Canadian teams draw opponents from MLS, Mexico, Costa Rica in champions tournament

CBC News

· Posted: Dec 10, 2025 7:52 AM EST | Last Updated: 2 minutes ago

Atlético Ottawa, Forge FC, the Vancouver Whitecaps and Vancouver FC now know their international club opponents for the 2026 regional champion's tournament.

Each qualified for the CONCACAF Champions Cup based on results from last season, facing other top-performing teams from across North and Central America.

The CPL playoff champions in Ottawa will debut in the cup against Nashville SC from Major League Soccer, who feature Canadian international Jacob Shaffelburg from Port Williams, N.S.

Regular season champions Forge FC, appearing in the tournament for the fourth time, take on Mexico's Tigres UNAL from the Monterray area.

Vancouver FC, who qualified for the first time based on how far they made it in the Canadian Championship, will face defending tournament champions Cruz Azul from Mexico City.

The Vancouver Whitecaps of the MLS are the other Canadian squad, set to play Costa Rica's Club Sport Cartaginés after a pair of championship losses. The winner will play the Seattle Sounders.

The two-game opening round will happen in February, with dates to be released. Locations for the Canadian games will be determined as well, as CPL sides sometimes switch to warmer locations.

Each of the CPL teams are underdogs — Cruz Azul are the top-ranked team in the region, for example — but a win in the opening round would set them up for another potential meeting with a Mexican or MLS opponent.

Inter Miami and Lionel Messi await the winner of Ottawa versus Nashville.