2025 Canadian Premier League season

Canadian Premier League
Season2025
DatesApril 5 – October 18 (regular season)
October 22 – November 9 (playoffs)
Matches played76
Goals scored217 (2.86 per match)
Top goalscorerSamuel Salter
(12 goals)
Biggest home winForge 5–0 Valour
(August 2)
Biggest away winValour 0–5 Forge
(June 22)
Highest scoringCavalry 5–4 Vancouver
(August 17)
Longest winning run5 matches
Atlético Ottawa
(April 13 – May 10)
Forge
(July 18 – present)
Longest unbeaten run19 matches
Forge
(April 5 – present)
Longest winless run11 matches
Vancouver
(May 17 – July 25)
Longest losing run5 matches
Valour
(June 15 – July 20)
Highest attendance17,971
Forge 2–2 Atlético Ottawa
(May 13)
Lowest attendance1,278
Vancouver 1–4 Atlético Ottawa
(April 13)
Total attendance294,503
Average attendance4,090
← 2024
2026 →
All statistics correct as of August 17, 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]

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 expected to be the last season with eight teams, with expansion anticipated for 2026.[4]

Stadiums and locations

Location of the 2025 Canadian Premier League teams
Club Results Location Stadium Capacity
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

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

Coaching changes

Team Outgoing coach Manner of departure Date of vacancy Position in table Incoming coach Date of appointment
York United Mexico Benjamín Mora[10] End of contract November 10, 2024 Pre-season Canada Mauro Eustáquio[11] November 21, 2024
Atlético Ottawa Spain Carlos González[12] Mutual consent November 21, 2024 Mexico Diego Mejía[13] January 15, 2025
Vancouver Iran Afshin Ghotbi[14] Mutual consent July 23, 2025 8th Canada Martin Nash (interim)[14] July 24, 2025

Regular season

Format

The regular season is 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 (the team ranked first after all 28 games) will qualify for the 2026 CONCACAF Champions Cup and the top five teams will qualify for the playoffs; the top two will get byes to the first semifinal. If 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.[15]

Standings

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Playoff qualification
1 Forge 19 12 7 0 37 13 +24 43 First semifinal and 2026 CONCACAF Champions Cup
2 Atlético Ottawa 19 11 6 2 37 19 +18 39 First semifinal
3 Cavalry 19 8 5 6 28 20 +8 29 Quarterfinal
4 York United 19 7 5 7 28 22 +6 26 Play-in round
5 HFX Wanderers 19 7 5 7 24 24 0 26
6 Pacific 19 5 4 10 21 34 −13 19
7 Valour 19 4 3 12 19 43 −24 15
8 Vancouver 19 2 5 12 23 42 −19 11
Updated to match(es) played on August 17, 2025. 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 (Yellow cards count for one point and red cards [direct or accumulation of two yellow cards] count as three points); 11) Most under-21 domestic player minutes; 12) Coin toss (tie between two (2) clubs) or drawing of lots (tie between three (3) or more clubs).[16]

Results

Home \ Away ATO CAV FOR HFX PAC VAL VFC YRK
Atlético Ottawa Aug 23 1–1 2–2 3–1 5–2 Aug 30 3–2
Sep 27 Sep 21 2–0 Sep 6 3–0 Oct 12 0–0
Cavalry 1–3 Aug 30 0–0 4–0 4–0 1–1 2–1
0–2 Oct 10 Sep 13 1–0 Sep 20 5–4 0–1
Forge 2–2 1–0 2–1 2–0 1–1 2–1 2–2
2–0 1–1 Sep 6 Sep 27 5–0 Oct 4 Oct 18
HFX Wanderers 2–0 0–3 0–0 3–1 3–1 1–0 Sep 1
Oct 18 1–1 1–2 Sep 20 Aug 22 1–2 Oct 4
Pacific 0–1 1–0 0–2 3–2 2–0 4–4 2–1
0–2 Oct 5 0–1 2–2 Oct 18 Sep 13 1–3
Valour 1–2 1–2 0–5 0–1 0–0 1–3 2–1
Oct 5 2–1 Sep 12 Oct 11 Aug 31 3–1 0–0
Vancouver 1–4 0–0 0–2 0–2 1–1 1–3 0–2
2–2 Oct 18 Aug 22 Sep 28 2–3 Sep 5 Sep 21
York United 0–0 1–2 2–2 1–2 Aug 24 3–2 1–0
Sep 14 Sep 5 1–2 2–0 Oct 9 Sep 28 4–0
Updated to match(es) played on August 17, 2025. Source: CanPL.ca
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Positions by matchweek

