May 8 – The Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL) has unveiled a new look, and name, for its long-running Challenge Cup, now officially rebranded as the KDM Evolution Trophy following a multi-year sponsorship deal with construction firm KDM Group.
Best known for their backing of Dunfermline Athletic’s East End Park and a partnership with the Scottish FA’s Soccer Centres, KDM’s new role as title sponsor adds another layer to the group’s growing involvement in Scottish football. For the SPFL, the deal brings fresh commercial energy to a competition often seen as a secondary concern.
The rebrand is backed by a record £1.25 million prize pot for the 2025/26 edition – a significant increase on this season and a move that suggests the league is looking to give the tournament greater weight. Winners will take home £150,000, with improved payouts across all stages.
The new format, announced earlier this year, follows the lead of UEFA’s evolving competitions, opening with a six-game league phase that includes 10 clubs each from League 1 and League 2, and additional Premiership B teams. The regionalised structure, split into North and South pots, aims to limit travel costs while still delivering competitive games.
The top 22 teams from the league phase will be joined in the Round of 32 by seeded Championship sides, with a straightforward knockout format from there. It’s a more structured, if slightly convoluted, approach that the SPFL hopes will offer more meaningful minutes to young players – now including 15-year-olds, who will be eligible to feature for the first time.
The rebranded trophy itself, commissioned specifically for the new era of the competition, will be revealed in the summer ahead of the tournament’s kickoff.
While the KDM Evolution Trophy may still have work to do to win hearts and minds, particularly among fans wary of too much change, the commercial boost and renewed focus on youth development could offer a more sustainable future for a competition that’s often struggled for a clear identity.
Neil Doncaster, group chief executive of the SPFL, said: “We are really pleased to welcome KDM Group as the title sponsor for the KDM Evolution Trophy from season 2025/26, and to announce a significant rise in prize money for next season’s competition.
“KDM Group is a highly-respected and well-established firm in Scotland, the UK and beyond, and has already demonstrated a passion for Scottish football. It has a proud history of supporting our national sport and this long-term deal is really positive news for all 42 member clubs.
“We’re confident the new competition format will help develop some of our most promising players across the country. Allowing players to compete at a high level from the age of 15 will pay dividends for them, for their clubs and ultimately, for the national side.”
Contact the writer of this story, Harry Ewing, at moc.l1746717349labto1746717349ofdlr1746717349owedi1746717349sni@g1746717349niwe.1746717349yrrah1746717349