- Rangers bypass the League Cup group stage due to Europa League qualification this season.
- Danny Rohl’s side enter the competition at the second-round stage in August.
- Rangers remain the League Cup’s most successful club with 28 tournament victories.
Rangers will not take part in tomorrow’s Scottish League Cup draw due to their involvement in European competition next season.
Despite a disappointing third-place Premiership finish during Danny Rohl’s first half-campaign in charge, Rangers still secured qualification for the UEFA Europa League after Celtic defeated Dunfermline Athletic in the Scottish Cup final.
That European involvement exempts Rangers from entering the League Cup at the group stage alongside clubs not participating in UEFA competition.
This means the Gers, along with Celtic, Hearts, Motherwell and Hibs will receive byes from the group stages.
Instead, Rangers will enter the tournament directly at the second-round stage, which is scheduled for the weekend of August 15 and 16.
European action takes priority for Rangers
Before then, Rohl’s side will begin their Europa League qualifying campaign across two crucial fixtures, with the first leg taking place on August 6 and the return leg on August 13.
The scheduling overlap means Rangers avoid the early summer League Cup programme that many Premiership clubs will begin to plan for tomorrow.
Although the club endured a poor domestic campaign last season, the League Cup remains a competition closely associated with the club’s history.
Rangers League Cup history
The Ibrox side are the tournament’s most successful club, having lifted the trophy 28 times.
Their most recent triumph came during the 2023/24 season when former captain James Tavernier scored a memorable half-volley in the final against Aberdeen at Hampden Park.
That victory secured another major honour for the club and underlined the club’s strong historic record in the competition.
Readrangers.com analysis – Jack Cranmer
Attention now turns toward Europe and whether Rohl can guide Rangers through qualification and into the main Europa League phase before domestic cup involvement begins later in August.
It will be the Gers first chance to win a major honour next season, and the first opportunity to catch up to Celtic, who now lead the Ibrox side by four in terms of trophy count.
