2025 Canadian Premier League season

Last updated

Canadian Premier League
Season 2025
DatesApril 5 – October 18 (regular season)
October 22 – November 9 (playoffs)
CPL Shield Forge
CONCACAF
Champions Cup
Matches112
Goals336 (3 per match)
Top goalscorer Samuel Salter
(19 goals)
Biggest home win Forge 5–0 Valour
(August 2)
Biggest away win Valour 0–5 Forge
(June 22)
Highest scoring Cavalry 5–4 Vancouver
(August 17)
Longest winning run6 matches
Forge
(July 18 – August 22)
Longest unbeaten run20 matches
Forge
(April 5 – August 22)
Longest winless run11 matches
Vancouver
(May 17 – July 25)
Longest losing run5 matches
Valour
(June 15 – July 20)
Vancouver
(August 10 – September 5)
Highest attendance17,971
Forge 2–2 Atlético Ottawa
(May 13)
Lowest attendance1,278
Vancouver 1–4 Atlético Ottawa
(April 13)
Total attendance427,438
Average attendance4,032
2024
2026
All statistics correct as of October 18, 2025.

The 2025 Canadian Premier League season is the seventh season of the Canadian Premier League, the top level of Canadian soccer. Cavalry FC are the defending champions, having defeated Forge FC in the 2024 final. [1]

Contents

Rule changes

The CPL's total player compensation budget was increased by $69,500 to a total of $1,182,000 (or $1,282,000 for teams maximizing the U-21 salary incentive). [2] [3] Beginning in 2025, players who have three seasons of CPL experience or have lived in Canada for at least three years are considered domestic players for roster purposes. [2]

Teams

The same eight teams that competed in the 2024 season are competing in the 2025 season, though this is will be the last season with eight teams, with expansion to nine teams planned for 2026. [4]

Stadiums and locations

Location of the 2025 Canadian Premier League teams
ClubResultsLocationStadiumCapacity
Atlético Ottawa details Ottawa, Ontario TD Place Stadium 24,000
Cavalry FC details Foothills County, Alberta ATCO Field 6,000
Forge FC details Hamilton, Ontario Hamilton Stadium 23,218
HFX Wanderers FC details Halifax, Nova Scotia Wanderers Grounds 7,500
Pacific FC details Langford, British Columbia Starlight Stadium 6,000
Valour FC details Winnipeg, Manitoba Princess Auto Stadium 32,343
Vancouver FC details Langley, British Columbia Willoughby Community Park 6,560
York United FC details Toronto, Ontario York Lions Stadium 4,000

Personnel and sponsorship

TeamHead coachCaptainKit manufacturerShirt sponsor
Atlético Ottawa Flag of Mexico.svg Diego Mejía Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Nathan Ingham Macron Maple Lodge Farms [5]
Cavalry Flag of England.svg Tommy Wheeldon Jr. Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Marco Carducci WestJet
Forge Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Bobby Smyrniotis Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Kyle Bekker WeatherTech [6]
HFX Wanderers Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Patrice Gheisar Flag of Trinidad and Tobago.svg Andre Rampersad Volkswagen
Pacific Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg James Merriman Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Josh Heard Telus [7]
Valour Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Phillip Dos Santos Flag of Ghana.svg Raphael Ohin OneSoccer
Vancouver Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Martin Nash (interim) Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Callum Irving Caffè Artigiano [8]
York United Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Mauro Eustáquio Flag of England.svg Elijah Adekugbe Carlsberg 0.0% [9]

Coaching changes

TeamOutgoing coachManner of departureDate of vacancyPosition in tableIncoming coachDate of appointment
York United Flag of Mexico.svg Benjamín Mora [10] End of contractNovember 10, 2024Pre-season Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Mauro Eustáquio [11] November 21, 2024
Atlético Ottawa Flag of Spain.svg Carlos González [12] Mutual consentNovember 21, 2024 Flag of Mexico.svg Diego Mejía [13] January 15, 2025
Vancouver Flag of Iran.svg Afshin Ghotbi [14] Mutual consentJuly 23, 20258th Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Martin Nash (interim) [14] July 24, 2025

Regular season

Format

The regular season was played as a quadruple round-robin, with each team playing the other seven teams twice at home and twice away between April and October. The regular season winner Forge FC was awarded the regular season title, the CPL Shield, and qualified for Round one of the 2026 CONCACAF Champions Cup.

