The 2026 Scottish Cup final was the final match of the 2025–26 Scottish Cup, the 141st edition of Scotland's most prestigious knockout football competition. It was contested by 42-time winners Celtic and two-time winners Dunfermline Athletic at Hampden Park, Glasgow, on 23 May 2026.[1]

Cetic won the game 3-1 to complete the domestic double for the 14th time.[2][3]

Background

The match was Dunfermline Athletic's sixth appearance in a Scottish Cup final, their fifth against Celtic (the sides having met in 1961, 1965, 2004 and 2007) and first since the latter.[4] Celtic made their 63rd Scottish Cup final appearance and returned after losing on penalties to Aberdeen in the 2025 iteration.[5]

Road to the final

Celtic Round Dunfermline Athletic
Opposition Score Opposition Score
3rd Queen of the South (H) 2–1
Auchinleck Talbot (A) 0–2 4th Hibernian (H) 1–0
Dundee (H) 2–1 (a.e.t.) 5th Kelty Hearts (H) 2–0
Rangers (A) 0–0 (a.e.t.) (2–4p) QF Aberdeen (H) 3–0
St Mirren (N) 6–2 (a.e.t.) SF Falkirk (N) 0–0 (a.e.t.) (4–2p)
Key: (H) = Home venue; (A) = Away venue; (N) = Neutral venue

Details

Celtic3–1Dunfermline Athletic
Report
  • Cooper 80'
Attendance: 49,613
Referee: Steven McLean
GK12Finland Viljami Sinisalo
RB2Canada Alistair Johnston
CB6United States Auston TrustyYellow card 53'
CB5Republic of Ireland Liam Scales
LB63Scotland Kieran Tierneydownward-facing red arrow 75'
CM42Scotland Callum McGregor (c)
CM27Belgium Arne Engels
RW49Scotland James Forrestdownward-facing red arrow 58'
AM8Sweden Benjamin Nygrendownward-facing red arrow 75'
LW13South Korea Yang Hyun-jundownward-facing red arrow 75'
CF38Japan Daizen Maeda
Substitutes:
GK31Scotland Ross Doohan
DF36Uruguay Marcelo Saracchiupward-facing green arrow 85'
DF47Scotland Dane Murray
DF56Scotland Anthony Ralston
MF14Scotland Luke McCowan
MF21England Alex Oxlade-Chamberlainupward-facing green arrow 75'
FW17Nigeria Kelechi Iheanachoupward-facing green arrow 58'
FW19Wales Callum Osmand
FW23Tunisia Sebastian Tounektiupward-facing green arrow 75'
Manager:
Northern Ireland Martin O'Neill
GK13England Aston Oxborough
CB2Scotland Jeremiah Chilokoa-Mullen (c)
CB31Scotland John Toddownward-facing red arrow 46'
CB3Trinidad and Tobago Kieran Ngwenya
RWB10Scotland Matty Todddownward-facing red arrow 79'
LWB47Scotland Robbie Fraser
CM35England Tashan Oakley-Boothedownward-facing red arrow 46'
CM18Ghana Nurudeen Abdulaidownward-facing red arrow 59'
CM8Scotland Charlie GilmourYellow card 40'
CF38Scotland Callumn Morrisondownward-facing red arrow 46'
CF26Scotland Andrew Tod
Substitutes:
GK40England Billy Terrell
DF4Scotland Kyle Benedictus
DF11Northern Ireland Shea Kearneyupward-facing green arrow 46'
MF14Mozambique Alfons Amadeupward-facing green arrow 59'
MF24Republic of Ireland Graham Carey
MF33Scotland Josh Cooperupward-facing green arrow 79'
FW9Scotland Zak Ruddenupward-facing green arrow 46'
FW20Scotland Chris Kaneupward-facing green arrow 46'
FW34Scotland Lucas Fyfe
Manager:
Northern Ireland Neil Lennon

Match rules[6]

  • 90 minutes
  • 30 minutes of extra time if necessary
  • Penalty shoot-out if scores still level
  • Nine named substitutes
  • Maximum of five substitutions in normal time (a sixth substitute is permitted in extra time)

Media coverage

BBC Scotland and Premier Sports broadcast the final, in what is the second season of a new five-year deal in the United Kingdom to broadcast Scottish Cup matches.[7]

References

  1. "Celtic sweep past Dunfermline to win Scottish Cup and clinch double glory". RTE Sport. 23 May 2026. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
  2. "Celtic 3-1 Dunfermline: Martin O'Neill leads Hoops to Scottish Cup title to complete domestic double". Sky Sports. 23 May 2026. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
  3. Akram, Fayez (18 April 2026). "Dunfermline Athletic into Scottish Gas Scottish Cup Final after dramatic penalty shoot-out win over rivals Falkirk". Scottish Football Association. Glasgow, Scotland. Retrieved 20 April 2026.
  4. "Scottish Cup final: Aberdeen deny Celtic treble as Dimitar Mitov the hero in penalty shoot-out win". Sky Sports. 24 May 2025. Archived from the original on 25 October 2025. Retrieved 26 August 2025.
  5. "Format & Rules". ScottishFA.co.uk. Scottish Football Association. Archived from the original on 16 February 2022. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
  6. "Broadcaster boost for Scottish Gas Men's Scottish Cup". ScottishFA.co.uk. Scottish Football Association. 6 June 2024. Archived from the original on 21 January 2025. Retrieved 19 April 2025.