2026 CPL Season Preview: Inter Toronto Football Club

Inter Toronto's 2026 Canadian Premier League season kicks off Saturday, April 11 vs. Halifax Wanderers FC. Secure your tickets today.

The CPL's Greater Toronto Area-based side come into 2026 with a brand new name, badge and colours, as a new era begins for soccer in the city.

Inter Toronto Football Club have loaded up their squad as they look to break into the upper echelon of CPL title contenders this year.

Story of 2025

2025 CPL regular season record (W-D-L): 10-8-10 (38 points, 5th place)
Goals scored: 43
Goals against: 38
Goal difference: +5
Top scorer: Julian Altobelli (10)
Canadian Championship: Lost in quarterfinals to Atlético Ottawa

The 2025 campaign was an up-and-down ride for Inter Toronto (then known as York United FC). Head coach Mauro Eustáquio took over the reins for his first full season in charge and led the club to the CPL Playoffs for a third straight year.

They remained in a close fight for positioning with both Cavalry FC and the Halifax Wanderers right until the end of the season, but ultimately landed in fifth.

However, Toronto walked into a tough atmosphere in Halifax to open the postseason with a knockout match, and ended up winning on penalties. Their playoff journey would end a few days later with a loss to Cavalry, but the club made good strides in survivng that clash at the Wanderers Grounds.

The story of last year ends off the pitch, though; on Nov. 27, the club unveiled their new crest and colours, officially beginning the Inter Toronto Football Club era.

Arrivals and Departures

Inter Toronto had perhaps the splashiest off-season in the league. They added a couple bona fide stars in Ollie Bassett and Béni Badibanga, both of whom are familiar faces around the CPL from their stints at Atlético Ottawa and Forge FC, respectively.

On top of that, Toronto brought in a few other key international players, including Liga MX veteran midfielder Raúl López and Ecuadorian forward Ariel Almagro. They also brought defender Juan Córdova back to the club, and signed former Wanderer and recent Ontario Premier League star Tomasz Skublak up front.

That said, Toronto have said goodbye to a few of their most reliable contributors, including captain Elijah Adekugbe, with many of last year's attackers and full-backs moving on. This club will look considerably different in 2026, and not just because they've got a new logo.

3 Players to Watch

FW - Béni Badibanga

On his day, Badibanga might be the most entertaining player in the entire CPL. He joined Toronto this winter after playing two seasons with Forge FC from 2023 to 2024. He produced eight goals and four assists for the Hammers across 44 games, including an outrageous strike from the halfway line against Toronto FC in the Canadian Championship.

Badibanga helped Forge win the 2023 CPL Final by scoring a long-range screamer in extra time, as well. He's a player who seems to improve on the biggest stages; he'll be hoping to take Inter Toronto to as many big stages as possible.

FW - Julian Altobelli

Altobelli was probably Toronto's MVP last season, scoring 15 goals in all competitions — none more important than his strike in the playoffs against Halifax. The 23-year-old is one of the CPL's most effective strikers, and he'll have his eye on the Golden Boot in 2026.

His production fell off somewhat toward the end of 2025 as he battled injuries, but Altobelli will hope to stay healthier this time around. He may also find himself with more chances to score, considering the extra attacking firepower Toronto have brought in.

MF - Ollie Bassett

The red-headed phenom returns to the CPL after a stint south of the border with the Tampa Bay Rowdies. Bassett won the CPL's Player of the Year award in 2022, and was a joint-winner of the Golden Boot the following year. He also won a championship with Pacific FC in 2021.

Bassett is a clever midfielder who can line up in a variety of spots on the field, but he'll probably slot in as a number 10 for Mauro Eustáquio.

2026 Outlook

Inter Toronto have been quite bullish on their ambition for 2026. Eustáquio has said in no uncertain terms that the club wants this year to be a "title-winning" campaign, which will require them to take a big step into the top tier of sides. They'd at least like to break into the top three, which would require surpassing one of the CPL Finalists Atlético Ottawa or Cavalry, or dethroning CPL Shield holders Forge.

The GTA club have never won a trophy in the CPL, nor finished higher than fourth in the table, but there's a renewed optimism around the club and a sense that this could be their year.

This is, perhaps inarguably, the strongest roster Inter Toronto have ever had. The challenge will now be translating that into consistent on-field success.

U-21 Spotlight

The U-21 contingent in Toronto is led by Shola Jimoh, who will turn 18 a few days before the club's home opener. Jimoh is entering his third pro season at York Lions Stadium and is hoping to break into the starting XI more consistently. He already has four goals and six assists to his name in 41 pro appearances for the club, but he only played 951 minutes in 2025.

Jimoh enters 2026 on a high, after making his Canadian national team debut in January. The young winger now needs to take the next step at club level so he can stay on Jesse Marsch's radar.

Aside from Jimoh, Inter Toronto have a healthy cast of U-21 players. Seventeen-year-old Anthony Umanzor, formerly on a development contract, has signed an Exceptional Young Talent deal and should feature this year. Meanwhile, young goalkeepers Ivan Pavela and Antonio Campos will split the net, so Toronto are guaranteed to rack up minutes in that position.

Projected XI

(4-2-3-1): Pavela; Córdova, Sturing, León, Ferrari; López, Kibato; Badibanga, Bassett, Jimoh; Altobelli

Roster Notes

2026 Kit

Inter Toronto's 2026 kits by hummel are available for purchase here.