The top five teams qualified for the playoffs.

Standings

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1 Forge (S)28161025122+2958 First semifinal and 2026 CONCACAF Champions Cup
2 Atlético Ottawa 28151125428+2656 First semifinal
3 Cavalry 2811984736+1142 Quarterfinal
4 HFX Wanderers 28116114134+739 Play-in round
5 York United 28108104338+538
6 Valour 28751635622726
7 Pacific 28581530592923
8 Vancouver 28491535572221 2026 CONCACAF Champions Cup [a]
Source: CanPL
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Total number of wins; 3) Head-to-head; 4) Goal differential; 5) Goals for; 6) Away goals differential; 7) Away goals for; 8) Home goals differential; 9) Home goals for; 10) Fewest disciplinary points; 11) Most under-21 domestic player minutes; 12) Drawing of lots. [15]
(S) CPL Shield winner (qualified to Champions Cup Round one)
Notes:
  1. Vancouver FC qualified for the Champions Cup as the runners-up of the 2025 Canadian Championship, due to the winners, Vancouver Whitecaps FC, qualifying through Major League Soccer.

Results

Home \ Away ATO CAV FOR HFX PAC VAL VFC YRK
Atlético Ottawa 2–21–12–23–15–23–13–2
3–01–12–02–03–00–00–0
Cavalry 1–3 4–1 0–04–04–01–12–1
0–2 1–1 3–11–03–05–40–1
Forge 2–2 1–0 2–12–01–12–1 2–2
2–0 1–1 1–04–05–01–1 3–0
HFX Wanderers 2–00–30–03–13–11–04–0
0–11–11–23–04–11–21–1
Pacific 0–11–00–23–22–0 4–4 2–1
0–23–30–12–21–4 1–1 1–3
Valour 1–21–20–50–10–01–32–1
3–32–12–10–31–13–10–0
Vancouver 1–40–00–20–2 1–1 1–30–2
2–22–20–13–1 2–3 2–52–1
York United 0–01–2 2–2 1–25–13–21–0
2–23–1 1–2 2–02–21–04–0
Source: CanPL.ca
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Positions by match week

Team ╲ Week12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728
Atlético Ottawa 5211111211111111122222222222
Cavalry 6667543332334443333333333333
Forge 3133334444222222211111111111
HFX Wanderers 4322222123443334555554545545
Pacific 2555755566666666666666777777
Valour 8778887887777887777777666666
Vancouver 7886466778888778888888888888
York United 1444678655555555444445454454

Playoffs

The 2025 season will once more feature a series of single-leg matches for five teams following a modified Page playoff system; the top two regular season teams get byes to the first semifinal; the third-placed team gets a bye to the quarter-final; while the fourth- and fifth placed teams contest a play-in match to reach the quarter-final.

The winner of the quarter-final and the loser of the first semi-final contest the second semi-final. The winner of the first semi-final hosts the winner of the second semi-final in the 2025 CPL Final to crown the league champion, who will collect the North Star Cup, and qualify for the 2026 CONCACAF Champions Cup. [16]

In playoffs, if the scores are equal at the end of normal time, extra time will be played for two periods of 15 minutes each. If still tied, the winner will be decided by a penalty shoot-out. [15]

If a team completes the 'Double', that is, the regular season winner also wins the 2025 CPL Final, then the second-highest seeded regular season team will qualify for the 2026 CONCACAF Champions Cup. [17] [15]

Bracket

Play-in roundFirst semifinalSecond semifinalFinal
October 26November 9
1 Forge Winner SF1
2 Atlético Ottawa November 1 or 2Winner SF2
Loser SF1
QuarterfinalWinner QF
October 26
October 223 Cavalry
4 HFX Wanderers Winner play-in
5 York United

