Home Unlabelled Football in Canada Will Never Be the Same: World Cup 2026 Meets the Start of CPL and Premier Soccer Leagues Canada

Football in Canada Will Never Be the Same: World Cup 2026 Meets the Start of CPL and Premier Soccer Leagues Canada

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Football in Canada Will Never Be the Same: World Cup 2026 Meets the Start of CPL and Premier Soccer Leagues Canada
World Cup 2026 Meets the Start of CPL and Premier Soccer Leagues Canada

Football in Canada is set for a historic transformation as the FIFA World Cup 2026 heads north for the first time. Just days remain until the Canadian Premier League (CPL) and Premier Soccer Leagues Canada (PSLC) seasons kick off in this landmark year.


As Canada prepares to host matches at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the Canadian Premier League and Premier Soccer Leagues Canada are days away from...


Canadian football is on the cusp of a breakthrough year, with the FIFA World Cup headed to North America for the first time ever. This milestone is set to bring unprecedented attention to the sport in Canada, and the domestic leagues are gearing up for a big season.


The Canadian Premier League (CPL) and Premier Soccer Leagues Canada are just days away from kickoff, marking an exciting time for Canadian football fans. It's a far cry from just over a decade ago, when domestic football in Canada was practically non-existent. Back then, the Canadian Soccer League (CSL) was the only league of note, but it's largely fallen off the radar since being desanctioned by Canada Soccer in 2013.


Canada's football landscape has undergone a significant transformation, with two strong national teams, fully professional men's and women's leagues, and a growing semi-professional league. With over 100 teams involved across the country, the stage is set for the domestic game to gain global recognition, especially with Canada co-hosting the FIFA World Cup.


The Canadian Premier League (CPL) is one of the key players in the country's football scene. It's introducing innovative changes, including the “daylight offside rule” proposed by Arsene Wenger, aimed at boosting attacking play and improving match flow. The CPL will also implement FIFA-designed measures to reduce time-wasting and enhance match efficiency.




Canada's national teams are also making waves, with the women's team ranked second in the SheBelieves Cup and the men's team recently participating in international friendly games. The country's youth teams, such as the U17 women's team, are also showing promise, ranking first in their group at the U17 FIFA World Cup.


Canadian Premier League Set for Most Exciting Year Yet as Eighth Season Approaches

Heading into its eighth season, the Canadian Premier League filled a void that was etched in the country for far too long. In a short period of time, the CPL, which began play in 2019, has seen players go on to bigger and better things, from signing for MLS sides, to even heading to Europe.


The Canadian Premier League (CPL) initially launched with seven teams, based in Victoria, Edmonton, Calgary, Winnipeg, Toronto, Hamilton, and Halifax. Since its inception, the league has seen some changes, with the current number of teams standing at eight.




Atletico Ottawa joined the CPL in its second season, which was played in Charlottetown due to the pandemic, marking a notable expansion. However, the league has also faced setbacks, including the folding of FC Edmonton in 2021 and the closure of Valour FC late last year. These changes are a natural part of a startup league's evolution, and the CPL continues to adapt and grow.


New teams have joined the CPL, with Vancouver FC playing their first season in 2022. Despite finishing bottom of the league last year, Vancouver FC made a remarkable run to the final of the Canadian Championship, the country's domestic cup. They may have fallen short against Vancouver Whitecaps of MLS, but they definitely made the league proud.




FC Supra du Quebec is the CPL's newest member, announced back in September. The league had been hoping for a Quebec-based team for a while, and now they've got one. Supra's name pays homage to Montreal Supra of the original Canadian Soccer League. They're pledging to build a squad with players born in Quebec or who spent significant time in the province, similar to Athletic Bilbao's model. Sounds like an exciting project.


Forge FC is the CPL's most successful club, with four North Star Cup titles and three regular season wins. Based in Hamilton, they've been a dominant force, only failing to reach the final once last year. Given their track record, they're likely to be among the favourites for more trophies in 2026.



Calvary FC, based in Calgary, are another CPL powerhouse, featuring in the last three play-off finals and winning two regular season titles. They're also proud of their contribution to Canada's national team, with five former players having represented the country - the most of any CPL club.




Pacific FC made history in 2021 as the first team besides Forge to win the CPL play-off title. However, they've faced challenges lately, missing the play-offs last year for the first time since the league's inaugural season. This could be the year they bounce back and reclaim their spot among the league's top teams.


Atletico Ottawa, the CPL's first expansion team, made history in 2025 by winning their first title and breaking records along the way. Backed by Atletico Madrid, they dominated the regular season, scoring a record 54 goals and losing just twice. The highlight was beating Cavalry FC in a thrilling final, capped off by David Rodriguez's stunning bicycle kick in the snow. They've had success before, winning the regular season in 2022, but fell short in the final to Forge FC.


