2025 Canadian Championship

2025 Canadian Championship
Championnat canadien 2025 (French)
Tournament details
CountryCanada
DateApril 29 – October 1
Teams15 (from 6 leagues)
Final positions
ChampionsVancouver Whitecaps FC (5th title)
Runners-upVancouver FC
Tournament statistics
Matches played20
Goals scored69 (3.45 per match)
Attendance114,943 (5,747 per match)
Top goal scorer(s)Julian Altobelli
Samuel Salter
(4 goals each)
Awards
George Gross
Memorial Trophy		Ali Ahmed
Best young playerJayden Nelson
← 2024
2026 →

The 2025 Canadian Championship (French: Championnat canadien 2025) was the eighteenth edition of the Canadian Championship, the premier men's domestic cup competition in Canadian soccer, and the 24th competition staged to determine the winner of the Voyageurs Cup.

It featured all eleven professional men's soccer teams in Canada, three from Major League Soccer and eight from the Canadian Premier League, along with the champions of the four semi-professional League1 Canada competitions: Edmonton Scottish, FC Laval, TSS Rovers FC, and Scrosoppi FC. This tournament marked the first Voyageurs Cup campaign for Edmonton Scottish and Scrosoppi FC. Edmonton Scottish were the first ever representatives of League1 Alberta in the Canadian Championship's history.

Vancouver Whitecaps FC earned their fourth consecutive title after defeating Vancouver FC 4–2 in the final, held at BC Place in Vancouver. As winners, they would have qualified for the 2026 CONCACAF Champions Cup but because they also qualified for a spot based on their standings in the 2025 MLS season, Vancouver FC qualified as Canadian Championship runners-up.

Format

The tournament consisted of four rounds. The preliminary round consisted of single matches; ties were decided by a penalty shoot-out. The quarter-finals and semi-finals were two-legged ties; if the aggregate score was level, the tie was decided by penalty shoot-out. The final was a single leg; if tied, the champion would have been decided by extra time and, if required, a penalty shoot-out.

The winner of the 2024 Canadian Championship, Vancouver Whitecaps FC, received a bye to the quarter-finals; the remaining fourteen teams began the competition in the preliminary round. Hosting privileges up to the semi-finals were determined based on the Canadian Championship ranking index; for two-legged ties, the team with the higher ranking hosted the second match.

Teams

Montreal area clubs: CF Montréal; FC Laval
Toronto area clubs: Toronto FC; York United FC
Vancouver area clubs: Vancouver Whitecaps FC; Vancouver FC; TSS Rovers FC

Canadian Premier League Major League Soccer League1 Canada

Rank League Team Location Entry round App. Previous best (last)
1 Major League Soccer Vancouver Whitecaps FC Vancouver, BC Quarter-finals 17th Winners (2024)
2 Toronto FC Toronto, Ontario Preliminary round 18th Winners (2020)
3 CF Montréal Montreal, Quebec 17th Winners (2021)
4 Canadian Premier League Forge FC Hamilton, Ontario 7th Runners-up (2020)
5 Pacific FC Langford, BC 6th Semi-finals (2024)
6 York United FC Toronto, Ontario 6th Semi-finals (2022)
7 Cavalry FC Foothills County, Alberta 6th Semi-finals (2019)
8 Atlético Ottawa Ottawa, Ontario 5th Quarter-finals (2024)
9 HFX Wanderers FC Halifax, Nova Scotia 6th Quarter-finals (2022)
10 Valour FC Winnipeg, Manitoba 6th Quarter-finals (2021)
11 Vancouver FC Langley, BC 3rd Preliminary round (2024)
12 League1 Canada
(division champions)		 TSS Rovers FC (L1BC) Burnaby, BC 3rd Quarter-finals (2023)
13 FC Laval (L1QC) Laval, Quebec 2nd Preliminary round (2023)
14 Scrosoppi FC (L1ON) Milton, Ontario 1st —
15 Edmonton Scottish (L1AB) Edmonton, Alberta 1st —

Schedule

Round Draw date First leg Second leg
Preliminary round December 12 April 29 – May 7
Quarter-finals May 20–21 & June 11 July 8–9
Semi-finals July 9 August 13 September 16 & 18
Final October 1

Draw

There were two draws to determine the matchups of the tournament: one draw to determine the preliminary round and quarter-final matchups, and another to determine the semi-final and final rounds.

First draw

The first draw to determine preliminary round matchups and the pathway through the quarter-finals was conducted on December 12, 2024. Teams were separated into east and west regions for the draw, and semi-pro teams could not be drawn against each other in the preliminary round. Vancouver Whitecaps FC were given a bye to the quarter-finals as 2024 champions.

