Scottish Cup

Scottish football tournament.

The Scottish Cup, officially known as the Scottish Football Association Challenge Cup, is Scotland's oldest and most prestigious knockout football competition, founded in 1873. It involves clubs from all tiers of Scottish football, including the Scottish Premiership and lower divisions, as well as some non-league teams, competing in a single-elimination format. The tournament is organized by the Scottish Football Association and is renowned for its dramatic matches and potential for upsets.

Entry is open to all 122 clubs with full membership of the Scottish Football Association, along with up to eight other associate member clubs. Teams enter the competition at different stages depending on their league ranking, with the lowest-ranked clubs starting in the preliminary rounds and Scottish Premiership teams joining in the fourth round. Matches are generally single-leg ties, with no replays from the first round onwards. Extra time and penalties are used to decide drawn matches. The tournament typically starts in August and concludes with the final in May, which is traditionally held at Hampden Park in Glasgow.

Celtic holds the record with 42 titles, followed by Rangers with 34 and Queen's Park with 10. Celtic and Rangers are considered the dominant forces in the competition due to their historical success. The Scottish Cup has witnessed many iconic moments, including famous giant-killings and dramatic last-minute winners that have become part of Scottish football folklore.

In the 2023/24 season, Celtic won their 42nd title by defeating Rangers 1-0 in the final. The winner of the Scottish Cup qualifies for the UEFA Europa League. If they have already qualified through league standings, the spot goes to the highest-placed team in the Scottish Premiership not yet qualified for European competition.