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- December 16th Edition
December 16th Edition
Draw week, Whitecaps for sale & player of the year nominations
It was draw week in Canadian footy, as Canadian clubs learned their opponents in both the 2025 Concacaf Champions Cup and 2025 Canadian Championship.
Both come with plenty of storylines attached, and a lot of great matchups for Canadian footy fans to look forward to in the year ahead.
Plus, the Whitecaps are for sale, the nominees for the national team players of the year are out, and more in this week’s edition of The Northern Pitch.
In this week's edition:
CanChamp
🏆 Dramatic draw for the 2025 Canadian Championship
Canada Soccer
With a record-breaking 15 teams set to compete, the 2025 Canadian Championship looks different than any other previous edition.
For the first time ever, the CanChamp will feature a representative from League1 Alberta, which this time will be Edmonton Scottish United. They will take on CPL champs Cavalry FC in the preliminary round in an Alberta darby at Spruce Meadows.
The most spicy matchup of the single-elimination preliminary round? Undoubtedly the fact that MLS sides Toronto FC and CF Montréal were drawn together. For the two most successful clubs in the competition’s history, one of them will have an earlier elimination than ever before.
The opening round also features a Salish Sea darby between Vancouver FC and Pacific FC, and another tournament debut as League1 Ontario champions Scrosoppi FC take on Atlético Ottawa in the nation’s capital.
The three-time defending champions, the Vancouver Whitecaps, were given a bye through the first round, and will face the winner of TSS Rovers and Valour FC. Rovers famously beat Valour during the 2023 tournament, becoming the first semipro team to beat a pro side in CanChamp history.
The semi-final is also two-legged, with the final four, as well as who will potentially host the final, redrawn after the quarter-finals have concluded. The final will be a single match.
The tournament itself is expected to be quite a marathon over the year, starting in April and concluding in October. But while there might be some pretty big breaks in between, expect CanChamp matchweeks to be incredibly special once again this year.
MLS
🌊 The Vancouver Whitecaps are up for sale
Vancouver Whitecaps
Anyone got a few hundred mill lying around? Because the Vancouver Whitecaps could be yours!
On Friday, the Whitecaps ownership group, which consists of Greg Kerfoot, Steve Luczo, Jeff Mallett and Steve Nash announced their intention to sell the club. In a statement, they said that they believe it is “what is required to ensure [the club’s] continued growth and success.”
The group has retained Goldman Sachs to help them in the process of selling the team. The franchise is currently valued at $470 million, which while a significant increase from the buy-in price in 2009 is still only the 27th most valuable of 29 MLS clubs.
Any announcement like this will bring with it fears of relocation, especially in a country that has seen it happen to make of their NHL and NBA teams over the years (RIP Vancouver Grizzlies). But the Whitecaps current ownership and front office have made it clear the plan is to stay in the area for the long term.
It remains to be seen whether this is a positive or negative move for the club, and by extension Canadian soccer, but there is no question that the Whitecaps’ current ownership, especially Greg Kerfoot, have done a lot for the sport in this country.
MLS
🏆 Spicy Concacaf Champions Cup draw for all three Canadian teams
Concacaf
Earlier in the week, all three Canadian entrants in the 2025 Concacaf Champions Cup learned their draws — and once again some pretty interesting matchups await.
The Canadian Champion Vancouver Whitecaps will take on Saprissa of Costa Rica. The most successful club in Costa Rican history, with 40 domestic titles. Saprissa have also played more matches, 81, than any other club in Concacaf Champions Cup history, and have won the tournament three times, most recently in 2005. This will be the first time them and the Whitecaps meet, and they will kick off on February 20 in Costa Rica, before playing the return leg at BC Place on February 27.
CPL regular season winners Forge FC, meanwhile, will face their third Mexican giant in this competition as they face FC Monterrey, who have won two of the past six editions of the Champions Cup. Having already faced Cruz Azul and Chivas Guadalajara, this will be another significant test for the Hammers. Forge host Monterrey on February 5, before the second leg on February 11.
CPL Champs Cavalry also drew a big Liga MX club in Pumas. This is only the second time that Cavalry have played continental football, and the first time they will go up against a club from Liga MX. Due to ATCO Field’s lack of weather-proof infrastructure, Cavalry will once again have to play their home leg at Starlight Stadium on Vancouver Island on February 6. They then travel to Estadio Olímpico Universitario on February 13.
Both Forge and Cavalry will be looking to make history as the first Canadian Premier League sides to win a match in this competition — but it’s going to be tough against two historically dominant sides in North American footy. The Whitecaps, meanwhile, are also looking to get out of round one after being eliminated by Tigres last year.
Canucks Abroad
🌍 Canucks Abroad
Aston Villa Women
🏴 Adriana Leon scored a brace. Leon scored the first goal against Shelina Zadorsky and West Ham United four minutes into the WSL game. In the 43rd minute, the CanWNT forward scored her second with a cool finish to the far post. The game ended 3-1 for Aston Villa.
