2025–26 in Scottish football

Football in Scotland
Season2025–26
2025–26 in Scottish football
Premiership champions
Championship champions
League 1 champions
League 2 champions
Scottish Cup winners
League Cup winners
St Mirren
Challenge Cup winners
Youth Cup winners
Teams in Europe
Celtic, Rangers, Aberdeen, Hibernian, Dundee United
Scotland national team
2026 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA)

The 2025–26 season is the 129th season of competitive football in Scotland. The domestic season began on the weekend of 11–13 July with the first Scottish League Cup group stage matches, and the first round of matches in the 2025–26 Scottish Premiership, played on the weekend of 1–3 August.[1]

Transfer deals

League competitions

Scottish Premiership

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation[a]
1 Heart of Midlothian 18 12 5 1 36 14 +22 41 Qualification for the Champions League play-off round
2 Celtic 17 11 2 4 29 14 +15 35 Qualification for the Champions League second qualifying round
3 Motherwell 18 7 9 2 26 15 +11 30 Qualification for the Conference League second qualifying round[b]
4 Rangers 17 7 8 2 24 15 +9 29
5 Hibernian 18 6 7 5 28 20 +8 25
6 Aberdeen 17 7 3 7 19 20 −1 24
7 Falkirk 18 6 6 6 20 26 −6 24
8 Dundee United 18 4 9 5 24 27 −3 21
9 St Mirren 16 4 5 7 15 22 −7 17
10 Dundee 18 3 4 11 15 32 −17 13
11 Kilmarnock 18 2 6 10 17 33 −16 12 Qualification for the Premiership play-off final
12 Livingston 17 1 6 10 17 32 −15 9 Relegation to Championship
Updated to match(es) played on 21 December 2025. Source: [2][3]
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Head-to-head points; 5) Head-to-head goal difference; 6) Play-off (only if deciding champion, UEFA competition qualification, second stage group allocation, or relegation).[4]
Notes:
  1. ^ Teams play each other three times (33 matches), before the league is split into two groups (the top six and the bottom six).
  2. ^ The winners of the 2025–26 Scottish Cup will qualify for the Europa League. If the cup winners finish in the top two, the berth reserved for the cup winners (Europa League third qualifying round) passes to the third-placed team, and the berths for the Conference League second qualifying round are passed down to the fourth- and fifth-placed teams.

Scottish Championship

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion, qualification or relegation
1 St Johnstone 19 12 5 2 42 17 +25 41 Promotion to the Scottish Premiership
2 Partick Thistle 19 10 6 3 28 19 +9 36 Qualification for the Premiership play-off semi-final
3 Arbroath 19 9 5 5 26 23 +3 32 Qualification for the Premiership play-off quarter-final
4 Ayr United 19 6 9 4 25 22 +3 27
5 Raith Rovers 19 6 6 7 20 18 +2 24
6 Dunfermline Athletic 19 6 5 8 26 21 +5 23
7 Greenock Morton 19 4 9 6 17 24 −7 21
8 Queen's Park 18 3 8 7 18 27 −9 17
9 Airdrieonians 19 4 5 10 16 29 −13 17 Qualification for the Championship play-offs
10 Ross County 18 2 6 10 18 36 −18 12 Relegation to League One
Updated to match(es) played on 20 December 2025. Source: [5]
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Head-to head points; 5) Head-to-head goal difference; 6) Play-off (only for deciding promotion, play-off participation and relegation).[6]