West West semi-pro East East semi-pro Bye

Second draw

The second draw was held at half-time of the last quarter-final match between Vancouver Whitecaps FC and Valour FC on July 9. The draw resulted in Forge FC against Vancouver Whitecaps FC, with the winner also hosting the final. In the other semi-final, Atlético Ottawa was matched up with Vancouver FC.

Bracket

Preliminary round
single match		Quarter-finals
two-legged tie		Semi-finals
two-legged tie		Final
single match
MLSVancouver Whitecaps FC224
Winnipeg, MB
CPLValour FC213
CPLValour FC1
L1BCTSS Rovers FC0
MLSVancouver Whitecaps FC246
Toronto (BMO), ON
CPLForge FC202
MLSToronto FC2 (2)
MLSCF Montréal (p)2 (3)
MLSCF Montréal022
Hamilton, ON
CPLForge FC123
CPLForge FC3
Vancouver, BC
CPLHFX Wanderers FC1
MLSVancouver Whitecaps FC4
Ottawa, ON
CPLVancouver FC2
CPLAtlético Ottawa2
L1OScrosoppi FC0
CPLAtlético Ottawa246
Toronto (York Lions), ON
CPLYork United FC134
CPLYork United FC5
L1QFC Laval0
CPLAtlético Ottawa112
Langford, BC
CPLVancouver FC303
CPLPacific FC1 (2)
CPLVancouver FC (p)1 (4)
CPLVancouver FC112 (5)
Foothills County, AB
CPLCavalry FC112 (4)
CPLCavalry FC6
L1ABEdmonton Scottish0

Preliminary round

Summary

Home teamScoreAway team
Valour FC1–0TSS Rovers FC
Pacific FC1–1 (2–4 p)Vancouver FC
Cavalry FC6–0Edmonton Scottish
Atlético Ottawa2–0Scrosoppi FC
York United FC5–0FC Laval
Toronto FC2–2 (2–3 p)CF Montréal
Forge FC3–1HFX Wanderers FC

Matches

Valour FC1–0TSS Rovers FC
 Report
Princess Auto Stadium, Winnipeg, Manitoba
Attendance: 1,438
Referee: Mario Al-Ayass
Pacific FC1–1Vancouver FC
 Report
Penalties
 2–4
Starlight Stadium, Langford, British Columbia
Attendance: 2,017
Referee: Michael Venne
Cavalry FC6–0Edmonton Scottish
 Report
ATCO Field, Foothills County, Alberta
Attendance: 2,552
Referee: Yusri Rudolf
Atlético Ottawa2–0Scrosoppi FC
 Report
TD Place Stadium, Ottawa, Ontario
Attendance: 2,229
Referee: Sebastian Noshinravani
York United FC5–0FC Laval
 Report
York Lions Stadium, Toronto, Ontario
Attendance: 1,072
Referee: Ben Hoskins
Toronto FC2–2CF Montréal
 Report
Penalties
 2–3
BMO Field, Toronto, Ontario
Attendance: 20,265
Referee: Michael Venne
Forge FC3–1HFX Wanderers FC
 Report
Hamilton Stadium, Hamilton, Ontario
Attendance: 3,098
Referee: Alain Ruch

Quarter-finals

Summary

Team 1Agg. Tooltip Aggregate scoreTeam 21st leg2nd leg
Valour FC3–4Vancouver Whitecaps FC2–21–2
Vancouver FC2–2 (5–4 p)Cavalry FC1–11–1
Atlético Ottawa6–4York United FC2–14–3
Forge FC3–2CF Montréal1–02–2

Matches

Valour FC2–2Vancouver Whitecaps FC
 Report
Princess Auto Stadium, Winnipeg, Manitoba
Attendance: 3,476
Referee: Yusri Rudolf
Vancouver Whitecaps FC2–1Valour FC
 Report
BC Place, Vancouver, British Columbia
Attendance: 14,536
Referee: Alain Ruch

Vancouver Whitecaps FC won 4–3 on aggregate.

Vancouver FC1–1Cavalry FC
 Report
Willoughby Community Park, Langley, British Columbia
Attendance: 1,434
Referee: Renzo Villanueva
Cavalry FC1–1Vancouver FC
 Report
Penalties
 4–5
ATCO Field, Foothills County, Alberta
Attendance: 2,177
Referee: Michael Venne

2–2 on aggregate. Vancouver FC won 5–4 on penalties.

Atlético Ottawa2–1York United FC
 Report
TD Place Stadium, Ottawa, Ontario
Attendance: 2,084
Referee: Mario Al-Ayass
York United FC3–4Atlético Ottawa
 Report
York Lions Stadium, Toronto, Ontario
Attendance: 688
Referee: Sebastian Noshinravani

Atlético Ottawa won 6–4 on aggregate.

