Canadian Premier League

History and formation

Following the closure of the original Canadian Soccer League in 1992, Canada lacked a fully professional domestic first-division soccer league for over two decades. Canadian clubs competed in American leagues like Major League Soccer and the USL Championship, while the national Canadian Championship cup competition began in 2008. The first public reports of a new Canadian professional league emerged in June 2013, with Hamilton Tiger-Cats owner Bob Young working alongside Canadian Soccer Association president Victor Montagliani. The Tiger-Cats group secured exclusive rights until 2017 to establish a team at the under-construction Tim Hortons Field in Hamilton. The league's name, the Canadian Premier League, was revealed in February 2016 during a Hamilton city council meeting where Young discussed plans for a year-round training dome.

Paul Beirne, the first employee of Toronto FC, was hired as the CPL's project manager in November 2016. The Canadian Soccer Association unanimously sanctioned the creation of the league on May 6, 2017. Club memberships for Halifax, York Region, Calgary, and a team in Greater Victoria were accepted in May 2018. The first team unveiling was York9 FC on May 10, 2018, followed by Cavalry FC on May 17, HFX Wanderers FC on May 25, Valour FC in Winnipeg on June 6, and the rebranded former NASL side FC Edmonton on June 8. After a break for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, Hamilton's Forge FC was unveiled on July 12, followed by Pacific FC of Langford in Greater Victoria on July 20.

On August 27, 2018, the CPL announced that it would hold a series of open tryouts in eight cities across Canada for players age 16 and older. The tryouts were led by Alex Bunbury and took place in front of CPL coaching staff from all teams. On September 28, 2018, Italian sportswear company Macron was announced as the official apparel supplier of the CPL. Macron supplies training gear and custom made kits for each CPL team. The CPL's inaugural match between Forge FC and York9 FC took place at Tim Hortons Field on April 27, 2019.

Launch and early seasons

The inaugural CPL match was played on April 27, 2019, at Tim Hortons Field, a 1-1 draw between Forge FC and York9 FC. York9's Ryan Telfer scored the league's historic first goal in the third minute. The league's championship trophy, the North Star Shield, was unveiled ahead of the 2019 Finals. The first season concluded on November 2, 2019, with Forge FC defeating Cavalry FC over two legs to become the inaugural champions, and midfielder Tristan Borges was named the first Player of the Year. Atlético Ottawa joined as the league's first expansion team for the 2020 season, which was significantly disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The entire 2020 season, dubbed 'The Island Games', was played in a bubble in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, beginning on August 13. Forge FC won their second title by defeating HFX Wanderers FC 2-0 on September 19. The 2021 season started late on June 26 but featured a full 28-match schedule, culminating in Pacific FC's 1-0 victory over Forge FC in the final held in December. FC Edmonton was removed from the league in November 2022 due to poor on-field performance, low attendance, and an outdated stadium, with the league commissioner citing these factors for the termination.

Vancouver FC from Langley, British Columbia, joined as an expansion team for the 2023 season, maintaining an eight-team league. Following the 2024 season, the league was valued at US$300 million (approximately CA$431 million). In a significant shift for the 2026 season, Valour FC suspended operations after the 2025 season, a club for which the league had been covering operational costs since 2024. The league will remain at eight clubs in 2026 with the addition of Greater Montreal-based FC Supra du Québec, which was announced in September 2025 and will be based in Laval, with former CF Montréal midfielder Rocco Placentino involved in its establishment.

Competition format and structure

The Canadian Premier League regular season typically runs from April to October. Each of the eight clubs plays a balanced schedule of 28 matches, comprising 14 home and 14 away games. The inaugural 2019 season used a split-season format where the winners of two separate phases competed in a two-legged final, similar to leagues in Latin America. With the addition of an eighth club in 2020, the league moved to a single-table format with expanded playoffs. Since the 2023 season, the top five teams in the regular season standings qualify for a playoff tournament to determine the two finalists.

In advance of the 2019 Finals, the league's trophy was unveiled. The North Star Shield is a crystal shield engraved with the logo of the Canadian Premier League. The CPL champion and regular season winner earn berths in the CONCACAF Champions Cup. The league's focus is to improve national soccer talent and the sport in Canada, with several rules in place to ensure this. These include a minimum quota of Canadian players on team rosters and starting line-ups, requirements for domestic under-21 players, and a Canadian university draft.

