The road to the Voyageurs' Cup begins this week, as 14 of the 15 teams competing in the 2026 TELUS Canadian Championship kick off the tournament.
All eight Canadian Premier League teams, as well as the three Canadian Major League Soccer clubs and representatives from the Ontario Premier League, Alberta Premier League, B.C. Premier League and Ligue1 Québec. Defending champions Vancouver Whitecaps get a bye to the quarterfinals, so they won't take part until July.
The preliminary round begins Tuesday night at BMO Field, and continues through to Sunday.
As a reminder: preliminary round matches that are tied after 90 minutes will proceed to extra time, followed by a penalty shootout if necessary.
Teams are required to include three Canadian players in their starting XI.
Here's the full schedule for the week's CanChamp action. All matches will be broadcast live on OneSoccer.
| Date | Home Team | Away Team | Kickoff (ET/PT) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuesday, May 5 | Toronto FC | Atlético Ottawa | 7:30 p.m./4:30 p.m. |
| Wednesday, May 6 | CF Montréal | Calgary Blizzard SC | 7:30 p.m./4:30 p.m. |
| Friday, May 8 | FC Supra du Québec | Woodbridge Strikers | 7 p.m./4 p.m. |
| Saturday, May 9 | Forge FC | Halifax Wanderers | 4 p.m./1 p.m. |
| Saturday, May 9 | Pacific FC | Cavalry FC | 7 p.m./4 p.m. |
| Sunday, May 10 | Inter Toronto | CS Saint-Laurent | 3 p.m./12 p.m. |
| Sunday, May 10 | Vancouver FC | Langley United | 7 p.m./4 p.m. |
Four teams make CanChamp debut
As is often the case, a few clubs competing this year will be doing so for the first time.
Three clubs from Premier Soccer Leagues Canada will make debuts; Calgary Blizzard from Alberta, Woodbridge Strikers from Ontario and B.C.'s Langley United.
This year, however, there's also a new CPL representative in the mix. FC Supra du Québec, the league's newest club, will be at Stade Boréale for just the second time ever when they host Woodbridge. One of those teams will, inevitably, collect their first ever CanChamp win on Friday.
How can Atleti fare at BMO Field?
There's always a little added interest in this competition when a CPL side gets to test themselves against a Major League Soccer opponent.
Atlético Ottawa have never played an MLS foe in this competition, but they'll take on Toronto FC at BMO Field on Tuesday.
Ottawa had a brief experience with the MLS level in February, when they lost to Nashville SC in the Concacaf Champions Cup, but this will be an entirely different prospect.
The reigning CPL champs have had a few weeks of games to get their legs under them and gain match fitness, but results have been mixed in league play — they're seventh with a 1-1-3 record. Still, a change of competition and a massive test might be just what Atleti need to get into gear.
After falling short in the semifinals of last year's CanChamp, Ottawa are desperate for another deep run, but they have a mountain to climb in round one.
While these matchups against MLS teams can be an opportunity for young players to put themselves in the shop window, Ottawa head coach Diego Mejía is cautioning against his players getting too wrapped up in the moment.
"They need to compete as a team," he said. "If you want to show your level as an individual, you're gonna have a bad match. You need to compete as a team. You need to use your teammates to be better, to improve, to compete, and try to win the match. Play simple, and that's it."
Who will triumph in CPL-on-CPL battles?
The opening round features just two matches between CPL teams, with Forge-Halifax followed by Pacific-Cavalry on Saturday.
In Hamilton, the Halifax Wanderers will be out for revenge after Forge beat them 3-1 in Nova Scotia last Saturday. As Wanderers coach Vanni Sartini pointed out, this matchup will be a little different, because the Canadian Championship isn't using the 'daylight' offside rule being trialed in the CPL, but it's a serious challenge regardless.
Sartini knows what it takes to win in the CanChamp, having won the tournament three times in a row with the Vancouver Whitecaps from 2022 to 2024. However, Forge manager Bobby Smyrniotis is still looking for his first Voyageurs' Cup, after losing in the semifinals the past three years, and he'll feel this could be the year.
Forge knocked the Wanderers out of this tournament last year at Hamilton Stadium, though, so a Halifax win would be a double measure of revenge, in a way.
Meanwhile, Pacific host the Cavs in a match they're hoping can give their season a jumpstart. They haven't won yet in CPL action, and have lost four times at home, but sometimes a change of focus to a different competition can turn things around.
Cavalry beat Pacific in Matchweek 1, and will aim to do so again, because they too would love a deep run in this year's tournament after a disappointing exit last season.
The winner of this matchup will get a much-coveted quarterfinal tie against the Whitecaps.
Bragging rights on the line in Langley Derby
The final game of the round is maybe one of the most intriguing. CPL side Vancouver FC host B.C. Premier League team Langley United at the Langley Events Centre, which serves as the home stadium for both clubs.
There's a lot of familiarity across the organizations, particularly this year thanks to an official partnership between the two sides. Several Vancouver players have seen minutes in the BCPL with Langley this year due to the CPL's downward player movement program.
However, all that camaraderie will be put aside on Sunday night, as the two teams put one another to the test.
After making the CanChamp final last year, Vancouver FC are hoping for another long run in 2026. They picked up their first win of the season Sunday at Pacific, which may give them a boost of momentum this week.
However, Langley have raced out to a 5-0-0 start to the BCPL campaign, with zero goals conceded. Could they pull off the upset in this local clash?
Any other cupsets on the cards?
Langley and Atlético Ottawa aren't the only teams trying to take down an opponent from a higher level.
Alberta champions Calgary Blizzard will be at Stade Saputo on Wednesday to play MLS side CF Montréal, which will undoubtedly be their toughest test yet.
Later in the week, the OPL's Woodbridge Strikers take on FC Supra and Ligue1 Quebec's CS Saint-Laurent play Inter Toronto, in an opposite pair of Montreal-versus-Toronto battles.
Saint-Laurent have significant history in this tournament, having beaten the CPL's Halifax Wanderers two years ago, which booked them a quarterfinal matchup with Toronto FC. They were the first Ligue1 Quebec side to beat a fully professional club in this tournament, and would love to repeat the accomplishment.
Can anybody dethrone the Whitecaps?
Finally, the biggest question heading into this year's CanChamp is whether any club in the preliminary round can finally claim the Voyageurs' Cup, and end the Vancouver Whitecaps' four-year reign.
The 'Caps extended their streak last year by beating Vancouver FC in the final, and they'd be considered favourites to take the crown again this time.
However, the other two MLS teams are desperate for some silverware, and every CPL team dreams of becoming the first from the league to win this tournament.
One of them made it to the final last time. Could this be the year a CPL side lifts the Cup?