Scottish League One

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion, qualification or relegation
1 Inverness Caledonian Thistle 17 12 2 3 31 10 +21 33[a] Promotion to the Championship
2 Stenhousemuir 18 8 6 4 21 16 +5 30 Qualification for the Championship play-offs
3 Alloa Athletic 18 8 4 6 22 12 +10 28
4 Queen of the South 18 8 4 6 23 22 +1 28
5 Peterhead 18 8 2 8 26 33 −7 26
6 East Fife 17 7 4 6 20 22 −2 25
7 Montrose 18 6 3 9 20 30 −10 21
8 Hamilton Academical 18 9 4 5 32 17 +15 16[b]
9 Cove Rangers 18 3 4 11 17 25 −8 13 Qualification for the League One play-offs
10 Kelty Hearts 18 2 3 13 17 42 −25 9 Relegation to League Two
Updated to match(es) played on 20 December 2025. Source: [7]
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Head-to-head points; 5) Head-to-head goal difference; 6) Play-off (only for deciding promotion, play-off participation and relegation).[8]
Notes:
  1. ^ Inverness Caledonian Thistle were deducted five points for entering administration during the previous season.
  2. ^ Hamilton Academical were deducted six points for breaching SPFL rules regarding amateur players and then deducted a further nine points for failure to hold at least a bronze level licence.

Scottish League Two

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion, qualification or relegation
1 The Spartans 17 9 4 4 24 20 +4 31 Promotion to League One
2 East Kilbride 17 8 4 5 33 23 +10 28 Qualification for the League One play-offs
3 Clyde 17 6 8 3 28 17 +11 26
4 Stranraer 17 6 4 7 23 22 +1 22
5 Elgin City 17 5 5 7 23 23 0 20
6 Annan Athletic 17 5 5 7 22 27 −5 20
7 Forfar Athletic 17 5 4 8 23 28 −5 19
8 Dumbarton 17 6 4 7 28 32 −4 17[a]
9 Stirling Albion 17 4 5 8 21 32 −11 17
10 Edinburgh City 17 7 5 5 29 30 −1 11[b] Qualification for the League Two play-off final
Updated to match(es) played on 20 December 2025. Source: [10]
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Head-to-head points; 5) Head-to-head goal difference; 6) Play-off (only for deciding promotion, play-off participation and relegation).[11]
Notes:
  1. ^ Dumbarton were deducted five points for entering administration during the previous season.
  2. ^ Edinburgh City were deducted 15 points due to an insolvency event.[9]


Non-league football

Level 5

Level 6

Highland
Lowland

Honours

Cup honours

Competition Winner Score Runner-up Match report
2025–26 Scottish Cup
2025–26 League Cup St Mirren 3–1 Celtic BBC Sport
2025–26 Challenge Cup
2025–26 South Challenge Cup
2025–26 Youth Cup
2025–26 Junior Cup

Non-league honours

Level Competition Winner
5 Highland League
Lowland League
6 North Caledonian League
North of Scotland League Premier Division
East of Scotland League Premier Division
Midlands Premier League
South of Scotland League
West of Scotland League Premier Division
7 North of Scotland League Championship
East of Scotland League First Division
Midlands First Division
West of Scotland League First Division
8 East of Scotland League Second Division
West of Scotland League Second Division
9 East of Scotland League Third Division
West of Scotland League Third Division
10 West of Scotland League Fourth Division

Individual honours

PFA Scotland awards

Award Winner Team
Players' Player of the Year
Young Player of the Year
Manager of the Year
Championship Player
League One Player
League Two Player

SFWA awards

Award Winner Team
Footballer of the Year
Young Player of the Year
Manager of the Year

Scottish clubs in Europe

Summary

Club Competitions Started round Final round Coef.
Celtic UEFA Champions League Play-off round Play-off round 6.0
UEFA Europa League League phase
Rangers UEFA Champions League Second qualifying round Play-off round 3.5
UEFA Europa League League phase
Aberdeen UEFA Europa League Play-off round Play-off round 2.5
UEFA Conference League League phase League phase
Hibernian UEFA Europa League Second qualifying round Second qualifying round 2.0
UEFA Conference League Third qualifying round Play-off round
Dundee United UEFA Conference League Second qualifying round Third qualifying round 3.0
Total 17.0
Average 3.4

Celtic

UEFA Champions League

Having won the 2024–25 Scottish Premiership, Celtic entered the Champions League in the play-off round.[17]

