There are just 16 days remaining in 2025, but Canadian ballers aren’t wasting any time making them count before the big year arrives.

It’s a BUSY Canucks Abroad section this week as just about everybody on the men’s team found the net, with some key CanWNT players finding the net as well.

Plus, Vanni Sartini is back, FC Supra have their first signings, Canadian teams learn their Concacaf Cup draw and more in this week’s edition of The Northern Pitch.

The dawn of a new era. Perhaps the biggest surprise of the 2025 CPL off-season so far, three-time Voyageur Cup champ, Vanni Sartini, has been announced as the Wanderers’ new head coach and GM. The vibes at the Wanderers’ Ground will be untouchable.

“I love this country.” Prior to working with the Whitecaps in 2019 as an assistant coach and the U23 head coach. Sartini exclusively worked in Italy. However, after becoming the senior coach of the Caps, his career took off. After taking a break following stepping down as Vancouver’s coach, Sartini expressed: “On a very personal note, this is the country that probably changed my life. In terms of status of coaching, in terms of career, I got to another level thanks to my years in Vancouver.”

A dynasty-building coach. The Vancouver Whitecaps run to the MLS Cup final can be attributed to Sartini. This is not to discredit current Caps gaffer Jesper Sørensen, however, the Danish coach inherited a squad that grew under Sartini. The Italian manager has left a dynastic team after three years in Vancouver. With the time and proper scouting, Sartini could do the same with Halifax.

Also, Vanni Sartini has changed the Whitecaps into a championship team. When he was appointed as interim coach in 2021, the Caps’ were at the bottom of the Western Conference. From the bottom spot, the Whitecaps were able to qualify for the playoffs, and they would reach the playoffs twice more after. Sartini also built a squad that would win three Voyageurs Cups.

A new era in Nova Scotia. The Haligonians had a depressing 2024, finishing bottom of the table, but then had a decent 2025 campaign, being knocked out in the post-season. Vanni Sartini said he liked the CPL's style and intensity, as they matched his philosophy. Moreover, he will be inheriting a decent Wanderers side. There is potential for something special in Halifax.

2026 for HFX will be an exciting one, and we are all looking forward to seeing what Vanni Sartini will do in this upcoming season and the years to come.

A historic four Canadian clubs will compete in the 2026 Concacaf Champions Cup. On Thursday, they learned their opponents… in forty minutes or less, too! FIFA, take notes.

After finishing as the runners-up last time, Canadian Champions Vancouver Whitecaps get back to business against Costa Rican club CS Cartaginés on Wednesday, February 18 in Costa Rica. The second leg is back at BC Place on February 25.

Forge, meanwhile, make their fourth appearance in the competition against yet another LigaMX giant, this time Tigres. They host the 2020 champs on February 3, before heading down to Estadio Universitario (aka El Volcán) on February 10.

Two other CPL clubs are also in this year’s competition, both making their continental debuts. First up, it’s CPL champs Atlético Ottawa — who are looking to keep the magic going from their snow-covered CPL Final. They take on Nashville, but will have to host the home leg in Hamilton due to construction at TD Place.

Finally, Vancouver FC make their tournament debut in the most difficult way possible: playing the defending champs, and seven-time winners, Cruz Azul. They welcome the regional superpowers to Willoughby Community Park on February 4 before travelling down to Estadio Olímpico Universitario on February 12.

It’s the end of the year award season for Canada Soccer as the association announced the eight nominees for each of the women’s and men’s national teams.

On the men’s side: it’s Ali Ahmed, Tajon Buchanan, Jonathan David, Promise David, Richie Laryea, Tani Oluwaseyi, Niko Sigur and Dayne St. Clair. A strong list.

The women’s side, however, is a little bit more questionable. Marie-Yasmine Alidou, Vanessa Gilles, Adriana Leon, Emma Regan, Jayde Rivier, Janine Sonis, Holly Ward and Shelina Zadorsky make up the options. No Olivia Smith? No Jessie Fleming? Strange to say the least.

Voting ends on Wednesday, with the winners announced on Friday, December 19.

There will be other awards announced this coming week as well, as later today, the Canada Soccer Futsal Player of the Year will be handed out, and the Young Player of the Year later this week.

It’s official! The transfer rumours have been put to bed. FC Supra have announced their first three players: David Choinière, Sean Rea and Loïc Kwemi. All three Montréal ballers are a statement of the club’s objective: a club for Québec, by Québec.

On a snowy night in Little Italy, FC Supra invited the media to Montreal’s OG soccer shop, Evangelista Sports, to meet the new signings. Sean Rea was not present, but David Choinière and Loïc Kwemi were. Both have expressed excitement to return home and play in a club that will showcase Québécois football.

The first three players are forwards. It is worth noting that all three players are attacking players. Kwemi is a striker, Choinière and Rea on the wing.

David Choinière is back home. After six years in Hamilton, the baller from Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu and former CF Montréal is back on the island. An exciting winger who can shoot from a distance is something that the fanbase would be hungry for. Moreover, the Choinière brothers are popular in the city. David Choinière is the biggest signing that Supra has made.

Sean Rea is looking to make a statement. After an unsuccessful stint at CF Montréal, the 2022 CPL U21 Player of the Year is back on the island and looking to prove what CFM is missing out on. The ambidextrous midfielder has registered two goals and five assists with the Halifax Wanderers.

Loïc Kwemi a local hero. The former CS Saint-Laurent striker had a short stint with Valour. Due to contract disagreements, Kwemi returned to his boyhood club, CS LaSalle, and has achieved his objective of having his club promoted from L2 to L1 QC. In the Quebec soccer circuit, Loïc is an established baller with a respected pedigree. Kwemi will be reunited with Saint-Laurent's former coach Nick Razzaghi.

