The Canadian Premier League returns this weekend after a two-week pause during the FIFA World Cup, with two games before regular service resumes.
With so much soccer action to keep track of recently, you're forgiven if you need a refresher on what's going on this season.
Or, perhaps, you're new to the CPL, keen to check out some local football once the World Cup has left town.
For the uninitiated, the Canadian Premier League is Canada's very own top-flight domestic professional men's league, with eight clubs spanning from coast to coast.
The reigning champions and North Star Cup holders are Atlético Ottawa, while Forge FC won the CPL Shield last year as winners of the regular season title.
Eighteen weeks remain in this year's 28-match schedule, so the race is heating up for the four playoff spots, but there's plenty of time left.
For more details on the CPL and what it's all about, head to our About Us page.
Stay here, though, for a primer on what you need to know for the rest of the 2026 campaign.
What's up next?
The action kicks off on Friday in Halifax, and we've got a double-header on Canada Day before a full four-match slate the following weekend.
Here's what the next four games look like:
Matchweek 11 Schedule:
- Friday, June 26: Halifax Wanderers vs. Pacific FC
- 5:30 p.m. ET/2:30 p.m. PT
- OneSoccer & CBC Gem
- Sunday, June 28: Cavalry FC vs. FC Supra du Québec
- 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT
- OneSoccer & TVA Sports 2
- Wednesday, July 1: Forge FC vs. Vancouver FC
- 1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT
- OneSoccer
- Wednesday, July 1: Halifax Wanderers vs. Atlético Ottawa
- 4 p.m. ET/1 p.m. PT
- OneSoccer
Not to be forgotten in all this is the Canadian Championship, which is also coming back soon. Quarterfinal ties kick off July 8, and we've got a pair of CPL-versus-MLS clashes with Cavalry against the Vancouver Whitecaps and Vancouver FC against CF Montréal.
Who's leading the way? Who's struggling?
Setting the pace at the front of the pack are Forge FC and Cavalry FC.
Those two sides, the two most successful in CPL history, remain the class of the league. They've each lost just one game, and appear destined to contend in a two-horse race for the CPL Shield. Forge are aiming for a third straight Shield, while Cavalry look for their second.
Forge have yet to concede a goal at home, by the way.
Behind those two is a melee for the final two playoff spots, with five points separating third from seventh. Inter Toronto had a strong grip on third place for a while, but a recent uptick in Ottawa's form (plus a three-game losing streak with 12 goals conceded for Toronto) has turned the table.
FC Supra du Québec, in their first ever season, have done well so far but need to find consistency in order to break into the playoff picture. Still, they and Toronto both have a game in hand that could prove decisive.
At the bottom of the table are Pacific FC, who still haven't won yet in 2026. Perhaps they're the team that can benefit most from the time off (although their break was shorter than most).
Here's what the table looks like so far.
| Pos. | Team | GP | W | D | L | Pts. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Forge FC | 10 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 25 |
| 2 | Cavalry FC | 10 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 23 |
| 3 | Atlético Ottawa | 10 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 14 |
| 4 | Inter Toronto | 9 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 12 |
| 5 | FC Supra du Québec | 9 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 11 |
| 6 | Vancouver FC | 10 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 11 |
| 7 | Halifax Wanderers | 10 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 9 |
| 8 | Pacific FC | 10 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 3 |
Who are the stars this year?
Right now, two names are standing out at the front of the Player of the Year race.
Cavalry FC striker Tobias Warschewski is leading the Golden Boot race with five goals, and he continues to be one of the CPL's most unstoppable forces. The German forward can score from anywhere, as well as set up his teammates with a combination of physical dominance and deft footwork.
Warschewski's biggest challenger so far is FC Supra midfielder Sean Rea. The 24-year-old is enjoying his best CPL season yet, establishing himself as the main attacking talisman in his side. Rea has four goals and three assists for his hometown club and seems to influence play from all over the attacking third.
Among the other standouts so far are Halifax Wanderers midfielder Isaiah Johnston, and Forge FC defensive duo Dan Nimick and Antoine Batisse.
Among this year's younger stars are Cavs defender Adam Pearlman, Ottawa's Joaquim Coulanges, and Vancouver FC's Kian Proctor, all of whom have made multiple recent Team of the Week appearances.
Goalkeepers have also been a huge factor for clubs across the league; Forge's Dimitry Bertaud is excelling in his first CPL campaign, and Cavalry have benefited from some timely Nathan Ingham saves.
What other storylines should I watch?
Two clubs find themselves in a transitional period at the moment after making a coaching change in late May.
Pacific FC are waiting for their head coach Terry Dunfield to take over on July 5; they've been managed by interim coach Yiannis Tsalatsidis for the past four games, and Tsalatsidis has led them to a couple of points, but Dunfield's arrival should bring some much-needed stability.
Likewise, Atlético Ottawa have been without a gaffer since Diego Mejía moved on to Atlético San Luis in early June. They have yet to announce a new head coach, with Drew Beckie taking charge of their last few. Like Pacific, they'll be looking forward to a permanent manager taking charge, although they've worked their way into third place since Mejía left.
More broadly in the CPL, clubs have been adjusting to the league's 'daylight' offside trial. Although scoring hasn't necessarily exploded, a few teams have made good use of the rule — particularly Forge with their set-piece dominance.
As the summer begins, keep an eye out for some transfer news. Every club will be trying to bolster their squad for the homestretch of the season, and a few players across the league have garnered interest from teams overseas.
There are four months to go until the playoffs begin, but the race for silverware is well underway.
