Challenge Cup (Scotland) 2026/27

The Scottish Challenge Cup operates as the third-tier domestic trophy in Scotland, situated below the Scottish Cup and the League Cup. Its primary distinction lies in its exclusion of first-team Premiership sides, creating a pathway for lower-tier clubs. The competition currently runs under the name KDM Evolution Trophy. The 2025–26 season utilised a hybrid format involving a 40-team league phase split into North and South sections, followed by knockout rounds.

Participants include SPFL clubs from the Championship, League One, and League Two. Under-21 teams from Premiership clubs also compete, alongside guest teams from the Highland and Lowland Leagues. This structure differentiates it from the Scottish Cup, which admits non-league entrants, and the League Cup, which features all Premiership sides. The competition’s main prize is qualification for the Scottish League Cup group stage. Raith Rovers hold the most recent title after defeating Inverness Caledonian Thistle 4–1 in the 2025–26 final. Earlier iterations of the tournament saw Raith Rovers and Falkirk emerge as the most successful clubs, each securing four titles.

The event was established in 1990 by the Scottish Football League (SFL) to mark the league’s centenary. Over time, sponsorship has shifted, with notable partners including B&Q, Ramsdens, IRN-BRU, and the SPFL Trust. The competition provides a realistic objective for clubs outside the top flight. While the Scottish Cup offers prestige to non-league sides and the League Cup showcases the nation’s elite, this tournament focuses on development and competitive balance within the professional tiers below the Premiership. The current champions join a lineage of winners who have utilised the competition to gain experience against higher-ranked opposition. The hybrid phase format aims to ensure fairer distribution of matches before the decisive knockout stages begin.