20 August 2025 PO Celtic 0–0 Kairat Glasgow
Report Stadium: Celtic Park
Attendance: 56,182
Referee: Espen Eskås (Norway)
26 August 2025 PO Kairat 0–0 (a.e.t.)
(0–0 agg.)
(3–2 p)
Celtic Almaty
Report Stadium: Central Stadium
Attendance: 22,800
Referee: Maurizio Mariani (Italy)
Penalties
Gromyko
Martynovich
Arad
Sorokin
Idah
McCowan
Engels
McGregor
Maeda

Rangers

UEFA Champions League

Having finished second in the 2024–25 Scottish Premiership, Rangers entered the Champions League in the second qualifying round.[17]

22 July 2025 QR2 Rangers 2–0 Panathinaikos Glasgow
Curtis 52'
Gassama 78'
Report Stadium: Ibrox Stadium
Attendance: 49,548
Referee: Donatas Rumsas (Lithuania)
30 July 2025 QR2 Panathinaikos 1–1
(1–3 agg.)
Rangers Athens
Duricic 53' Report Gassama 60' Stadium: Leoforos Alexandras Stadium
Attendance: 36,121
Referee: Simone Sozza (Italy)
5 August 2025 QR3 Rangers 3–0 Viktoria Plzeň Glasgow
Gassama 15', 51'
Dessers 45' (pen.)
Report Stadium: Ibrox Stadium
Attendance: 45,730
Referee: Clément Turpin (France)
12 August 2025 QR3 Viktoria Plzeň 2–1
(2–4 agg.)
Rangers Plzeň
Durosinmi 41'
Marković 83'
Report Cameron 60' Stadium: Doosan Arena
Attendance: 11,341
Referee: Szymon Marciniak (Poland)
19 August 2025 PO Rangers 1–3 Club Brugge Glasgow
Danilo 50' Report Vermant 3'
Spileers 7'
Mechele 20'
Stadium: Ibrox Stadium
Attendance: 43,731
Referee: François Letexier (France)
27 August 2025 PO Club Brugge 6–0
(9–1 agg.)
Rangers Bruges
Tresoldi 5'
Vanaken 32'
Seys 41', 45'
Stanković 45+2'
Tzolis 50'
Report Stadium: Jan Breydel Stadium
Referee: Felix Zwayer (Germany)

Aberdeen

UEFA Europa League

Having won the 2024–25 Scottish Cup, Aberdeen entered the Europa League in the play-off round.[18]

21 August 2025 PO Aberdeen 2–2 FCSB Aberdeen
Polvara 61'
Sokler 89'
Report Birligea 32'
Olaru 46'
Stadium: Pittodrie Stadium
Attendance: 17,551
Referee: Serdar Gözübüyük (Netherlands)
28 August 2025 PO FCSB 3–0
(5–2 agg.)
Aberdeen Bucharest
Olaru 45+1' (pen.), 59'
Sut 52'
Report Stadium: Arena Națională
Referee: Espen Eskås (Norway)

Hibernian

UEFA Europa League

Having finished third in the 2024–25 Scottish Premiership, Hibernian entered the Europa League in the second qualifying round.[18]

