Route to the final
The competition is a knock-out tournament and was contested by 49 teams from Scotland in 2022–23, as well as 2 teams each from Wales and Northern Ireland respectively. [3]
Raith Rovers
As a 2021–22 Scottish Championship club, Raith Rovers were given a bye to the third round. The 2023 final was Raith's fourth Challenge Cup final and third consecutive final, having split the 2020 edition with Inverness Caledonian Thistle after the final was postponed indefinitely due to the COVID-19 pandemic, [4] and were reigning champions after winning the 2022 edition against Queen of the South. [5] They also won the 2014 final against Rangers, making them undefeated in all four finals they had been involved in prior. [6]
| Round | Opposition | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Third round | Cove Rangers (a) | 1–0 |
| Fourth round | Greenock Morton (h) | 1–1 ( a.e.t. ) 4–2 ( p ) |
| Quarter-final | Queen's Park (a) | 1–0 |
| Semi-final | Dundee (a) | 2–2 ( a.e.t. ) 4–3 ( p ) |
Hamilton Academical
As a 2021–22 Scottish Championship club, Hamilton Academical were given a bye to the third round. This was Hamilton's first Challenge Cup final since the 2012 edition. [7] The 2023 final was Hamilton's fifth Challenge Cup final, having won the cup in 1991 and 1992, and finishing as runners-up in 2005 and 2012. [8] [9]
| Round | Opposition | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Third round | Rangers B (a) | 3–0 |
| Fourth round | Inverness Caledonian Thistle (h) | 2–0 |
| Quarter-final | Clyde (h) | 3–2 |
| Semi-final | Queen of the South (h) | 2–1 ( a.e.t. ) |