Team ╲ Week12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728
Atlético Ottawa521111121111111112
Cavalry666754333233444333
Forge313333444422222221
HFX Wanderers432222212344333455
Pacific255575556666666666
Valour877888788777788777
Vancouver788646677888877888
York United144467865555555544
Updated to match(es) played on August 10, 2025. Source: CanPL As It Stands articles, CanPL standings
  = First semifinal;   = Quarterfinal;   = Play-in round

Playoffs

The 2025 season will use the same Page playoff system as the past two seasons. The team who finishes first in the regular season table will play the team who finishes second, with the winner hosting the final. The fourth- and fifth-placed teams will play in a play-in round, and the winner will then play the third-placed team in a quarterfinal. The quarterfinal winner will then play the loser of the game between the first- and second-placed teams for the other spot in the final.[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.[16]

The winner of the final will qualify for the 2026 CONCACAF Champions Cup.

Bracket

Play-in roundFirst semifinalSecond semifinalFinal
October 25 or 26November 8 or 9
1
2November 1 or 2
Quarterfinal
October 25 or 26
October 223
4 
5 

Statistical leaders

See also: Canadian Premier League records and statistics § Career player records
As of August 17, 2025

Top scorers

Rank Player Club Goals[17]
1 Canada Samuel Salter Atlético Ottawa 12
2 Canada Julian Altobelli York United 9
3 Canada Tiago Coimbra HFX Wanderers 8
Canada Brian Wright Forge
5 United States David Rodríguez Atlético Ottawa 7
6 Canada Ballou Tabla Atlético Ottawa 6
Germany Tobias Warschewski Cavalry
8 Ghana Nana Ampomah Forge 5
Lebanon Gabriel Bitar York United
Canada Sergio Camargo Cavalry
Somalia Ali Musse Cavalry

Hat-tricks

Player For Against Result Date Ref
Canada Samuel Salter4 Atlético Ottawa Valour 5–2 (H) May 10 [18]
Canada Brian Wright Forge Valour 5–0 (A) June 22 [19]
Ivory Coast Yann Toualy Pacific HFX Wanderers 3–2 (H) July 12 [20]

Top assists

Rank Player Club Assists[21]
1 Canada Sergio Camargo Cavalry 5
United States David Rodríguez Atlético Ottawa
3 Canada Themi Antonoglou Valour 4
Canada Elage Bah Vancouver
Mexico Juan Castro Atlético Ottawa
Somalia Ali Musse Cavalry
Germany Tobias Warschewski Cavalry
8 Canada Manny Aparicio Atlético Ottawa 3
Canada Marco Bustos Pacific
Canada Max Ferrari York United
Portugal Bruno Figueiredo Valour
Canada Hoce Massunda Forge
Canada Daniel Nimick Forge
Italy Giorgio Probo HFX Wanderers
Canada Samuel Salter Atlético Ottawa

Clean sheets

Rank Player Club Clean sheets[22]
1 Czech Republic Jassem Koleilat Forge 9
2 Canada Nathan Ingham Atlético Ottawa 7
3 Canada Marco Carducci Cavalry 6
Mexico Diego Urtiaga York United
Algeria Rayane Yesli HFX Wanderers

