SPFL clubs learn group stage fate at League Cup draw

Clubs from across the country have learned their first competitive opposition of next season as the SPFL made the draw for the League Cup group stage.

The competition begins in July with seven of the Premiership sides in the hat along with every team from the Championship, League One and League Two, as well as representatives from the Highland and Lowland Leagues.

The 40 clubs were drawn into eight groups of five, with seedings based on last season’s final league positions then split on a geographical basis. Each group consists of one top seed, one second seed and three unseeded clubs.

The eight group winners and three best runners-up will join European qualifiers Rangers, Celtic, Hibernian, Aberdeen and St Johnstone, the current holders, in the last 16.

Northern section

Group A: Hearts, Inverness Caledonian Thistle, Peterhead, Cove Rangers, Stirling Albion

Group B: Dundee United, Arbroath, East Fife, Elgin City, Kelty Hearts

Group C: Ross County, Dundee, Forfar, Montrose, Brora Rangers

Group D: Livingston, Raith Rovers, Alloa, Cowdenbeath, Brechin City

Southern section

Group E: Hamilton Accies, Ayr United, Falkirk, Albion Rovers, Edinburgh City

Group F: Motherwell, Queen of the South, Airdrieonians, Annan Athletic, Queen’s Park

Group G: Kilmarnock, Morton, Clyde, Stranraer, East Kilbride

Group H: St Mirren, Dunfermline, Stenhousemuir, Partick Thistle, Dumbarton

Group stage dates

Match day 1: Weekend of July 10/11