Canadian Premier League season to kick off seventh season April 5 with tripleheader

Cavalry FC's Tobias Warschewski, left, scores a penalty kick against Forge FC keeper Jassem Koleilat during first half soccer action in the Canadian Premier League Final in Calgary on Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024. (Stuart Gradon/The Canadian Press)

The Canadian Premier League will kick off its seventh season April 5 with a tripleheader that includes a rematch of the 2024 championship game between Cavalry FC and Forge FC.

Unlike the Nov. 9 title decider, won 2-1 by Cavalry, the rematch will take place at Hamilton Stadium. It marks the fourth time the two rivals have met on opening day.

Forge has won the North Star Shield as regular-season winners twice (2021 and ’24) and lifted the North Star Cup four times (2019, ’20, ’22 and ’23) as league champion. Cavalry has finished first in the regular season twice (2019 and ’23) and won the title once (2024).

The 2025 regular season opens at TD Place Stadium when Atletico Ottawa, under new coach Diego Mejia, hosts the Halifax Wanderers with Pacific FC entertaining Valour FC at Starlight Stadium in the April 5 nightcap.

York United FC visits Vancouver FC on April 6 at Langley Events Centre.

The remaining home openers are stretched over the next three weeks of the schedule.

York welcomes Halifax to York Lions Stadium on April 13. Cavalry hosts Vancouver on April 18 at Atco Field while Halifax entertains Pacific at Wanderers Ground on April 19.

Valour FC, which did not open at home until June last season because of turf upgrades at Princess Auto Stadium, welcomes Halifax to Winnipeg on April 25 in the last of the home openers.

The league says the entire schedule will be released Feb. 12. The CPL kickoff comes 11 days before the new Northern Super League, a six-team women’s pro league, starts its inaugural campaign.

The 2025 CPL campaign will feature 112 regular-season games followed by five playoff matches, including the championship game in November.

CPL 2025 Season Openers (All times ET)

Saturday, April 5

Halifax Wanderers FC at Atletico Ottawa, TD Place, 2 p.m.

Cavalry FC at Forge FC, Hamilton Stadium, 4:30 p.m.

Valour FC at Pacific FC, Starlight Stadium, 7 p.m.

Sunday, April 6

York United FC at Vancouver FC, Langley Events Centre, 7 p.m.

Sunday, April 13

Halifax Wanderers FC at York United FC, York Lions Stadium, 3 p.m.

Friday, April 18

Vancouver FC at Cavalry FC, Atco Field at Spruce Meadows, 7 p.m.

Saturday, April 19

Pacific FC at Halifax Wanderers FC, Wanderers Ground, 3:30 p.m.

Friday, April 25

Halifax Wanderers FC at Valour FC, Princess Auto Stadium, 8 p.m.

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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 10, 2025.

Neil Davidson, The Canadian Press