PREVIEW: Atlético Ottawa vs. Forge FC | Semifinal Leg 1

The 2026 Canadian Premier League Playoffs will begin where the 2025 postseason ended.

Defending champions Atlético Ottawa begin their North Star Cup defence on Sunday at TD Place, as Forge FC pay a visit to the capital for Leg 1 of this semifinal matchup.

Forge have their eyes on winning a second piece of silverware in the space of a few weeks, after claiming the TELUS Canadian Championship last Wednesday. If they can get past Ottawa and then win the Cup, they'd make even more history as the first CPL side to win two trophies in one season.

Atleti would rather put a stop to that kind of chatter, though. Ottawa have spent the last few weeks ardently preparing for this specific moment; they've been locked into third place for almost a month, so their last few regular season games served only as preparation for the matches that really matter to them.

Although the 2026 season started slowly for Ottawa, they've developed into one of the CPL's top sides once again — bolstered by the guidance of head coach Gustavo Leal. The Brazilian gaffer took over midsummer and led the capital club to an 8-2-6 record in the 16 league matches he was in charge (two of those losses being the final two games, where they were already guaranteed third place).

Ottawa head into the playoffs with plenty of their championship-winning core in place, including captain Manny Aparicio and star forward Ballou Tabla (15 goals, two assists in all competitions). Their not-so-secret weapon, however, is a new face who's keen on winning his first title. Ottawa-born striker Nicolas Fleuriau Chateau potted nine goals and three assists in just 16 games after joining Atleti in late July, and he could be the difference maker in these playoffs.

Forge finished 15 points ahead of Ottawa in second place, missing out on the CPL Shield on the last day of the regular season. The Hamilton club are perennial contenders in the CPL, but they go into these playoffs quite desperate to reclaim the North Star Cup.

They've won four CPL championships, but not since 2023 — making this technically their longest drought, if you can call it that.

Forge will definitely have some specific business to settle with Atlético Ottawa. In the 2025 playoffs, after Forge finished first and won the CPL Shield, Ottawa beat them in Hamilton to earn hosting rights for the CPL Final. 

That said, Forge do have some good memories of postseason football at TD Place. They won their third championship in Ottawa, beating Atleti 2-0 in the 2022 CPL Final.

Head coach Bobby Smyrniotis is always confident at this time of year, and he'll be doubly so now after seeing his team take down CF Montréal on penalties in the Canadian Championship final. This team has succeeded mostly thanks to its strong defensive foundation — their 22 goals conceded was the fewest in the CPL — with formidable centre-back duo Dan Nimick and Manjrekar James likely playing behind stopper Antoine Batisse. Plus, Dimitry Bertaud has been a superstar in goal, reminding everyone of this talent by stopping three penalty kicks in that CanChamp final.

The Hammers had the advantage over Ottawa in the season series this year, winning three out of four games, including a 2-1 triumph in the capital on Oct. 17. However, Atleti were the first team to beat Forge this season, winning 2-1 at TD Place in May.

Two genuine heavyweights of the Canadian Premier League are going head-to-head in this semifinal tie, and both will be keen on a good result in this first leg.

It's only half of a 180-minute game, but Sunday's game in Ottawa will set the tone for the return match in Hamilton.

Only one of these sides can move on to the CPL Final; will it be CPL champions, or the Canadian champions?

NEWS & NOTES

• The 2026 CPL Playoffs feature two-legged semifinal ties, with the winner on aggregate advancing to the CPL Final. The away goals rule is not in effect.
• This is the fourth CPL Playoffs meeting between Atlético Ottawa and Forge FC (one Ottawa win, two Forge wins). Forge won the 2022 CPL Final at TD Place, but Atleti won the 2025 Championship Semifinal in Hamilton to advance to last year's Final.
• Forge have a few injury concerns, including striker Lucas Cavallini, who picked up a hamstring injury in last week's Canadian Championship final. He is considered questionable for Sunday.

PROJECTED STARTING XIs

Atlético Ottawa: Kalongo; Arnaud, Dunn, Kozlovskiy, Coulanges; Aparicio, Castro; García, Tabla, Antinoro; Fleuriau Chateau

Forge FC: Bertaud; Rama, Nimick, James, Jevremović; Aromatario, Paton; Bourgeois, Jensen, Massunda; Cavallini