Scottish Premiership champions Celtic will face Championship side Dunfermline Athletic in the Scottish Cup final at Hampden Park on Saturday, May 23, 2026, at 15:00 BST.
Martin O'Neill's side targets a domestic double, while the underdogs aim to end a 58-year trophy drought.
Celtic entered the final after securing their fifth successive top-flight title with a 3-1 win over Hearts.
Their cup run included a 2-0 victory against Auchinleck Talbot, a 97th-minute equalizer by Junior Adamu to beat Dundee, a 4-2 penalty shootout win over Rangers, and a late four-goal surge in extra time against St Mirren.
Dunfermline reached Hampden by defeating Queen of the South 2-1, Hibernian 1-0, Kelty Hearts 2-0, and Aberdeen 3-0.
The Pars then secured their final berth by beating rivals Falkirk 4-2 on penalties after a goalless 120 minutes.
Managerial Battle
The match features a managerial battle between O'Neill and Dunfermline manager Neil Lennon, who previously played and managed under O'Neill at Celtic.
O'Neill has lifted eight major trophies at Parkhead, while Lennon won 10 across two managerial spells.
Celtic interim manager Martin O'Neill praised his opponent, noting the tactical resilience Dunfermline displayed during their tournament run.
"Not only did [Neil Lennon] do brilliantly as a player, but he did fabulously as a manager, his record is quite extraordinary," said O'Neill.
O'Neill emphasized that his former player remains a dangerous opponent on the touchline. "I think, yes, there's no question [he is a dangerous manager to face]," said O'Neill.
O'Neill pointed out that Dunfermline successfully navigated difficult matches against top-flight opposition.
"His run this year in the cup has been terrific, knocking out three top-flight teams as well along the way," said O'Neill.
The interim boss acknowledged that the underdogs have consistently found tactical solutions under pressure.
"I know he mentioned that the game against Falkirk was a bit attritional in the semi-final, but they found a way to win, stayed through it until they got through on penalty kicks," said O'Neill.
Dunfermline manager Neil Lennon dismissed the notion that his squad is merely participating in a celebratory event. "It's not a day out for us," said Lennon.
Lennon referenced media speculation regarding O'Neill's potential achievements had he taken charge earlier in the season.
"I've seen a lot of comments this week about Martin [O'Neill] picking up the trophy with Callum McGregor and if he'd have been here earlier in the season, he would have been winning a treble," said Lennon.
The Dunfermline boss issued a clear warning to the newly crowned Premiership winners. "I wouldn't dismiss us.
We're the underdogs, but underdogs bite," said Lennon.
Lennon stated that his squad maintains a quiet confidence despite the overwhelming challenge ahead.
"We will come - I wouldn't say brimming full of confidence - but with an inner belief that we can achieve something here.
We're under no illusions as to how difficult that's going to be," said Lennon.
Supporters from Australia, the United States, and the Netherlands have traveled to Scotland for the match.
Mark Smith and his 11-year-old son Jake flew from New South Wales to watch their cousin, Dunfermline midfielder Matty Todd, play.
Seventy-one-year-old Paddy Thompson traveled from the Netherlands for his fifth cup game this season.
Thompson and his daughter Amanda previously attended the 2007 final, where Celtic defeated Dunfermline 1-0.
Another fan, John Heeps, rerouted a holiday flight from Croatia to ensure arrival in Glasgow before kickoff.
Historically, Celtic has won the Scottish Cup 42 times, last lifting it in 2024.
Dunfermline has won the trophy twice, in 1961 and 1968, and has lost 17 of its last 18 meetings against Celtic.
The match will be broadcast live on BBC One Scotland, BBC iPlayer, and Premier Sports 2, with radio coverage provided by BBC Radio Scotland and BBC Sounds.
