Premier Sports Cup Quarter-Finals: Full Draw and Route to Hampden
The Premier Sports Cup quarter-finals put Rangers and Celtic together before Hampden, leaving the other six clubs with an opening worth noticing. For anyone weighing up the ties, compare betting options and welcome-offer terms with BetBrothers. First, understand the draw: four winners advance, but the semi-final pairings are not fixed by this list.
The full Scottish League Cup quarter-final draw
The last eight run across three days. All kick-off times below are British Summer Time.
| Tie | Date and kick-off |
|---|---|
| Stenhousemuir v Hearts | Friday 11 September, 7.45pm |
| Ross County v Hibernian | Saturday 12 September, 3pm |
| Kilmarnock v Aberdeen | Saturday 12 September, 5.45pm |
| Rangers v Celtic | Sunday 13 September, noon |
Premier Sports televises three ties; Ross County–Hibernian is on the Premier Sports Player. These are single matches, with extra time and penalties if required. There are no quarter-final replays.
Quarter-final odds: start with the Friday tie
Before the Glasgow noise takes over, Stenhousemuir get their moment.
The market makes Hearts strong favourites, but a short price leaves little room for error. Anyone interested simply in which club reaches Hampden should compare a “to qualify” market, where offered, rather than confuse it with a 90-minute win.
What each tie changes
Stenhousemuir–Hearts: the hosts knocked out Motherwell to reach their first League Cup quarter-final since 1975/76. Hearts must handle an occasion that already carries unusual weight for their opponents.
Ross County–Hibs: County earned home advantage for this round after winning 2–1 at Dunfermline. For Hibs, progress would preserve the possibility of an Edinburgh derby later in the competition.
Kilmarnock–Aberdeen: Killie advanced through a 3–2 Ayrshire derby win, while Aberdeen beat Dundee 3–0. Their reward is a direct contest for a place on the national stage.
Rangers–Celtic: one Glasgow club will be eliminated immediately. That guarantees at least three semi-finalists from outside the Old Firm and removes the possibility of an Old Firm final.
This is the cup at its most persuasive: Friday-night anticipation at Ochilview, a Highland appointment, Rugby Park in the early evening and Ibrox before Sunday lunch. Four different football settings, all offering the same prize. The smaller occasions deserve their own attention before Glasgow occupies the screen.
The route to Hampden, without guessing the draw
The semi-finals are scheduled for 31 October and 1 November, with the final on 13 December. Both stages are at Hampden.
An Edinburgh semi-final is possible if Hearts and Hibs advance and are drawn together. Either could instead meet the Rangers–Celtic winner or the Kilmarnock–Aberdeen winner. No specific pairing should be treated as confirmed yet.
For the six clubs outside Glasgow, the temptation is to start imagining a favourable semi-final. Their immediate job is less glamorous: get through this tie with enough discipline to make the next conversation relevant. I would watch how managers use their benches if the scores stay level. A change designed to win inside 90 minutes can also leave a side exposed if the match goes beyond the allotted time.
Rangers vs Celtic: the crowd restriction matters
The SPFL has ruled out away supporters at Old Firm matches in its competitions for the remainder of 2026/27, subject to review. This includes the quarter-final.
Our guide to Celtic and Rangers’ closed-door punishments explains the separate Scottish Cup sanctions. The Scottish Cup versus League Cup explainer sets out why the distinction matters.
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