The 2026 Scottish Challenge Cup final, also known as the KDM Evolution Trophy final for sponsorship reasons, was the final match of the 2025–26 Scottish Challenge Cup. It was contested between Scottish Championship side Raith Rovers and Scottish League One side Inverness Caledonian Thistle. It was the 33rd final of the Scottish Challenge Cup since it was first organised in 1990 to celebrate the centenary of the now defunct Scottish Football League, and the eleventh since the SPFL was formed. The final was played at Firhill Stadium on Easter Sunday. This match was a repeat of the scheduled 2020 Scottish Challenge Cup final which was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic which resulted in the trophy being shared by the two teams. With both sides having won three trophies each previously, the winners of the final joined Falkirk as the joint record title winners.
The match was televised live on BBC Alba.
Route to the final
Raith Rovers +RoundOppositionScoreSecond roundHamilton Academical (h)5–2Third roundQueen of the South (h)1–0Quarter-finalQueen's Park (a)1–1 (aet) 3–1 (p)Semi-finalAirdrieonians (a)1–1 (aet) 5–3 (p)
Inverness Caledonian Thistle +RoundOppositionScoreLeague PhaseElgin City (a)4–1League PhaseAberdeen B (h)4–1League PhaseStirling Albion (h)2–1League PhaseDundee B (h)6–0League PhaseForfar Athletic (a)4–1League PhaseDundee United B (h)6–0Second roundDumbarton (a)9–0Third roundPartick Thistle (a)3–3 4–2 (p)Quarter FinalsStenhousemuir (h)1–0Semi FinalsAyr United (a)2–1
Match
References