Three down, 30ish more to go. With the first three signings making a splash in Montreal media, the roster is nowhere near complete. Supra have already drafted two U SPORTS players, Alexandre Marcoux and Calvin Calaidjoglu.

Rumours continue to circulate on potential new signings. Last week, there were rumours of Ballou Tabla’s return to MTL. Now, it is rumoured that Aboubacar Sissoko is looking to return to the island. Expect further rumours and perhaps even surprise signings with Supra.

🍁 It’s been a good week for Canucks in the UEFA Champions League. Jonathan David scored in Juventus’ 2-0 win over Pafos FC. Tani Oluwaseyi scored his first UCL goal this weekend in Villarreal’s 2-3 defeat to FC København — despite the L, Tani’s goal was class. And, in the biggest news of the week, Alphonso Davies made his return in Bayern Munich’s 3-1 win over Sporting after being sidelined for nine months.

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Daniel Jebbison scores… twice! It’s been a month of redemption for Jebbo, who started the season under scrutiny after a freak injury and a slow start. But the CanMNT hopeful rippled the twine in a 1-1 draw against Championship leaders Coventry City and a 2-1 win over Oxford United to round into some good form before the holidays.

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Olivia Smith with a screamer. Stop us if you’ve heard us say this before. Or, actually, don’t. Because it’s happened again. Everton turned over their own throw-in to the assassin that is Liv, pinging home a bouncing ball from outside the box in a 3-1 win.

🇮🇹 Évelyne Viens assist. The contributions don’t stop. Év dribbled out of a phone box against Ternana on Saturday, setting up the first goal in a 2-0 win in Serie A action.

🇫🇷 Ashley Lawrence assist x2. Have the CanWNT’s grey skies started to clear at club level? Ash was back at her best for OL this weekend, picking out not one, but two stellar crosses in a 7-0 thrashing of Le Havre.

🇧🇪 Nathan Saliba scores. The goals came thick and fast, even for midfielders. Saliba was one of two over the weekend that found the back of the net. In his case, threading home an equalizing header in a 2-1 win for Anderlecht over STVV.

🇮🇹 Ismaël Koné scores. Koné was the other one, kicking off a bright and early Sunday morning — at the San Siro, no less — with a goal, a knee slide, and an all-around incredible showing.

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Liam Millar assist. Not so fast on the roster locks, y’all. Between Davies, Ahmed and now Millar, it seems like anyone on the left side of the Canadian attack just has superhuman recovery abilities. Hull counted Liam back in the XI on the weekend and got a nice assist to boot in a 3-1 win over Millwall.

🇧🇪 Death, taxes, and Promise David scoring. This wouldn’t be a roundup without Promise David in the goals, wouldn’t it. USG’s #12 stayed #1 in their hearts after scoring the opener in an eventual 1-1 draw against Charleroi.

💍 Congratulations, Julia! Julia Grosso delivered Canada gold at Tokyo 2020, and now, she’s engaged as well. Grosso shared the news alongside partner (and Houston Astros shortstop) Jeremy Peña on Instagram this week.

⬇️ CanWNT drop to 10th in FIFA ranking. In the beginning of the year, the team was ranked 6th in the world. At the close of 2025, the CanWNT has dropped to 10th after suffering four straight losses.

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👏 The Whitecaps aren’t going anywhere. The Caps and the city of Vancouver have signed (an) MOU. No, not Mourinho, but a Memorandum of Understanding, in which both parties will enter a negotiation period in 2026 to explore a new stadium and entertainment district in Hastings Park. In this period, the city of Vancouver and the Whitecaps will negotiate terms for a ground lease, stadium’s design, financial terms and the benefits the development will have for the community. The development of the new stadium at Hastings Park will be a collaborative effort between the city and the club.

🔵 CF Montreal went Christmas shopping. The shopping started with a trade between MTL and Dallas. CFM got General Allocation Money and draft picks, with Dallas receiving better draft picks. Details can be read here. With the bag secured, Montreal signed defender Dagur Dan Thórhallsson from Orlando City, trading $500k in GAM and a conditional $125k in 2027 GAM. The club signed another defender, Brayan Vera, from Real Salt Lake. The Colombian player was acquired with $700k 2026 GAM, $500k 2027 GAM and a conditional $350k in GAM. A lot of money has been splashed on necessary defenders, but CFM’s attack remains in question as Prince Owusu has been linked with Bundesliga clubs in Germany. It has been reported that Peruvian striker Luis Ramos, but talks have fallen through for now. Luca Saputo has been active in the off-season.

🔴 Walker Zimmerman to Toronto? As reported by Tom Bogert, free agent Walker Zimmerman is close to signing with TFC. The former Nashville and USMNT defender would be a vital addition for Toronto, which struggled defensively this past season. Zimmerman’s experience and leadership will be foundational for the Reds.

🧤 Max Anchor picked up by Seattle. Roster moves have been filed, and contract talks are well underway. And part of that, are (and will be) a slew of Canadians finding new homes. One of those is ex-Whitecaps and Pacific GK Max Anchor, who was claimed off waivers by the Sounders this week. The selection allows the Sounders to negotiate a new deal with Anchor, who, if signed, will likely serve as an understudy to Stefan Frei and a long-term competitor to expected 2026 starter Andrew Thomas.

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🚢 Stephen Hart named head coach of the Tides. Hart had served as interim coach of the Tides and has now been appointed as its official full-time head coach. The Tides have also appointed Colorado Rapids’ Ruth Fahy as VP of Football.

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