Scottish Challenge Cup

The Scottish Challenge Cup, formally known as the Scottish Professional Football League Challenge Cup, is a knockout football competition organized by the Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL). Established in 1990 as a one-off tournament, it has since evolved into Scotland's third most significant football knockout cup competition, following the Scottish Cup and the Scottish League Cup.

The Scottish Challenge Cup season typically begins in July or August and concludes in March or April of the following year. Over 50 teams participate, with the exact figure varying occasionally. This includes all 30 clubs from the Scottish Championship, League One, and League Two, plus the under-21 sides of Scottish Premiership teams. The remaining participants are made up of Highland Football League and Lowland Football League sides (four to six from each division) and invited clubs.

The Scottish Challenge Cup follows a single-elimination format with regionalized draws. All matches, including the final, are played over a single leg. Extra time and penalty shootouts determine Challenge Cup winners if a game ends in a draw. The under-21 teams enter in the first round and are seeded.

The inaugural Scottish Challenge Cup title was won by Dundee, who defeated Ayr United 3-2 in extra time in the 1990-91 final. Ayr United returned to the final the following season but lost again, this time to Hamilton Academical. Other successful Challenge Cup teams include Falkirk and Inverness Caledonian Thistle.