🇪🇸 It’s a braceful weekend, as Cyle Larin scored two goals in La Liga. Mallorca hosted the Catalonian club Girona. The away team scored first with a stunning volley from Donny Van de Beek (remember that guy?). However, Mallorca replied with a brace from Cyle Larin in the 20th and 51st minutes while playing with one man down as they picked up a red card in the 32nd minute. The game ended 2-1 for Mallorca.
🇨🇦 CanWNT ended the year with a #6 ranking. CanWNT has solidified its spot in 6th place, with Sweden ranked 5th. The last few friendlies have contributed to Canada’s retention in 6th. Despite the recent dramas with Bev Priestman, the CanWNT have proven their quality as a strong team.
👀 Phonzy to Liverpool? A certain writer in this newsletter is a Liverpool supporter. As such, this rumour is very enticing to that person. So far, Alphonso Davies has been strongly linked to Real Madrid and Barcelona. Manchester United has been linked, but due to the situation at the club, they have become an unlikely destination. Whereas, Liverpool has been mentioned as a potential destination. Anfield needs a left-back who’ll replace Andrew Robertson. However, Liverpool senior staff have dismissed the rumours. Other Premier clubs like Chelsea and Arsenal are monitoring the left-back. Phonzy has options.
🍁 Canada Soccer announced the nominees of Player of the Year. Eight men’s and women’s names have been announced for the yearly award. Two names have stood out: Moïse Bombito and Vanessa Gilles. Both defenders have had standout performances for the national team this year—notably, Gilles’ performance at the Olympics during the Dronegate scandal. The one head-scratcher is the absence of Marie-Yasmine Alidou. The Benfica baller scored 26 goals in all competitions last season and will finish with three goals at the end of this calendar year. Perhaps the Portuguese league is not taken seriously? The list of eight names will be distilled to three on December 19.
Canucks at Home
🏡 Canucks at Home
AFC Toronto
👏 AFC Toronto signed Emma Regan. Toronto’s NSL club have signed an active CanWNT baller from Denmark’s HB Køge. AFC’s coach, Marko Milanovic, views Regan as a pillar of the team. Her experience with the national team and in Europe will be valuable for the newly formed club.
🌅 Vancouver Rise tease a major announcement. Inaugural season venue? First-ever player signing? Something else completely different? With the Rise confirmed to be under a different ownership structure from the Whitecaps, it’s five green lights for a major bit of news from the club, supposedly on Monday.
🌊 Vancouver Whitecaps re-signed Ralph Priso. Despite the off-field situation of the club, the Caps have continued business by re-signing Toronto FC academy product Ralph Priso. The TFC product has signed a contract for the 2025 season with options for 2026 and 2027.
👀 Quinn is officially a free agent. Seattle Reign have released a roster update for the 2025 season. Jordyn Huitema has been confirmed for 2025, whereas Quinn has become a free agent. The 29-year-old suffered a long-term injury in 2024, limiting game time to only 15 NWSL appearances. They have options for this off-season; the veteran national team baller could make moves within the NWSL, to Europe or maybe NSL. Time will tell.
Other news
📰 In Other News
MLS/Toronto FC
🔴 Toronto FC signed Thiago Andrade. TFC have signed the Brazilian forward from MLS newcomers San Diego FC. In exchange, SD received #9 overall 2025 SuperDraft, $250,000 General Allocation Money and a sell-on percentage for Andrade. The Brazilian has registered 12 goals and five assists in 71 appearances in all competitions in 2024.
🇬🇷 Bernadeschi to Greece? Greek giants Olympiacos and Panathinaikos have been rumoured to sign the Italian baller. However, this rumour has raised eyebrows as Bernadeschi has expressed his love for Toronto. However, there has been rumours of Bernadeshi wanting to return to Europe. These rumours gained more traction when he signed with a new agency represented by Roberto Calenda. Moreover, with the coaching turbulence at TFC, it could be a contact for a departure. Bernadeschi has two more years left on his contract.
🌊 Vancouver Whitecaps re-signed J.C. Ngando. The Cameroonian has re-signed with the Caps for the 2025 season with options for 2026 and 2027. The midfielder spent the 2024 season with USL club Las Vegas Lights FC. Ngando registered two goals and five assists while helping the club reach the 2024 Western Conference final. The midfielder enjoyed a good 2024 campaign.
🔵 Ousman Jabang signed a contract extension with CF Montréal. Jabang has signed with the club for the 2025 season with options for 2026 and 2027. There seems to be a trend going on here. The young defender has spent the 2024 season with Ngando at Las Vegas Lights FC. Jabang played 17 games with 13 starts.
🔵 Matias Coccaro could be out. CF Montréal have announced players protected from San Diego’s expansion draft. Notably, Matias Coccaro is available for the draft. Coccaro has only spent a season at the club. However, as tweeted by Nilton Jorge, if CFM were to trade Coccaro and Dominic Iankov, the club could free up $1.3 million in salary budget. Both players are also TAM players. If transferred, MTL could have $2.1 million in TAM. Moreover, with a potential Coccaro departure, MTL could free up an international slot. All these potential moves are a reflection of the club’s direction. A focus on statistics and signing players based on compatibility. In other words, Moneyball.