Hearts face Dunfermline in League Cup - full draw

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Heart of Midlothian's new manager Derek McInnes will face Neil Lennon's Dunfermline in the group stage of the 2025-26 League Cup.

Hearts have been drawn against the Pars - managed by the former Celtic and Hibernian boss - as well as Hamilton, Dumbarton and Stirling Albion in the initial stage of the competition.

Two Scottish Premiership teams - Kilmarnock and newly promoted Livingston - are in Group H, alongside Kelty Hearts, East Fife and Brora Rangers.

Scott Brown's Ayr United are in Group D with St Mirren, the only side from the top six of the 2024-25 Scottish Premiership table to be involved at this stage.

Celtic, Rangers, Hibernian, Dundee United and Aberdeen are exempt from the group phase as they are competing in Europe.

Forty teams from the Premiership down to Bonnyrigg Rose of the Lowland League, Highland League champions Brora Rangers and Highland League runners-up Brechin City were drawn into eight pools.

The matches will begin on July 12/13 with further fixtures on July 15/16, 19/20, 22/23 and 26/27.

The team that finishes top of each pool as well as the three best runners-up progress to the last 16 on the weekend of August 16/17, where they will be joined by the teams that are competing in Europe.

The quarter-finals will be on September 20/21, the semi-finals on November 1/2 and the final at Hampden on Sunday, December 14.

Celtic won last season's League Cup, beating holders Rangers 5-4 on penalties in the final.

Group A

Falkirk, Queen's Park, Cove Rangers, Spartans, Brechin.

Group B

Ross County, Partick Thistle, Queen of the South, Edinburgh City, Stranraer.

Group C

Dundee, Airdrie, Alloa, Montrose, Bonnyrigg Rose.

Group D

St Mirren, Ayr United, Arbroath, Annan Athletic, Forfar.

Group E

Hearts, Dunfermline, Hamilton, Dumbarton, Stirling Albion.