Play-in round

Quarterfinal

Cavalry vWinner play-in

First semifinal

Second semifinal

Loser SF1vWinner QF

Final

Winner SF1vWinner SF2

Statistical leaders

As of October 18, 2025

Top scorers

RankPlayerClubGoals [18]
1 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Samuel Salter Atlético Ottawa 19
2 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Tiago Coimbra HFX Wanderers 12
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Brian Wright Forge
4 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Ballou Tabla Atlético Ottawa 11
5 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Julian Altobelli York United 10
6 Flag of Somalia.svg Ali Musse Cavalry 9
Flag of the United States.svg David Rodríguez Atlético Ottawa
8 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Sergio Camargo Cavalry 8
Flag of Germany.svg Tobias Warschewski Cavalry
10 Flag of Mexico.svg Alejandro Díaz Vancouver / Pacific 7
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Shaan Hundal Valour / York United
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Myles Morgan Valour

Hat-tricks

PlayerForAgainstResultDateRef
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Samuel Salter 4 Atlético Ottawa Valour 5–2 (H)May 10 [19]
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Brian Wright Forge Valour 5–0 (A)June 22 [20]
Flag of Cote d'Ivoire.svg Yann Toualy Pacific HFX Wanderers 3–2 (H)July 12 [21]
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Tiago Coimbra HFX Wanderers Valour 4–1 (H)August 22 [22]
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Shaan Hundal 4 York United Pacific 5–1 (H)August 24 [23]
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Myles Morgan Valour Vancouver 5–2 (A)September 5 [24]
Note:4 – player scored 4 goals

Top assists

RankPlayerClubAssists [18]
1 Flag of the United States.svg David Rodríguez Atlético Ottawa 8
2 Flag of Somalia.svg Ali Musse Cavalry 7
3 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Themi Antonoglou Valour 6
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Thierno Bah Vancouver
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Sergio Camargo Cavalry
6 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Manny Aparicio Atlético Ottawa 5
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Max Ferrari York United
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Hoce Massunda Forge
Flag of Germany.svg Tobias Warschewski Cavalry
1010 players tied4

Clean sheets

RankPlayerClubClean sheets [25]
1 Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Jassem Koleilat Forge 13
2 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Nathan Ingham Atlético Ottawa 11
3 Flag of Algeria.svg Rayane Yesli HFX Wanderers 8
4 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Marco Carducci Cavalry 7
Flag of Mexico.svg Diego Urtiaga York United

Attendance

As of October 14, 2025
PosTeamTotalHighLowAverageChange
1 Forge FC 90,53317,9714,3716,964+31.9%
2 HFX Wanderers 84,1887,1435,0446,476+6.9%
3 Atlético Ottawa 65,8806,0683,3374,706−14.2%
4 Cavalry FC 59,7815,1143,6694,270+1.1%
5 Valour FC 44,97711,3901,5913,213+3.4%
6 Pacific FC 38,8384,3002,2812,988−1.7%
7 York United 28,7687,2181,3422,055+37.1%
8 Vancouver FC 18,2642,0061,1981,405−55.6%
League total431,22917,9711,2183,993+0.3%

Source: CanPL, FotMob

Awards

Team of the Week

The Gatorade Team of the Week are selected by the CPL's Kristian Jack and OneSoccer's Oliver Platt.

Team of the Week
WeekGoalkeeperDefendersMidfieldersForwardsRef
1
[26]
2
[27]
3
[28]
4
[29]
5
[30]
6
[31]
7
[32]
8
[33]
9
[34]
10
[35]
11
[36]
12
[37]
13
[38]
14
[39]
15
Flag of Ghana.svg Ampomah (Forge)| Flag of Lebanon.svg Bitar (York)|
[40]
16
[41]
17
[42]
18
[43]
19
[44]
20
[45]
21
[46]
22
[47]
23
[48]
24
[49]
25
[50]
26
[51]
27
[52]

Player transfers

There were two transfer windows, the first open from January 31 to April 23 and the second from July 24 to August 21. [53]