Forge FC1–0CF Montréal
 Report
Hamilton Stadium, Hamilton, Ontario
Attendance: 3,064
Referee: Ben Hoskins
CF Montréal2–2Forge FC
 Report
Saputo Stadium, Montreal, Quebec
Attendance: 13,125
Referee: Renzo Villanueva

Forge FC won 3–2 on aggregate.

Semi-finals

Summary

Team 1Agg. Tooltip Aggregate scoreTeam 21st leg2nd leg
Forge FC2–6Vancouver Whitecaps FC2–20–4
Vancouver FC3–2Atlético Ottawa3–10–1

Matches

Forge FC2–2Vancouver Whitecaps FC
 Report
Hamilton Stadium, Hamilton, Ontario
Attendance: 8,324
Referee: Yusri Rudolf
Vancouver Whitecaps FC4–0Forge FC
 Report
BC Place, Vancouver, British Columbia
Attendance: 10,752
Referee: Michael Venne

Vancouver Whitecaps FC won 6–2 on aggregate.

Vancouver FC3–1Atlético Ottawa
 Report
Willoughby Community Park, Langley, British Columbia
Attendance: 1,380
Referee: Pierre-Luc Lauzière
Atlético Ottawa1–0Vancouver FC
 Report
TD Place Stadium, Ottawa, Ontario
Attendance: 2,860
Referee: Filip Dujic

Vancouver FC won 3–2 on aggregate.

Final

The winner qualified for the 2026 CONCACAF Champions Cup.

Vancouver Whitecaps FC4–2Vancouver FC
 Report
BC Place, Vancouver, British Columbia
Attendance: 18,372
Referee: Drew Fischer

Top goalscorers

Source: FotMob, CanPL

Rank Player Team Goals
1 Canada Julian Altobelli York United FC 4
Canada Samuel Salter Atlético Ottawa
3 Canada Ali Ahmed Vancouver Whitecaps FC 3
Uruguay Nicolás Mezquida Vancouver FC
United States David Rodríguez Atlético Ottawa
6 Syria Molham Babouli Forge FC 2
United States Tristan Blackmon Vancouver Whitecaps FC
Canada Massimo Ferrin York United FC
Germany Prince Owusu CF Montréal
Germany Tobias Warschewski Cavalry FC
Canada Brian Wright Forge FC

References

  1. ↑ Mahmoudi, Nelson (August 31, 2024). "Scrosoppi Squeeze into CanChamp with Skublak Brace". Northern Tribune. Archived from the original on September 1, 2024. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
  2. ↑ OneSoccer [@onesoccer]; (August 31, 2024). "The 4 semi-pro teams that will play in the 2025 TELUS Canadian Championship have been confirmed 🏆👀". Retrieved December 11, 2024 – via Instagram.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  3. 1 2 3 Senra, Paulo (December 13, 2024). "2025 TELUS Canadian Championship Official Draw Results". Canadian Soccer Association. Retrieved February 2, 2025.
  4. 1 2 3 "2025 Telus Canadian Championship draw set for Thursday, Dec. 12". Canadian Premier League. December 12, 2024. Archived from the original on December 12, 2024. Retrieved December 12, 2024.
  5. 1 2 3 O'Connor-Clarke, Charlie (December 12, 2024). "2025 Telus Canadian Championship preliminary round matchups confirmed". Canadian Premier League. Archived from the original on December 13, 2024. Retrieved December 12, 2024.
  6. ↑ "Pacific FC to Host Vancouver FC in Preliminary Round of the 2025 Telus Canadian Championship". Pacific FC. December 13, 2024. Archived from the original on December 16, 2024. Retrieved December 16, 2024.
  7. ↑ "Forge FC to Host Halifax Wanderers FC in Preliminary Round of the 2025 Telus Canadian Championship" (Press release). Forge FC. December 12, 2024. Archived from the original on December 16, 2024. Retrieved December 16, 2024 – via OurSports Central.
  8. ↑ "2025 TELUS Canadian Championship preliminary round schedule announced". Canadian Premier League. February 18, 2025. Retrieved February 18, 2025.
  9. ↑ "Canadian Championship – Canada Soccer". Canadian Soccer Association. January 26, 2020. Retrieved February 18, 2025.
  10. ↑ "CanChamp semis to feature three CPL clubs for the first time". Canadian Premier League. July 10, 2025. Retrieved July 10, 2025.
  11. ↑ "Semi-finals set for the 2025 TELUS Men's Canadian Championship". Canadian Soccer Association. Retrieved July 11, 2025.