Halifax's Vanni Sartini era begins in Vancouver against Martin Nash.
Matchweek 1 continues Saturday night on the West Coast, where Vancouver FC will host the Wanderers.
Both sides enter 2026 full of optimism, with reloaded squads and a new coach in the technical area.
For Vancouver, Martin Nash begins his first full season as head coach after taking over on an interim basis midway through last year. He'll be aiming to carry over some momentum from the end of 2025, where they went six matches unbeaten to end the season.
The Eagles will be aiming this year to challenge for their first ever playoff spot, after finishing at the bottom of the table last season with just 21 points.
This won't be the first time we've seen Vancouver FC in action this year; they introduced many of their new signings in the Concacaf Champions Cup in February. VFC took on Mexican side Cruz Azul, and although they lost heavily on aggregate, they nonetheless earned some valuable experience in their continental debut.
Meanwhile, Halifax will play their first match with new coach Vanni Sartini at the helm. The former Vancouver Whitecaps boss will manage his first CPL match on Saturday, but it'll be in familiar territory after four years in charge of the MLS side in B.C.
Halifax are hoping to remain in the playoffs in 2026, after finishing fourth a year ago. They lost to Inter Toronto (formerly York United) at the Wanderers Grounds in the postseason opener.
SEASON PREVIEWS: Vancouver FC || Halifax Wanderers
It'll be a significantly different Wanderers team taking the pitch this year, though. They added a bona fide a CPL star between the posts: former Cavalry FC captain (and two-time Golden Glove winner) Marco Carducci was the team's marquee addition. They've also brought in a number of CPL newcomers, including attackers Victor Akinwale, Cyprian Kachwele and Miguel Arilla, plus former Canadian national team full-back Marcus Godinho.
"[I] don't like to rely on a starting XI and go with the same guys every time," Sartini said on Thursday. "In every team that I coach, I like to rotate and to give opportunities to different players. ... I would say we have some nice internal challenges, even in midfield and at the back; I hope that at the end of this season, I always say the team is the leader, and the team is composed of 22 players at the moment, and hopefully everybody will be a protagonist in one way or another."
Vancouver also added some reinforcements this year, particularly in their international contingent. Defender Isak Ssewankambo is expected to be Matteo Campagna's new centre-back partner, while up front VFC have added some serious pedigree in former English Premier League striker Lys Mousset.
With both these sides, it's unclear who is going to emerge as the most effective goalscorer, so the two managers might tinker with their attacking setups to begin the year. Vancouver will continue to rely heavily on Thierno Bah and Nicolas Mezquida to create chances, but they have several options up front to finish them — whether that's Mousset, Terran Campbell, or Mohamed Amissi.
Vancouver and Halifax are both very eager to begin the new campaign on the front foot; which of them will strike first?
NEWS & NOTES
- Vancouver FC have a clean bill of health for Matchweek 1, according to Martin Nash.
- The Wanderers travelled to Vancouver with a mostly full squad, but they'll be missing two players. Yohan Baï is day-to-day with a minor injury, and Harvey Hughes will be out for some time with a broken wrist.
- Vancouver have a 1-1-1 historical record in home openers. They have more home wins (four) against Halifax than any other opponent.
PROJECTED STARTING XIs
Vancouver FC: Irving; Doner, Campagna, Ssewankambo, Field; Polisi, Fotsing; Amissi, Mezquida, Bah; Campbell
Halifax Wanderers: Carducci; Godinho, Linder, Meilleur-Giguère, Sow, Telfer; Callegari, Johnston; Bahamboula, Akinwale, Kachwele
KEY QUOTES
"I think we've added some good pieces in the attacking end. We've solidified the back four, we feel. We've been working as a team to find how exactly is the best way to play. ... It's the first game of the season, it's going to be a bit cagey. I think we're ready to go and we're in a good place, hopefully we can have a performance that shows that." — Vancouver FC head coach Martin Nash
“The most difficult thing in the game is scoring goals. So to become a team that I really like, I think we need to improve, especially the final third production. What I expect from the first game, every game, is to play, quote-unquote, in the way that we love, the way that we want to play, at least for an mount of minutes — 50-60 minutes for the first game, 75 for the second, and so on. As every other team, we worked a lot in pre-season, we played friendly games, but nothing gives you the intensity and rhythm like a real game. I don't think either us or Vancouver is going to be 100 per cent Saturday." — Halifax Wanderers head coach Vanni Sartini