Date set for 2022/23 Premier Sports Cup draw

The SPFL has today announced that the draw for the group stage of the 2022/23 Premier Sports Cup will be made on Wednesday May 25 at 1.00pm.

It will be shown live by Premier Sports via their FreeSports channel. FreeSports is available on Freeview HD channel 65, Sky HD channel 422, Virgin HD 553, TalkTalk 64, BT Vision channel 64 and is also available via Samsung TV Player and on the FreeSports Player — www.freesportsplayer.tv

With five SPFL clubs again taking part in UEFA competitions next season, the Premier Sports Cup group stage draw will involve the other 37 SPFL clubs from 2021/22 plus Highland League champions Fraserburgh and Lowland League champions Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic.

The additional slot will be taken by Highland League runners-up Buckie Thistle, following a decision by the SPFL Board, as the Lowland League were given the extra place last season.

The 40 clubs will be drawn into eight groups of five on a seeded basis. Details of the seeding pots will be confirmed ahead of the draw.

Following a recommendation from the SPFL Competitions Working Group, regionalisation has been removed for 2022/23 after six years of the North/South split in the group stage.

The eight group winners and three best runners-up will join the five European entrants in the last 16 of the tournament at the end of August.

Due to changes to the calendar caused by the winter World Cup in Qatar, the Premier Sports Cup semi-finals will take place in January and the final is scheduled for Sunday February 26.

Premier Sports Cup 2022/23 dates

Group stage
MD1: Weekend of July 9/10, 2022 MD2: Midweek of July 12/13, 2022 MD3: Weekend of July 16/17, 2022 MD4: Midweek of July 19/20, 2022 MD5: Weekend of July 23/24, 2022

Second round
Midweek of August 30/31, 2022

Quarter-finals
Midweek of October 18-20, 2022

Semi-finals
Weekend of January 14/15, 2023

Final
Sunday February 26, 2023