24 July 2025 QR2 Midtjylland 1–1 Hibernian Herning
Şimşir 72' Report McGrath 7' Stadium: MCH Arena
Attendance: 8,863
Referee: Robert Schröder (Germany)
31 July 2025 QR2 Hibernian 1–2 (a.e.t.)
(2–3 agg.)
Midtjylland Edinburgh
Bushiri 105+1' Report Osorio 94'
Júnior Brumado 119'
Stadium: Easter Road
Attendance: 19,536
Referee: Gustavo Correia (Portugal)
UEFA Conference League
7 August 2025 Third qualifying round FK Partizan 0–2 Hibernian Belgrade
Report Boyle 40', 70' (pen.) Stadium: Partizan Stadium
Attendance: 26,342
Referee: Philip Farrugia (Malta)
14 August 2025 Third qualifying round Hibernian 2–3 (a.e.t.)
(4–3 agg.)
FK Partizan Edinburgh
Bowie 59'
Cadden 100'
Report Vukotić 17'
Milosevic 44'
Kostić 90+5'
Stadium: Easter Road
Attendance: 19,377
Referee: Radoslav Gidzhenov (Bulgaria)
21 August 2025 Play-off round Hibernian 1–2 Legia Warsaw Edinburgh
Mulligan 86' Report Nsame 35' (pen.)
Wszolek 45+3'
Stadium: Easter Road
Attendance: 18,958
Referee: Mohammad Al-Emara (Finland)
28 August 2025 Play-off round Legia Warsaw 3–3 (a.e.t.)
(5–4 agg.)
Hibernian Warsaw
Bichakhchyan 13'
Elitim 90+3'
Rajovic 98'
Report Bushiri 50'
Boyle 59'
Chaiwa 61'
Stadium: Polish Army Stadium
Referee: Lawrence Visser (Belgium)

Dundee United

UEFA Conference League

Having finished fourth in the 2024–25 Scottish Premiership, Dundee United entered the Conference League in the second qualifying round.[18]

24 July 2025 QR2 Dundee United 1–0 UNA Strassen Dundee
Sapsford 47' Report Stadium: Tannadice Park
Referee: Marc Nagtegaal (Netherlands)
31 July 2025 QR2 UNA Strassen 0–1
(0–2 agg.)
Dundee United Differdange
Report Iovu 63' Stadium: Stade Municipal
Referee: Vilhjálmur Thórarinsson (Iceland)
7 August 2025 Third qualifying round Rapid Vienna 2–2 Dundee United Vienna
Dahl 27'
Seidl 44'
Report Watters 33'
Sapsford 75'
Stadium: Allianz Stadion
Referee: Luís Miguel Branco Godinho (Portugal)
14 August 2025 Third qualifying round Dundee United 2–2 (a.e.t.)
(4–4 agg.)
(4–5 p)
Rapid Vienna Dundee
Watters 25', 42' (pen.) Report Iovu 63' (o.g.)
Kara 77'
Stadium: Tannadice Park
Referee: Anastasios Sidiropoulos (Cyprus)
Penalties
Fatah
Ferry
Esselink
Ševelj
Keresztes
Kara
Mbuyi
Radulović
Raux-Yao
Bolla

Scotland national team

By winning their qualification group, Scotland reached their ninth World Cup finals (their first since 1998).[19]

5 September 2025 2026 World Cup qualification Denmark  0–0  Scotland Copenhagen
Report Stadium: Parken Stadium
Attendance: 35,369
Referee: Daniel Siebert (Germany)
8 September 2025 2026 World Cup qualification Belarus  0–2  Scotland Zalaegerszeg, Hungary
Report Adams 43'
Volkov 65' (o.g.)
Stadium: ZTE Arena
Attendance: None
Referee: Nikola Dabanovic (Montenegro)
9 October 2025 2026 World Cup qualification Scotland  3–1  Greece Glasgow
Christie 64'
Ferguson 80'
Dykes 90+3'
Report Tsimikas 62' Stadium: Hampden Park
Attendance: 46,006
Referee: Espen Eskås (Norway)
12 October 2025 2026 World Cup qualification Scotland  2–1  Belarus Glasgow
Adams 15'
McTominay 84'
Report Kuchko 90+6' Stadium: Hampden Park
Attendance: 49,346
Referee: Marian Barbu (Romania)
15 November 2025 2026 World Cup qualification Greece  3–2  Scotland Piraeus
Bakasetas 7'
Karetsas 57'
Tzolis 63'
Report Gannon-Doak 65'
Christie 70'
Stadium: Karaiskakis Stadium
Attendance: 18,405
Referee: Jesús Gil Manzano (Spain)
18 November 2025 2026 World Cup qualification Scotland  4–2  Denmark Glasgow
McTominay 3'
Shankland 78'
Tierney 90+3'
McLean 90+8'
Report Højlund 57' (pen.)
Dorgu 81'
Stadium: Hampden Park
Attendance: 49,587
Referee: Szymon Marciniak (Poland)
19 June 2026 2026 World Cup Scotland   Morocco Foxborough
Stadium: Gillette Stadium