CPL–U Sports Draft

The 2025 CPL–U Sports Draft took place on December 5, 2024. [54]

Foreign players

Canadian Premier League teams can sign a maximum of seven international players, out of which only five can be in the starting line-up for each match. [3]

The following international players were signed for the 2025 season. To be considered domestic for CPL purposes, players must be Canadian citizens, permanent residents, refugees, or (new for 2025) foreign players with at least three seasons spent in the league. Note that these players may still represent other countries in international competitions. [55] [56]

ClubPlayer 1Player 2Player 3Player 4Player 5Player 6Player 7Inactive players [a] Former players
Atlético Ottawa Flag of Spain.svg Alberto Zapater Flag of Mexico.svg Juan Castro Flag of the United States.svg David Rodríguez Flag of New Zealand.svg Monty Patterson Flag of Mexico.svg Kevin Ortega Flag of Mexico.svg Antonio Álvarez Flag of Spain.svg Roni Mbomio Flag of Mexico.svg Iker Moreno
Cavalry Flag of Germany.svg Nicolas Wähling Flag of England.svg Levi Laing Flag of the Netherlands.svg Ayman Sellouf Flag of Australia (converted).svg Jesse Daley
Forge Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Béni Badibanga Flag of Ghana.svg Nana Opoku Ampomah Flag of Albania.svg Rezart Rama Flag of Serbia.svg Marko Jevremović Flag of Greece.svg Christos Liatifis Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Victor Klonaridis
HFX Wanderers Flag of France.svg Lorenzo Callegari Flag of Brazil.svg Vitor Dias Flag of France.svg Yohan Baï Flag of the Republic of the Congo.svg Jason Bahamboula Flag of Italy.svg Giorgio Probo
Pacific Flag of France.svg Aly Ndom Flag of Brazil.svg Daniel de Pauli Flag of Ireland.svg Lukas Browning Lagerfeldt Flag of Mexico.svg Emanuel Montejano Flag of Colombia.svg Juan Quintana Flag of Portugal (official).svg Pedro Machado
Valour Flag of England.svg Kian Williams Flag of Portugal (official).svg Diogo Ressurreição Flag of Portugal (official).svg Xavier Venâncio Flag of Portugal (official).svg Bruno Figueiredo Flag of the Netherlands.svg Diego Konincks Flag of New Zealand.svg Oskar van Hattum
Vancouver Flag of Mexico.svg José Navarro Flag of Uganda.svg Allan Enyou Flag of Brazil.svg Juan Batista Flag of Brazil.svg Michel Cavalcante Flag of France.svg Abdoulaye Ouattara Flag of Senegal.svg Pathé Ndiaye Flag of Uruguay.svg Nicolás Mezquida
York United Flag of Mexico.svg Oswaldo León Flag of Mexico.svg Orlando Botello Flag of Mexico.svg Diego Urtiaga Flag of Mexico.svg Leonel López Flag of Portugal (official).svg Bryan Rosa

Players in italic denote players who were new to their respective clubs for the 2025 season, sorted chronologically by their announcement. Players in bold indicate players who have represented their national teams at the senior level.

Notes

  1. Players who remain under contract but have suffered season-ending injury and may not return to play. They do not count towards roster or cap restrictions and as such can be replaced by another foreign player.

References

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  2. 1 2 "Canadian Premier League announces updates to roster rules & regulations, competitions guidelines ahead of 2025 season". Canadian Premier League. April 1, 2025. Retrieved April 2, 2025.
  3. 1 2 Jacques, John (March 13, 2024). "Canadian Premier League Updates Roster Rules For 2024". Northern Tribune. Retrieved March 13, 2024.
  4. "Canadian Premier League set to kick off in Quebec in 2026". Canadian Premier League . September 24, 2025.
  5. "First Look: Atletico Ottawa's New Primary Kit". Northern Tribune. March 29, 2023. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
  6. Nico Correa (January 30, 2025). "Forge FC Announces WeatherTech Canada as Front of Jersey Sponsor" . Retrieved July 20, 2025.
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