playing away from home.