Women's football

League and Cup honours

Division Winner
2025–26 SWPL 1
2025–26 SWPL 2
2025–26 SWF Championship (North)
2025–26 SWF Championship (South)
Competition Winner Score Runner-up Match report
Scottish Women's Cup
Scottish Women's Premier League Cup
SWFL First Division Cup
SWFL Second Division Cup

Individual honours

SWPL awards

Award Winner Team
Players' Player of the Year
Player of the Year
Manager of the Year
Young Player of the Year

Scottish Women's Premier League

Scotland women's national team

24 October 2025 Friendly match Morocco  1–2  Scotland Casablanca
Nakkach 80' Report Cuthbert 41'
Weir 90'
Stadium: Père Jégo Stadium
Referee: Natacha Konan (Ivory Coast)
28 October 2025 Friendly match Scotland  3–4  Switzerland Dunfermline
McGovern 35'
Reuteler 45+2' (o.g.)
Weir 90+3'
Report Schertenleib 24', 52'
Beney 41'
Vallotto 72'
Stadium: East End Park
Referee: Abigail Byrne (England)
28 November 2025 Friendly match Ukraine  1–1  Scotland Jerez de la Frontera, Spain
12:00 UTC+1 Report
Stadium: Estadio Municipal de Chapín
Referee: Gabriela Arce (Paraguay)
2 December 2025 Friendly match Scotland  3–2  China Jerez de la Frontera, Spain
19:00 UTC+1 Howat 11', 15'
Hanson 14'
Report Zhang Linyan 30'
Wu Chengshu 60'
Stadium: Estadio Municipal de Chapín
Referee: María Eugenia Gil Soriano
3 March 2026 2027 WCQ Luxembourg  v  Scotland
7 March 2026 2027 WCQ Scotland  v  Luxembourg
14 April 2026 2027 WCQ Scotland  v  Belgium
18 April 2026 2027 WCQ Belgium  v  Scotland
5 June 2026 2027 WCQ Scotland  v  Israel
9 June 2026 2027 WCQ Israel  v  Scotland

Deaths

  • 22 July: John Fallon, 84, Celtic and Motherwell goalkeeper[20]
  • 12 August: Rikki Fleming, 78, Ayr United, Hibernian and Berwick Rangers defender[21]
  • 14 August: Sammy Johnston, 58, St Johnstone, Ayr United, Partick Thistle and Stranraer midfielder[22]
  • 21 August: Rod Petrie, 69, Hibernian chairman and Scottish Football Association president[23]
  • 1 September: Jimmy Bone, 75, Partick Thistle, Celtic, Arbroath, St Mirren, Hearts and Scotland forward; Arbroath, Airdrie, St Mirren, East Fife and Stenhousemuir manager.[24]
  • 3 September: Bobby Graham, 80, Motherwell and Hamilton Academical forward.[25]
  • 13 September: Eddie Hunter, 82, Queen's Park player and manager.[26]
  • 13 September: George Sievwright, 88, Dundee United wing half.[27]
  • 24 October: Bob Wilson, 91, Aberdeen wing half.[28]
  • 31 October: Willie Young, 73, Aberdeen defender.[29]
  • 26 November: Tommy Murray, 82, Airdrie, Hearts, Arbroath and Raith Rovers forward.[30]
  • 9 December: Dixie Deans, 79, Motherwell, Celtic, Partick Thistle and Scotland forward.[31]