Attendance

As of August 13, 2025
Pos Team Total High Low Average Change
1 Forge FC 66,725 17,971 4,371 7,414 +40.4%†
2 HFX Wanderers 57,630 7,143 5,044 6,403 +5.7%†
3 Atlético Ottawa 37,206 6,068 3,337 4,651 −15.2%†
4 Cavalry FC 36,921 5,114 3,669 4,102 −2.9%†
5 Valour FC 34,615 11,390 1,591 3,846 +23.8%†
6 Pacific FC 27,885 3,420 2,281 2,789 −8.3%†
7 York United 20,289 7,218 1,342 2,254 +50.4%†
8 Vancouver FC 13,232 2,006 1,278 1,470 −53.5%†
League total 294,503 17,971 1,278 4,090 +2.7%†

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
Week Goalkeeper Defenders Midfielders Forwards Ref
1
[23]
2
[24]
3
[25]
4
[26]
5
[27]
6
[28]
7
[29]
8
[30]
9
[31]
10
[32]
11
[33]
12
[34]
13
[35]
14
[36]
15
Ghana Ampomah (Forge)|Lebanon Bitar (York)|
[37]
16
[38]
17
[39]
18
[40]
19
[41]

Player transfers

According to FIFA, the Canadian Soccer Association's (CSA's) 2025 transfer windows for men's professional teams are open from January 31 to April 23 and from July 24 to August 21.[42]

CPL–U Sports Draft

The 2025 CPL–U Sports Draft took place on December 5, 2024.[43]

Foreign players

Main article: List of foreign CPL 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.[44][45]