On multiple occasions, then-league commissioner David Clanachan stated his goal of having promotion and relegation in the Canadian soccer league system as more teams join the league. As CPL commissioner, David Clanachan expressed on numerous occasions the league's plans to expand gradually up to 16 clubs by 2026. He also stated that the biggest issue for potential expansion teams is lack of facilities. The league's focus is to improve national soccer talent and the sport in Canada.

• Regular Season: 28 games per team (April-October).
• Playoffs: Top five teams qualify (since 2023).
• Championship Trophy: North Star Shield (playoff winner).
• Regular Season Trophy: CPL Shield (first awarded in 2023).
• International Qualification: CPL champion and regular season winner qualify for CONCACAF Champions Cup.
• Domestic Cup: All CPL teams compete in the Canadian Championship.
• Player Development Rules: Canadian player quotas, U-21 minute requirements, university draft.

Clubs and rivalries

Eight clubs currently compete in the Canadian Premier League, representing five provinces. Ontario has three teams (Forge FC, Inter Toronto FC, Atlético Ottawa), British Columbia has two (Pacific FC, Vancouver FC), and Alberta (Cavalry FC), Nova Scotia (HFX Wanderers FC), and Quebec (FC Supra du Québec) each have one. Only FC Edmonton predated the CPL, having played in the North American Soccer League and the Canadian Championship seven times before joining the league for its inaugural 2019 season. The league expanded to eight teams with Atlético Ottawa in 2020. For the 2023 season, Vancouver FC was added as an expansion club while FC Edmonton was dissolved, keeping the league at eight clubs. Similarly, FC Supra du Québec will join the league as an expansion team in 2026, while Valour FC folded after the 2025 season.

Notable geographic rivalries have developed within the league. The 905 Derby is contested between Ontario's Forge FC (Hamilton) and Inter Toronto FC, separated by just 80 kilometres, making it the shortest distance between any two CPL clubs. In British Columbia, a rivalry exists between Pacific FC (Greater Victoria) and Vancouver FC (Langley). Conversely, matches between Pacific FC and HFX Wanderers FC in Halifax require a travel distance of approximately 4,476 kilometres, representing the third-longest domestic away trip of any professional soccer league in the world. The league's geographic spread presents unique logistical challenges but also serves its national mandate to build fan bases and player pathways across the country from Vancouver Island to Nova Scotia.

Expansion and future growth

League leadership has consistently expressed ambitions for controlled expansion. Former commissioner David Clanachan frequently cited a goal of reaching 16 clubs by 2026, identifying facility availability as the primary challenge for new markets. Potential expansion regions have included St. John's, Moncton, Laval, Quebec City, Kitchener-Waterloo, the Niagara Region, the Durham Region, Mississauga, Regina, Saskatoon, and Kelowna as well as the Fraser Valley. Other areas with expressed interest include Barrie, Montreal, and Saint John. In August 2022, Soccer Quebec commissioned a market study to verify interest for a CPL team, determining Quebec City was the best market in the province.

In 2022, the CPL began considering a serious expansion bid for Kelowna that included a multi-use development proposal for a stadium site at Recreation Avenue Park. Kelowna later hosted a neutral-site regular season game in June 2024 as part of the league's 'On Tour' series. In January 2025, Kingston City Council passed a motion to work with Victory Grounds Ventures on developing a stadium for a proposed CPL team, though the group withdrew its proposal in March 2025 citing potential legal issues. By September 2025, the same group announced the Kingston Sentinels for the Ontario Premier League with intentions to found a CPL team for 2027.

Several expansion efforts have progressed to different stages. In January 2022, David Clanachan stepped down as commissioner and was awarded exclusive expansion rights for Windsor, Ontario, partnering with Windsor City FC owner Vancho Cirovski with a 2026 launch goal. The city of Windsor allocated CA$3 million for turf upgrades at McHugh Park in its 2024 capital budget to support a potential club. A conditional expansion club was awarded to Living Sky Sports and Entertainment for Saskatchewan in March 2021, dependent on a soccer-specific stadium in Saskatoon, but the effort linked to Prairieland Park was cancelled in September 2023. In Quebec, discussions with a group led by former CF Montréal midfielder Rocco Placentino culminated in the announcement of FC Supra du Québec for the 2026 season, with Placentino positioned as club president and Matt Rizzetta as chairman.