Inter Toronto (formerly York 9/York United) have made the play-offs twice but haven't reached the final yet. They're the only CPL original team to not have made it to the championship game. With some big off-season signings, they're looking to change that narrative and make a deep run this season.


HFX Wanderers are hungry for their first CPL trophy. They came close in 2020, losing to Forge FC in the final, but haven't yet gone all the way. The Eastern Shore team has made the play-offs in two of the last three years, but fell short of advancing past the first round. With former Whitecaps boss Vanni Sartini at the helm, expectations are high in Halifax.


The CPL's current format has the eight teams playing each other four times, with 28 rounds deciding the top four play-off spots. Two-legged semis lead to the final, hosted by the higher-ranked team. Will HFX Wanderers finally break through?


The CPL is shaking things up this season with some major rule changes. Arsène Wenger's 'daylight' offside rule is being trialled, aiming to make offside calls more accurate. They're also introducing the Football Video Support system, letting coaches challenge specific decisions made during the match. Coaches can challenge four areas: goal-scoring plays, penalties, red cards, and mistaken identity.


The CPL's 2026 season kicks off Saturday with Forge FC taking on Atletico Ottawa, a match-up between two of last year's trophy winners. Later that day, Vancouver FC will host HFX Wanderers. Sunday's action wraps up the opening week, with Pacific FC welcoming Cavalry FC.


Northern Super League: Women's Football Set for Big Year 

The Northern Super League (NSL), Canada's women's professional league, is back for a second season after a thrilling debut. As one of the major footballing nations, Canada was late to the game, but former national team player Diana Matheson led the charge, teaming up with ex-teammates and partners to launch the NSL.




The NSL made its debut last year with six teams competing in a 25-game regular season plus play-offs. Vancouver Rise came out on top, beating AFC Toronto in the final at BMO Field. Toronto had dominated the regular season, finishing 12 points ahead of the Rise.


Ottawa Rapid and Montreal Roses also made the 2025 play-offs, with Ottawa finishing second due to head-to-head records against Vancouver, and Montreal sneaking in fourth. The top four teams were locked in a tight battle for positioning till the end, making for a thrilling first season.


The NSL also features Calgary Wild and Halifax Tides, who'll be looking to step up in 2026. Calgary put up a strong fight, finishing just seven points behind Montreal - they'll be a team to watch as they push for play-off spots.


Halifax Tides struggled in their NSL debut, winning just three games, but with former men's national team coach Stephen Hart now at the helm, they're looking to turn things around in 2026.


The NSL's got a promising future, with several players like Emma Regan, Holly Ward, Kaylee Hunter, and DB Pridham making their senior national team debuts after playing in the league. That's a huge sign of the league's potential, and there's likely more to come.


The NSL's 2026 campaign sticks with the same format as last year, with six clubs facing each other five times. The top four teams will make the play-offs, featuring two-legged semis and a single-match final.


The season kicks off on April 24, with Vancouver Rise hosting AFC Toronto in a rematch of last year's final. Halifax Tides face Ottawa Rapid at home, and Calgary Wild take on Montreal Roses to complete the opening round.


PSL Canada: Semi-Pro Football Grows 

The Premier Soccer Leagues Canada (PSL Canada), formerly League1 Canada, is expanding semi-professional men's and women's football across six provinces. 


Ontario and Quebec have had their leagues running for over a decade, but the real growth spurt happened in the last five years. British Columbia joined in 2022, and Alberta officially came on board in 2024 after a successful exhibition series in 2023.




The league is expanding further, with Saskatchewan and Manitoba launching the Prairies Premier League. Seven teams will debut in the new division across men's and women's leagues, making this an exciting year for PSL Canada.


Each province has a different number of teams in their division, ranging from six to as many as 12. This variability reflects the unique structure of each provincial league.


Ontario and Quebec have three tiers within their respective provincial structures, operating on a promotion and relegation system - a rarity in North American sports. This system adds an extra layer of competition and excitement to the leagues.


The number of games each team plays varies from league to league and province to province, but most sides play their opponents home and away. Play-offs aren't as common anymore, though they used to be a bigger part of the leagues' earlier years.




On the men's side, the provincial champions of BC, Alberta, Ontario, and Quebec qualify for the Canadian Championship. Despite being semi-pro, these teams have already given pro sides a run for their money.


TSS Rovers from BC stunned Valour FC in 2023, and CS Saint-Laurent out of Quebec took down HFX Wanderers away - showing these semi-pro teams can cause upsets.


The women's leagues have their own showdown - the Inter-Provincial Championship in August, featuring winners from BC, Alberta, Ontario, and Quebec. Simcoe County Rovers from Ontario took the trophy last year, beating CS Mont-Royal Outremont from Quebec.


If a women's national cup competition launches, PSL winners will likely be part of it.
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