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Canadian Soccer Association April 27, 2019

Canada Soccer welcomes Canadian Premier League to Canada’s sporting landscape

Canada Soccer proudly welcomes the launch of the Canadian Premier League to Canada’s sporting landscape with the Inaugural Match played today in Hamilton, Ontario. Canada’s newly-established […]

Canada Soccer proudly welcomes the launch of the Canadian Premier League to Canada’s sporting landscape with the Inaugural Match played today in Hamilton, Ontario. Canada’s newly-established professional soccer league features seven clubs from coast to coast across Canada.

“Congratulations to the Canadian Premier League and the seven member clubs on the launch of the inaugural season,” said Steven Reed, Canada Soccer President, who will attend the Inaugural Match in Hamilton and participate in the Opening Ceremonies. “With the official kick off across the country, our players, coaches, referees and fans have a league that celebrates Canadian soccer. This league and our clubs are part of our Canada Soccer Pathway that provides expanded professional opportunities for aspiring footballers across Canada.”

Over the course of the inaugural season, the seven Canadian soccer clubs will each play 28 league matches, with 10 matches each in the Spring segment from 27 April to 1 July and then 18 more matches in the Fall segment from 6 July to 19 October. The winners of each segment will advance to the league’s championship match.

Alongside the Canadian Premier League schedule, all seven clubs will also participate in the 2019 Canadian Championship from 15 May to 25 September. Now in its 12th season, Canada Soccer’s expanded Canadian Championship features 13 Canadian clubs across five rounds and 24 matches. The winner of the Canadian Championship wins the Voyageurs Cup and qualifies for the 2020 edition of Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League.

In May 2017 at Canada Soccer’s Annual Meeting of the Members, the Canadian Premier League officially became a League in Membership. For the inaugural 2019 season, the Canadian Premier League will feature seven teams: Pacific FC from Vancouver Island, British Columbia; Cavalry FC from Calgary, Alberta; FC Edmonton from Alberta; Valour FC from Winnipeg, Manitoba; Forge FC from Hamilton, Ontario; York9 FC from Ontario; and HFX Wanderers FC from Halifax, Nova Scotia.