2023–24 Scottish Cup


The 2023–24 Scottish Cup was the 139th season of Scotland's most prestigious football knockout competition. The 2023–24 edition marked the 150th anniversary of the tournament which was established in 1873–74. The winners would qualify for the 2024–25 Europa League play-off round.
Celtic were the defending champions after defeating Inverness Caledonian Thistle in the 2023 final and successfully defended their title after beating Rangers 1–0 in the final.

Calendar

Following an increase in the number of entries, an additional preliminary round was added to the competition format. Replays were also removed entirely from the tournament, having been restricted to just the Preliminary Round in the previous season.
RoundOriginal dateNumber of fixturesClubsNew EntriesLeagues entering at this round
Preliminary round one12 August 20233131 → 12877 qualifiers
Preliminary round two2 September 202326128 → 1024848 licensed clubs
First round23 September 202330102 → 723418 Highland League teams
16 Lowland League teams
Second round28 October 20232072 → 521010 League Two teams
Third round25 November 20232052 → 322010 Championship teams
10 League One teams
Fourth round20 January 20241632 → 161212 Premiership teams
Fifth round10 February 2024816 → 8-
Quarter-finals9 March 202448 → 4-
Semi-finals20 & 21 April 202424 → 2-
Final25 May 202412 → 1-

Preliminary round one

The draw for preliminary round one was made on 26 July 2023. The seven teams without an SFA club licence were required to be included in the first preliminary round draw – namely Abbey Vale, Beith Juniors, Carnoustie Panmure, Culter, Cupar Hearts, Loch Ness, and Luncarty. They were drawn into three ties with Culter drawn to receive a bye to the second preliminary round.
Abbey Vale, Cupar Hearts, Loch Ness, and Luncarty all took part in the competition for the first time.

Preliminary round two

The draw for preliminary round two was made on 26 July 2023. Carluke Rovers are taking part in the competition for the first time having gained their SFA club licence, along with Glenafton Athletic who previously competed as a qualifier.
Teams in bold advanced to the first round.
East of Scotland LeagueWest of Scotland LeagueOthers

Premier Division
First Division
Second Division
Third Division
Premier Division
First Division
Second Division
Third Division
Fourth Division
Midlands League
North Caledonian League
North Region Junior Football League
South of Scotland League
Kingdom of Fife AFA
  • Cupar Hearts

First round

The draw for the first round was made on 3 September 2023.
Teams in bold advanced to the second round.
Highland LeagueLowland LeagueEast of Scotland LeagueWest of Scotland LeagueOthers

  • Albion Rovers
  • Berwick Rangers
  • Bo'ness United
  • Broomhill
  • Caledonian Braves
  • Civil Service Strollers
  • Cowdenbeath
  • Cumbernauld Colts
  • East Kilbride
  • East Stirlingshire
  • Edinburgh University
  • Gala Fairydean Rovers
  • Gretna 2008
  • Linlithgow Rose
  • Tranent
  • University of Stirling
    		• Premier Division
    First Division
    Second Division
    		Premier Division
    First Division
    Third Division
    		Midlands League
    North Caledonian League
    North Region Junior Football League
    South of Scotland League

    Second round

    The draw for the second round was made on 24 September 2023 at 5pm live on the Scottish Cup YouTube channel.
    Teams in italics were unknown at the time of the draw. Teams in bold advanced to the third round.
    League TwoHighland LeagueLowland LeagueEast of Scotland LeagueWest of Scotland League

  • Banks O' Dee
  • Brechin City
  • Brora Rangers
  • Buckie Thistle
  • Clachnacuddin
  • Deveronvale
  • Formartine United
  • Forres Mechanics
  • Fraserburgh
  • Huntly
  • Turriff United
  • Albion Rovers
  • Bo'ness United
  • Broomhill
  • Civil Service Strollers
  • Cowdenbeath
  • East Kilbride
  • Gala Fairydean Rovers
  • Tranent
    		• Premier Division
    First Division
    		Premier Division
    First Division

    Third round

    The draw for the third round was made on 29 October 2023 at 7:30pm live on the Scottish Cup YouTube channel.
    Teams in italics were unknown at the time of the draw.
    Teams in bold advanced to the fourth round.
    ChampionshipLeague OneLeague TwoTier 5Tier 6

  • Alloa Athletic
  • Annan Athletic
  • Cove Rangers
  • Edinburgh City
  • Falkirk
  • Hamilton Academical
  • Kelty Hearts
  • Montrose
  • Queen of the South
  • Stirling Albion
  • Bonnyrigg Rose
  • Clyde
  • Dumbarton
  • Forfar Athletic
  • Peterhead
  • The Spartans
  • Stranraer
    		• Highland League
    Lowland League
    		East of Scotland League Premier Division
    West of Scotland League Premier Division

    Fourth round

    The draw for the fourth round was made on 26 November 2023 during Sportscene on the BBC Scotland channel.
    Teams in bold advanced to the fifth round.
    PremiershipChampionshipLeague OneLeague TwoTier 5

  • Airdrieonians
  • Ayr United
  • Greenock Morton
  • Inverness Caledonian Thistle
  • Partick Thistle
  • Raith Rovers
  • Alloa Athletic
  • Cove Rangers
  • Falkirk
  • Kelty Hearts
  • Montrose
  • Queen of the South
  • Bonnyrigg Rose
  • Clyde
  • Dumbarton
  • Forfar Athletic
  • The Spartans
    		• Highland League
    Lowland League

    Fifth round

    The draw for the fifth round was made on 21 January 2024 during Sportscene on the BBC Scotland channel.
    Teams in italics were unknown at the time of the draw.
    Teams in bold advanced to the quarter-finals.
    PremiershipChampionshipLeague OneLeague Two

  • Airdrieonians
  • Ayr United
  • Greenock Morton
  • Inverness Caledonian Thistle
  • Partick Thistle
  • Cove Rangers
  • Bonnyrigg Rose

    • Quarter-finals

    The draw for the quarter-finals was made on 11 February 2024 at 4:40pm live on BBC One Scotland.
    Teams in italics were unknown at the time of the draw.
    Teams in bold advanced to the semi-finals.
    PremiershipChampionship

  • Greenock Morton

    • Semi-finals

    The draw for the semi-finals was made on 11 March 2024 live on BBC Scotland following the Greenock Morton v Heart of Midlothian match.
    Teams in bold advanced to the final.
    Premiership

    Broadcasting

    The Scottish Cup is broadcast by Viaplay Sports and BBC Scotland. Viaplay Sports has the first two picks of the fourth and fifth rounds, the quarter-finals as well as first pick of one semi-final and airs the final non-exclusively. BBC Scotland broadcast one match per round from the first round onwards and two matches per round from the fourth round to the quarter-finals, as well as one semi-final and the final.
    The following matches were selected for live coverage on UK television: