Premier Sports Cup update

The SPFL says dates for the Partick Thistle versus Celtic Premier Sports Cup tie will be announced after the UEFA draws at the end of August.

SPFL sets Partick Thistle clash with Celtic after UEFA draws

The SPFL has laid out the Premier Sports Cup quarter-final schedule. Kilmarnock will host St Mirren on Friday September 19 at Rugby Park, and Aberdeen will meet Motherwell at Pittodrie on Saturday September 20. The remaining two quarter-finals, Partick Thistle versus Celtic and Rangers against Hibernian, have no fixed dates yet and will be announced after the UEFA league phase draws at the end of August. All four ties will be shown live on Premier Sports or the Premier Player over the weekend of September 19-21, with a place in the semi-finals at stake. The Cup final for the 2025/26 competition is scheduled for Sunday December 14. Celtic know only that their away tie against Partick Thistle will be played on the weekend of September 19-21 and broadcast live on Premier Sports. The SPFL says fixture details for the remaining quarter-finals will follow the UEFA draws.

The delay in finalising Partick Thistle vs Celtic and the Rangers vs Hibs fixtures highlights how domestic cups now sit at the crossroads of European calendars and broadcast rights. With the UEFA league phase draws determining the window for those matches, clubs must plan for uncertain dates, which can complicate training schedules, travel, and ticketing for supporters. Yet there is a upside: every tie in the weekend will be broadcast, giving the cup a strong platform and keeping fan interest high during a period crowded with European obligations. The balancing act shows how the sport markets itself now, sometimes at the expense of predictability for local supporters. The SPFL’s approach rewards visibility for broadcasters while shielding clubs from a direct clash with marquee European nights, but it also risks alienating fans who crave clear, reliable schedules.

Highlights

Scheduling in football now blends European calendars with domestic cups and TV exposure, keeping fans connected while testing their patience.