Performance in domestic and international competitions

All Canadian Premier League clubs compete annually in the Canadian Championship, Canada's domestic cup tournament. They face clubs from Major League Soccer and the champions of Tier 3 leagues, with the winner earning a berth in the CONCACAF Champions Cup. Forge FC became the first CPL team to win the Canadian Championship in 2026. From 2019 to 2022, one CPL club participated in the CONCACAF League, a secondary continental competition offering qualification to the premier Champions Cup. For the 2019 edition only, this slot was granted to one of the league's inaugural teams (FC Edmonton, Forge FC, or Valour FC) based on matches amongst themselves in the spring season. In subsequent years, the berth went to the previous year's playoff champion.

Forge FC represented the CPL in the CONCACAF League on three occasions. In the 2021 CONCACAF League, Forge advanced to the semi-finals of the competition to qualify for the 2022 CONCACAF Champions League, becoming the first CPL club to reach that tournament. Since 2023, the CPL champion and the regular season champion have both earned direct qualification to the CONCACAF Champions Cup, where they compete against the best clubs from North America, Central America, and the Caribbean for a spot in the FIFA Club World Cup. This dual pathway provides significant incentive and increased international exposure for CPL clubs and represents a key achievement for the league's competitive development.

As of 2025, no CPL team has won a domestic double of the CPL Shield and North Star Cup in the same season. Forge FC were champions in four of the league's first seven seasons but failed to win the championship in 2021, 2024 or 2025, the only seasons they topped the regular season standings. Cavalry FC have two CPL Shields and one North Star Cup, but these championships did not overlap. No CPL team has completed a treble including the Canadian Championship, though Vancouver FC were the first CPL team to reach the Canadian Championship final through the normal draw in 2025, losing to the Vancouver Whitecaps.

League champions and trophies

The Canadian Premier League awards two primary trophies each season. The North Star Shield is awarded to the playoff champion and has been contested since the league's inception in 2019. The CPL Shield, introduced in 2023, is awarded to the team with the best regular season record and was applied retroactively for the 2019 through 2022 seasons. Both trophy winners receive equal cash prizes and, since 2023, a berth in the CONCACAF Champions Cup. Forge FC has been the most successful club in the league's short history, winning four North Star Shields (2019, 2020, 2022, 2023). Cavalry FC has won two CPL Shields (2019, 2024), while Forge FC has also topped the regular season standings in 2020, 2021, 2024, and 2025. Atletico Ottawa won the North Star Shield in 2025 and the CPL Shield in 2022, and Pacific FC are the 2021 champions.

The CPL Shield was awarded retroactively for the 2020 'Island Games' season based on round-robin results. No team has yet managed to win both the CPL Shield and the North Star Cup in the same season, though Forge FC and Cavalry FC have come close on multiple occasions. The pursuit of a domestic double remains a key objective for the league's top clubs. The league's trophy structure is designed to reward both sustained excellence over a full season and success in the high-pressure playoff format, creating multiple competitive storylines throughout the campaign.

Notable milestones and records

The Canadian Premier League has established several significant milestones since its first match in 2019. Ryan Telfer of York9 FC scored the league's historic first goal in the third minute of the inaugural match on April 27, 2019. Forge FC midfielder Tristan Borges was named the first CPL Player of the Year following the 2019 season. Forge FC also became the first club to win multiple championships, securing back-to-back titles in 2019 and 2020. In 2021, Pacific FC broke Forge's streak by winning the North Star Shield, marking the first championship for a club from British Columbia.

In the 2021 CONCACAF League, Forge advanced to the semi-finals of the competition to qualify for the 2022 CONCACAF Champions League, the first CPL club to do so. In 2026, Forge FC became the first CPL team to win the Canadian Championship. Following the 2024 season, the league was valued at US$300M (CA$431M). Forge FC represented the CPL in CONCACAF League on three occasions.