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

  1. ^ Hall, Vicki (November 9, 2024). "Calgary's Cavalry FC dethrones Hamilton's Forge FC for 1st-ever Canadian Premier League title". CBC Sports. The Canadian Press. Archived from the original on November 11, 2024. Retrieved November 12, 2024.
  2. ^ a b "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. ^ a b Jacques, John (March 13, 2024). "Canadian Premier League Updates Roster Rules For 2024". Northern Tribune. Retrieved March 13, 2024.
  4. ^ Gangué-Ruzic, Alexandre (November 8, 2024). "'There's not a better time to be invested in the CPL': Commissioner Mark Noonan hints at expansion plans". OneSoccer. Archived from the original on November 12, 2024. Retrieved November 12, 2024.
  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.
  7. ^ "Canadian Premier League signs TELUS as Multi-Year Partner". Canadian Premier League. April 5, 2023. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
  8. ^ Beau Chevalier (March 27, 2025). "Vancouver FC launch 2025 Kits with new front-of-kit sponsor Caffè Artigiano". Canadian Premier League. Retrieved July 20, 2025.
  9. ^ "York United announces Carlsberg as front of jersey sponsor for 2023". York United. November 10, 2022. Retrieved November 10, 2022.
  10. ^ Davidson, Neil (November 10, 2024). "CPL coach of the year finalist Benjamin Mora parts ways with York United FC". CBC Sports. The Canadian Press. Archived from the original on November 12, 2024. Retrieved November 12, 2024.
  11. ^ Charlie O'Connor-Clarke (November 21, 2024). "Mauro Eustáquio named York United FC head coach; first former CPL player to earn top coaching job". Canadian Premier League. Retrieved November 21, 2024.
  12. ^ "Atlético Ottawa announces departure of Head Coach Carlos González". Atlético Ottawa. November 21, 2024. Retrieved November 21, 2024.
  13. ^ "Atlético Ottawa's new head coach is Mexico's Diego Mejía". CBC News. January 15, 2025. Retrieved January 15, 2025.
  14. ^ a b Mitchell Tierney (July 23, 2025). "Vancouver FC part with Ghotbi; Nash named interim manager". Canadian Premier League. Retrieved July 23, 2025.
  15. ^ "Canadian Premier League announces 2025 regular season schedule presented by WestJet". Canadian Premier League. February 18, 2025.
  16. ^ a b c "2025 CPL Competition Guidelines". Canadian Premier League. April 1, 2025. Archived from the original on April 2, 2025. Retrieved April 2, 2025.
  17. ^ "2025 CPL players statistics". Canadian Premier League. Retrieved April 5, 2025.
  18. ^ "Atlético Ottawa vs. Valour - 10 May 2025". Soccerway. Retrieved May 10, 2025.
  19. ^ "Forge vs. Valour - 22 June 2025". Soccerway. Retrieved June 22, 2025.
  20. ^ "Pacific vs. Wanderers - 12 July 2025". Soccerway. Retrieved July 12, 2025.
  21. ^ "2025 CPL players statistics - team play". Canadian Premier League. Retrieved April 5, 2025.
  22. ^ "2025 CPL goalkeepers statistics". Canadian Premier League. Retrieved April 5, 2025.
  23. ^ "Gatorade Team of the Week 2025 (Week 1)". Canadian Premier League. April 7, 2025. Retrieved April 8, 2025.
  24. ^ "Gatorade Team of the Week 2025 (Week 2)". Canadian Premier League. April 14, 2025. Retrieved April 15, 2025.
  25. ^ "Gatorade Team of the Week 2025 (Week 3)". Canadian Premier League. April 21, 2025. Retrieved April 22, 2025.
  26. ^ CPL (April 28, 2025). "Gatorade Team of the Week 2025 (Week 4)". CPL. Retrieved April 29, 2025.
  27. ^ CPL (May 5, 2025). "Gatorade Team of the Week 2025 (Week 5)". CPL. Retrieved May 15, 2025.
  28. ^ CPL (May 12, 2025). "Gatorade Team of the Week 2025 (Week 6)". CPL. Retrieved May 15, 2025.
  29. ^ CPL (May 19, 2025). "Gatorade Team of the Week 2025 (Week 7)". CPL. Retrieved May 20, 2025.
  30. ^ CPL (May 26, 2025). "Gatorade Team of the Week 2025 (Week 8)". CPL. Retrieved May 31, 2025.
  31. ^ CPL (June 2, 2025). "Gatorade Team of the Week 2025 (Week 9)". CPL. Retrieved June 14, 2025.
  32. ^ CPL (June 9, 2025). "Gatorade Team of the Week 2025 (Week 10)". CPL. Retrieved June 14, 2025.
  33. ^ CPL (June 16, 2025). "Gatorade Team of the Week 2025 (Week 11)". CPL. Retrieved June 21, 2025.
  34. ^ CPL (June 16, 2025). "Gatorade Team of the Week 2025 (Week 12)". CPL. Retrieved June 26, 2025.
  35. ^ CPL (July 2, 2025). "Gatorade Team of the Week 2025 (Week 13)". CPL. Retrieved July 15, 2025.
  36. ^ CPL (July 14, 2025). "Gatorade Team of the Week 2025 (Week 14)". CPL. Retrieved July 15, 2025.
  37. ^ CPL (July 21, 2025). "Gatorade Team of the Week 2025 (Week 15)". CPL. Retrieved July 28, 2025.
  38. ^ CPL (July 28, 2025). "Gatorade Team of the Week 2025 (Week 16)". CPL. Retrieved July 28, 2025.
  39. ^ CPL (August 5, 2025). "Gatorade Team of the Week 2025 (Week 17)". CPL. Retrieved August 9, 2025.
  40. ^ CPL (August 11, 2025). "Gatorade Team of the Week 2025 (Week 18)". CPL. Retrieved August 11, 2025.
  41. ^ CPL (August 18, 2025). "Gatorade Team of the Week 2025 (Week 19)". CPL. Retrieved August 19, 2025.
  42. ^ "Transfer system". Inside FIFA. FIFA. January 15, 2025. Retrieved January 16, 2025.
  43. ^ "Canadian Premier League Announces 2025 CPL-U Sports Draft Presented By Degree" (Press release). U Sports. October 18, 2024. Archived from the original on November 12, 2024. Retrieved November 12, 2024.
  44. ^ "CPL Off-Season Roster Tracker: Who's in and who's out for 2025?". Canadian Premier League. December 9, 2024. Retrieved January 16, 2025.
  45. ^ "2025 CPL Competition Guidelines". Canadian Premier League. April 1, 2025. Retrieved April 1, 2025.
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