NIFL Danske Bank Premiership champions Crusasders and runners-up Linfield will participate in next season’s Scottish Challenge Cup.
The Belfast sides will join the expanded competition at the Fourth Round stage in October, the round before the quarter-finals, following approval from governing body UEFA yesterday.
The tournament for teams outside the top flight in Scotland, also known as the Petrofac Training Cup and which was won by Rangers last season, will also include an U20s sides from each Scottish Premiership club in the first round.
Four teams from the Highland League and four from the Lowland League will also enter at that stage in August, while The New Saints and Bala Town from the Welsh Premier League will join Crusaders and Linfield in Round Four.
One of the Belfast sides will be guaranteed a home tie with draws regionalised throughout the competition and seeded for the first three rounds, with the final to be played in March.
Andrew Johnson, Northern Ireland Football League managing director, said: "I have no doubt that it will prove to be a success both on and off the pitch. It will provide a different kind of challenge for all clubs, and is a great opportunity to showcase the product on offer in the NIFL to a wider audience."
The Scottish Premier Football League, who run the competition, have said the majority of fixtures will take place during international weekends, while BBC ALBA, S4C and Premier Sports will all show live matches.