Notes and references

  1. ^ "Key dates for Season 2025/26". SPFL. 13 January 2025. Retrieved 6 May 2025.
  2. ^ "Scottish Premiership Table". BBC. Archived from the original on 27 January 2025. Retrieved 21 December 2025.
  3. ^ "Premiership League Table". Scottish Professional Football League. Archived from the original on 30 January 2025. Retrieved 21 December 2025.
  4. ^ "The Rules of the Scottish Professional Football League (Rule Number C35-C37)" (PDF). SPFL. Archived (PDF) from the original on 28 September 2022. Retrieved 24 September 2022.
  5. ^ "Championship Table". Scottish Professional Football League. Retrieved 20 December 2025.
  6. ^ "The Rules of the Scottish Professional Football League" (PDF). SPFL. pp. 38–39. Retrieved 20 October 2019.
  7. ^ "League One Table". Scottish Professional Football League. Retrieved 20 December 2025.
  8. ^ "The Rules of the Scottish Professional Football League" (PDF). SPFL. pp. 38–39. Retrieved 20 October 2019.
  9. ^ "SPFL statement - Edinburgh City". spfl.co.uk. Scottish Professional Football League. 5 August 2025. Retrieved 5 August 2025.
  10. ^ "League Two Table". Scottish Professional Football League. Retrieved 20 December 2025.
  11. ^ "The Rules of the Scottish Professional Football League" (PDF). SPFL. pp. 38–39. Retrieved 20 October 2019.
  12. ^ "Highland League Table". BBC. Retrieved 20 December 2025.
  13. ^ "Highland Football League, Scotland - League Table". Highland Football League. Retrieved 20 December 2025.
  14. ^ "League Tables Premier Division". East of Scotland Football League. Retrieved 20 December 2025.
  15. ^ "Premier Division Table". Midlands League. Retrieved 20 December 2025.
  16. ^ "Premier Division". West of Scotland Football League. Retrieved 20 December 2025.
  17. ^ a b Winton, Richard (16 May 2025). "Who needs what in Premiership's final-day Europe race?". BBC Sport. Retrieved 16 May 2025.
  18. ^ a b c "Why Aberdeen win is European blow for United". BBC Sport. 24 May 2025. Retrieved 25 May 2025.
  19. ^ "Scotland vs Denmark LIVE: UEFA World Cup Qualifiers - watch, listen, team news, updates, report, reaction, stats & head-to-head". BBC Sport. 18 November 2025. Retrieved 18 November 2025.
  20. ^ "Celtic goalkeeper & Lisbon Lion Fallon dies aged 84". BBC Sport. 22 July 2025. Retrieved 23 July 2025.
  21. ^ Wilson, Stuart (12 August 2025). "Ayr United in mourning as tributes paid to iconic defender Rikki Fleming". Daily Record. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
  22. ^ "Sammy Johnston". Partick Thistle FC. 14 August 2025. Retrieved 14 August 2025.
  23. ^ "RIP Rod Petrie 1956-2025". Hibernian FC. 22 August 2025. Retrieved 22 August 2025.
  24. ^ "Jimmy Bone: Former striker and manager dies aged 75". BBC Sport. 2 September 2025. Retrieved 2 September 2025.
  25. ^ "Rest in peace, Bobby Graham". www.liverpoolfc.com. Liverpool FC. Retrieved 4 September 2025.
  26. ^ "Eddie Hunter, 1943–2025". Queen's Park FC. 14 September 2025. Retrieved 14 September 2025.
  27. ^ "George Sievwright RIP". Macclesfield FC. 15 September 2025. Retrieved 18 September 2025.
  28. ^ "In Memoriam: Bobby Wilson". afc.co.uk. Aberdeen FC. 28 October 2025. Retrieved 29 October 2025.
  29. ^ "Former Aberdeen and Arsenal footballer Willie Young dies age 73". BBC News. 1 November 2025. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
  30. ^ Colman, Jon (27 November 2025). "Carlisle United legend who scored famous FA Cup winner dies". News and Star. Retrieved 27 November 2025.
  31. ^ "Celtic legend John 'Dixie' Deans dies aged 79". BBC Sport. 9 December 2025. Retrieved 9 December 2025.