The Canadian Premier League (CPL) today announced the five nominees for this year’s Player of the Year award, presented by Volkswagen Canada, honouring the best player in the league during the 2026 CPL Regular Season.
Forge FC’s Antoine Batisse, Halifax Wanderers FC’s Isaiah Johnston, FC Supra du Québec’s Loïc Kwemi, Atlético Ottawa’s Ballou Tabla and Cavalry FC’s Tobias Warschewski are nominated for the award in 2026. The winner will be determined through voting by technical leadership from all eight CPL clubs, alongside select media members representing local and national outlets who consistently covered the 2026 CPL Regular Season. The winner will be revealed on Thursday, Nov. 19 during the 2026 CPL Awards ceremony, held as part of the festivities surrounding the 2026 CPL Final.
Voting for the CPL’s Player of the Year award is based on performances during the 2026 Regular Season, not including the TELUS Canadian Championship, Concacaf Champions Cup or the 2026 CPL Playoffs.
Batisse, 31, established himself as a commanding presence in Forge’s back line in 2026, combining defensive consistency with an ability to contribute in the attacking third. He recorded four goals and three assists for seven total goal contributions, tied for the most among CPL defenders. Batisse committed no errors leading to a shot across 2,206 minutes played, while also recording 152 passes into the final third and winning 30 aerial duels. His performances earned him nominations for both Player of the Year and Defender of the Year, making him the only player recognized in both categories this season.
Johnston, 24, enjoyed his most productive scoring campaign in the CPL to date with the Wanderers in 2026, finding the back of the net 11 times to finish tied for second in the CPL Golden Boot race. His 11.47 expected goals led all players across the league, reflecting his consistent ability to find dangerous positions in front of goal. Johnston made 27 appearances, including 26 starts, and logged 2,290 minutes throughout the Regular Season, establishing himself as a key contributor to Halifax’s attack.
Kwemi, 29, made an immediate impact in Supra’s inaugural CPL season, capturing the 2026 Golden Boot award with a league-leading 15 goals, four more than any other player. He averaged a goal every 131 minutes and led the CPL with 0.69 goals per 90 minutes, while outperforming his expected goals total of 10.28 by 4.7, the largest positive differential in the league. Kwemi also led all CPL players in touches in the opposition box (171) and goal contributions per 90 minutes (0.83), achieving the latter in just 22 starts. His influence extended beyond the attack, winning 30 tackles at an 83 per cent success rate.
Tabla, 27, delivered an impressive attacking campaign for Ottawa in 2026, scoring 11 goals to finish tied for second among all CPL players. He exceeded his expected goals total of 8.9 by 2.1, demonstrating his efficiency in front of goal. Tabla also ranked third in the league with 118 touches in the opposition box, consistently creating a threat in dangerous attacking areas. He made 26 starts and played 2,270 minutes during the Regular Season, playing a significant role in Ottawa’s attacking efforts throughout the campaign. This is Tabla’s second nomination for this award, after he was a contender for the honour in 2022.
Warschewski, 28, was among the CPL’s most influential attacking players in 2026, leading the league with 21 total goal contributions through 11 goals and 10 assists. His 10 assists and 8.45 expected assists were both league highs, with no other player recording more than seven assists during the Regular Season. Warschewski also finished second in the CPL with 64 chances created and led all players with 164 duels won, highlighting his impact both on and off the ball. He averaged 0.82 goal contributions per 90 minutes, second only to Kwemi, capping off another standout campaign for Cavalry. This is Warschewski’s second nomination for the award, having previously earned a nod in 2024.
The winner of the Player of the Year award will receive a unique piece of Inuit soapstone art, conceptualized by artist Pitseolak Qimirpik and carved by Ruben Komangapik. The Nikisuittuq statue is a type of inukshuk, a stone landmark built to lead a traveller home. Its top stone points toward the North Star, making it an important landmark in navigation.
