When it comes to soccer in North America, most people tune into the MLS and assume that it’s the only professional league on the continent. But is there a professional soccer league in Canada?
In the following sections, we take a look at the recently formed Canadian Premier League and introduce you to how the league works, who the best teams are, and where you can watch it live.
So, is there a professional soccer league in Canada?
Yes, the Canadian Premier League is the country’s primary professional soccer division. There are currently eight teams from five Canadian provinces, with each team playing 28 regular season matches.
The winners of the Canadian Premier League qualify for the CONCACAF League, an intercontinental tournament competed by teams from Central America and the Caribbean.
Although the Canadian league is newly established, it attracts lots of interest domestically and is increasing in popularity every year. This article explains everything you need to know about professional soccer in Canada.
When was the Canadian Premier League launched?
The Canadian Premier League was launched in 2019 after being sanctioned by the Candian Soccer Association two years earlier. As such, it’s one of the newest leagues in the world, with recently established teams competing for the title every year.
It replaces the now defunct Canadian Soccer League, which came to an end in 1992. The idea for a reincarnation of professional soccer in Canada was first floated in 2013, and investors started coming to the fore in the following years.
York United FC became the first Canadian Soccer League team to be established, with Calvary FC and HFX Wanderers soon to follow. The first match in the league kicked off on April 29, 2019, between Forge FC and York United FC, resulting in a 1-1 tie.
At the time of writing, the following eight teams compete in the Canadian Premier League:
- Atletico Ottawa (Ontario)
- Calvary FC (Alberta)
- FC Edmonton (Alberta)
- Forge FC (Ontario)
- HFX Wanderers FC (Nova Scotia)
- Pacific FC (British Columbia)
- Valour FC (Manitoba)
- York United FC (Ontario)
Three more teams are scheduled to join the league in the coming seasons – one from Saskatchewan, one from Vancouver, and one from Windsor. It’s unclear how many teams will need to be launched before a split is considered to make things easier for traveling sides.
How does the Canadian Premier League work?
The first season of the Canadian Premier League followed a format that is widely used in Latin America, and it was essentially a split season of games followed by a two-legged final.
For its second season, the league adopted a simpler format, which sees teams compete against one another in a single-season format, with playoffs bringing the season to a close. Every team plays 14 home and 14 away games between April and October each year.
Unlike MLS, the Canadian system is planning to introduce relegation and promotion to the league as and when more teams become established. This will make the league much more competitive and steers clear of the American franchising model.
Is there a salary cap in the Canadian League?
Yes, there is a salary cap in place in the Canadian Premier League, as is the case in MLS. Presently, the combined cap per team is $1.2 million per year, which is significantly lower than the 2021 cap of $9.25 million in MLS.
Each team must pay its players at least CAD$22,000 and must not spend more than CAD$850,000 per year on player salaries. They are permitted to pay their coaches between $350,000 and $550,000 per annum.
In addition to a salary cap, each team must start at least six Canadian players every game, and they are not permitted to have more than seven foreign nationals on their roster. A maximum of 23 players per season can be registered.
A university draft system was also introduced in 2018, offering talented players a route through to the Premier League. Ultimately, the league is set up to encourage player development as the authorities seek to grow the game over the course of the next few years.
Who are the best teams in the league?
It’s difficult to say which team is the best in the league, as there have only been three full seasons! That being said, the current Canadian champions are Pacific FC, but Forge FC won the previous two championships.
There’s something extremely exciting about a league that is yet to establish itself, as it enables all teams to stake their claim as the most competitive in the division. It remains to be seen whether Pacific or Forge will add to their titles at the cumulation of the league this season.
Where can I watch the Canadian Premier League?
The Canadian Premier League is broadcast by Mediapro. The group established OneSoccer to show all of the league’s matches, which has been popular in Canada since launching in 2019.
In the US, some CPL games are broadcast by Fox Sports, and StarTimes covers some fixtures in sub-Saharan Africa. Some games will also be shown by BT Sport in the UK and Ireland from the end of 2022.
As for Latin America, you can watch the Canadian Premier League on DirecTV Go and Tigo Sports, depending on your subscription.
So, while the CPL is undoubtedly in its infancy, there’s a lot of potential as the league grows, and it will be great for the development of the national game in Canada.
Can Canadian teams compete in MLS?
As the CPL has only recently been established, there are a number of Canadian clubs already competing in the MLS. And in spite of the fact that the CPL is now up and running, there’s very little chance of them switching leagues anytime soon.
Right now, the Canadian teams competing in MLS are:
- Toronto FC
- Vancouver Whitecaps
- CF Montreal
MLS actually announced in 2022 that they were making some changes to the residency rules to help Canadian teams. The three Canadian teams can now add up to three more international players to their MLS rosters.
With the establishment and growth of the CPL, it’s not clear whether more Canadian teams will join MLS in the future or whether they will seek to grow the domestic game by joining the Canadian league.
Recap: Is there a professional soccer league in Canada?
Soccer is becoming increasingly popular in Canada, as we have seen by the attendances at Toronto FC, as well as the recent achievements of the Canadian national team.
Although still very new, it will be exciting to watch the growth of the Canadian Premier League in the next few years and whether they can begin to attract some talented players to join their squads to help grow the game.