• First Goal: Ryan Telfer (York9 FC), April 27, 2019.
• First Champion: Forge FC, 2019.
• First Player of the Year: Tristan Borges (Forge FC), 2019.
• First CONCACAF Champions League Qualification: Forge FC, 2022 (via 2021 CONCACAF League).
• First Canadian Championship Winner: Forge FC, 2026.
• First Expansion Club: Atlético Ottawa, 2020.
• League Valuation: US$300 million (post-2024 season).

The Canadian Premier League is a professional men's soccer league in Canada and the highest level of the Canadian soccer league system. The league was officially sanctioned by the Canadian Soccer Association on May 6, 2017, and has played an annual season since 2019. The league comprises eight teams, from five of Canada's ten provinces. The CPL champion and regular season winner earn berths in the CONCACAF Champions Cup, competing against teams from across North America, Central America, and the Caribbean.

Questions about Canadian Premier League

When did the Canadian Premier League start?

The Canadian Premier League was officially sanctioned by the Canadian Soccer Association on May 6, 2017. Its inaugural season kicked off on April 27, 2019, with a match between Forge FC and York9 FC at Tim Hortons Field in Hamilton. The league was created to establish a top-tier professional domestic soccer competition in Canada, focusing on developing national talent. It has played an annual season every year since its launch in 2019, including a modified bubble season in Charlottetown in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

How many teams are in the Canadian Premier League?

The Canadian Premier League currently has eight teams. The inaugural 2019 season featured seven clubs. Atlético Ottawa joined as an expansion team in 2020, bringing the total to eight. For the 2023 season, Vancouver FC entered the league while FC Edmonton was dissolved, maintaining an eight-team structure. The league will remain at eight clubs for the 2026 season with the addition of FC Supra du Québec, based in Laval, and the suspension of Valour FC's operations following the 2025 season.

Which Canadian Premier League team has won the most championships?

Forge FC, based in Hamilton, Ontario, has won the most Canadian Premier League championships. They were the inaugural champions in 2019, successfully defended their title in the 2020 'Island Games', and won again in 2022 and 2023, for a total of four North Star Shields as of 2025. Forge FC has also been a dominant force in the regular season, finishing atop the standings in 2020, 2021, 2024, and 2025. Their consistent success has made them the benchmark club in the league's early history.

How does a team qualify for the CONCACAF Champions Cup from the CPL?

Canadian Premier League teams can qualify for the CONCACAF Champions Cup through two primary pathways. Since 2023, both the CPL playoff champion (winner of the North Star Shield) and the regular season champion (winner of the CPL Shield) earn direct berths. Any CPL club can qualify by winning the Canadian Championship, the national domestic cup competition. Forge FC became the first CPL team to qualify via the Canadian Championship by winning it in 2026. Previously, from 2019 to 2022, a CPL spot was available through the CONCACAF League.

What are the roster rules for Canadian players in the CPL?

The Canadian Premier League has implemented several rules designed to prioritize the development of Canadian soccer talent. These include minimum quotas for the number of Canadian players on each team's roster and requirements for a minimum number of Canadian players in the starting lineup for each match. The league mandates that a certain number of domestic under-21 players receive a minimum amount of playing time each season, and it holds an annual draft for players from Canadian universities. These regulations are central to the league's founding mission of improving the national player pool.

Is the Canadian Premier League planning to expand?

Yes, the Canadian Premier League has active plans for controlled expansion. Former commissioner David Clanachan frequently stated a goal of expanding to 16 teams by 2026, though the pace is dictated by suitable ownership groups and stadium facilities. The league has explored potential markets including Quebec City, Saskatoon, Kelowna, and Windsor, and has met with municipal officials like Quebec City mayor Bruno Marchand to discuss stadium sites. The most recent expansion is FC Supra du Québec, which will join the league in 2026. The league also runs an 'On Tour' series, hosting neutral-site games in candidate cities like Kelowna to gauge interest.

Sources and further reading

• Canadian Premier League (Wikipedia)
• Our Teams (cplsoccer.com)

Checked by the Garbutt Disposal desk. Last updated 2026-10-20.