November 9th Edition

It’s the final countdown in the NSL and CPL as the two leagues locked down who will battle to win it all over the weekend.

In the CPL, it’s a rematch this time in Calgary as Cavalry host Atlético Ottawa for the final on November 21.

The nation’s capital, meanwhile, will host Montréal Roses and AFC Toronto this coming Saturday in the second-ever NSL Final. With no Vancouver, there will be a new champion.

Can the Roses and Cavalry do the double? Or will it be Atleti or AFC Toronto that take the crown. That, plus a CanMNT squad drop and plenty more in this week’s edition of The Northern Pitch.

The Canadian men’s national team dropped a squad this week for their first competitive matches since the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and there were two big stories.

First, the captain is back. Alphonso Davies was named to the squad for the first time since his cameo against South Africa this summer, and considering how he has been balling out at Bayern, it’s an exciting time to have him back.

Meanwhile, it’s a first call-up for an exciting prospect in the Canadian pool as Feyenoord youth midfielder Kevin Khan, who is just 18, joins the squad. This is one to watch for the future, as he has been incredible for the youth national teams and a very talented Feyenoord youth team.

As with any national team camp lately, there is unfortunately still a big absence, that of World Cup hero Stephen Eustáquio due to a minor injury. It will be interesting to see what midfield Canada runs out without Eustáquio and Koné. Might Niko Sigur get another shot in the middle?

This is all business for Canada, who take on Guatemala in the two-legged Concacaf Nations League quarterfinals. Win, and they are off to the final four in March.

The first leg is on Friday, November 13, before returning home to BMO Field on Monday, November 16. Both matches will be shown live on TSN, RDS and OneSoccer.

Whether or not the forecast calls for snow on November 21, it will be a frosty rematch between Cavalry FC and Atlético Ottawa in the 2026 CPL Final.

This time, ATCO Field in Calgary will host, as CPL Shield winners Cavalry look to complete a historic double on their home field.

While it is only a year since they last met in the unforgettable snow globe final in Ottawa, there are some new faces and some old faces in new places, in 2026.

Defending champs Atleti reached the final for a second straight year thanks to the legend of Nick FC. Nicolas Fleuriau Chateau scored the league’s first-ever playoff hat-trick to sink Forge FC 3-2 in an instant classic in Hamilton.

Cavalry, meanwhile, came back in the second leg to defeat FC Supra du Québec in the semis and earn the right to host the final. That’s four straight final appearances for the Cavs, who won it all in 2024.

This time, Atleti’s old captain Nate Ingham now plays for Cavalry, as does defender Amer Didić. Diego Gutiérrez has switched sides to Atlético Ottawa. It all makes for even more drama.

Fans will have to wait two weeks to find out who lifts the North Star Cup on Saturday, November 21. But if this season is any indication, we are in for another absolute banger in Calgary.

The battle of giants has been confirmed. The Montréal Roses will host AFC Toronto in the NSL final at Stade Boréale on November 14th.

AFC have earned their way to the final after dispatching Ottawa 0-4 at TD Place, beating Ottawa 8-2 on aggregate. AFC is sending a message: their attacking prowess is something to be feared. Ottawa have finished second in the league and have kept a strong defensive shape all season. For AFC to beat them by such a margin is a scary message to send.

AFC was too much for Ottawa to handle. From kickoff, it was evident that Ottawa would not benefit from a home stadium advantage. Toronto came out with a pressure that overwhelmed the Rapid’s defence. They say defence wins championships and Ottawa did not display that.

The Roses have defeated the defending champions. The second leg always leaned in MTL’s favour as they won their first leg 0-3 away at Vancouver. This past weekend, the Roses hosted the Rise at Stade Boréale and were held to a 2-2 draw but advanced on a 5-2 aggregate scoreline.

This was an entertaining semi-final. Both sides went on the full attacking tilt and came out swinging. The Roses drew first blood with a banger from Noémie Paquin in the 39th minute. Vancouver’s top goal scorer, Jessica de Filippo, would reply with a screamer of an equalizer in the 41st minute. Former Roses baller Latifah Abdu scored in front of her hometown in the 45+2nd minute. Alas, it was Montreal that would have the last laugh as Lisa Perchesky equalized in the 77th minute.

17 goals in the semi-finals playoffs. This has been a thoroughly entertaining playoff series. A lot of goals means a lot of fun. With the Roses and AFC through to the final, both clubs will be entering the final with an attacking momentum. Moreover, a MTL-TO Darby for a final will always be a spicy affair.

What to expect in this final? Goals. Goals. Goals. Also, we could see this being a tense affair with both sides being worried to commit too high and leaving the defence exposed. But the attacking momentum of both clubs, it could be a low-scoring game but a lot of back-to-back football. We are excited about this one.

Hello and welcome to the NSL’s newest squad, Winnipeg Ember FC.

A gorgeous purple and pink number was the choice of branding for the (now former) NSL Winnipeg project being spearheaded by ex-CanWNT legend Desiree Scott and inaugural Valour FC head coach Rob Gale.

The logo features a ‘sundog’, a “representation of the tenacity and fighting spirit seen across Manitoba”, and a ‘morning star’, alongside the club’s new name.

Gale and Scott have already gotten down to work, with the Ember hosting more than 100 players for open tryouts this past weekend.

The Ember are set to enter the league in 2027 as the NSL’s seventh team and will hope to make a good first impression as professional soccer returns to the Peg for the first time since Valour FC folded at the end of 2025.

🇪🇸 Tajon Buchanan scores for Villarreal. He’s just that good. TJ broke the deadlock in a game that Villarreal ended up winning 2-0 against Getafe, with an incredible finish that has to be watched to be understood.

👑 Cloé Lacasse assists Utah’s winner. The Royals are marching on in the NWSL playoffs. CL24 set up Kiana Palacios’ winner over Adriana Leon and Brooklyn Courtnall’s San Diego Wave in a 1-0 game on a bang-bang play. Utah will now face Gabby Carle and Élisabeth Tsé’s Washington in the semifinals after the Spirit knocked out Jessie Fleming and the Portland Thorns.

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Ⓜ️ The season is finally over for CF Montréal. The Vancouver Whitecaps travelled to a depressing vibe at Stade Saputo. The MTL Ultras have refused to attend any games until the end of the season, while Vancouver’s away section was full. These two clubs have had polar-opposite seasons. Alexis Sanchez was once again left on the bench for the club’s final game of the season. In the first half, both clubs were at a stalemate. In the second half, Vancouver broke through CFM’s back line and won 2-0, with goals from Diaby Sabaly and Mihail Gherasimencov, who scored his first MLS goal.

🔴 Toronto FC end the season with a loss. Another away game, another loss, but this time it was against the in-form Philadelphia Union. TFC's persistent defensive issue showed again as Philly’s attack completely outclassed the boys in red. Philadelphia’s Sullivan brothers had a solid performance as both Cavan and Quinn Sullivan found the net. Josh Sargent scored a consolation goal, but the game ended in a 4-1 defeat for TFC.

😔 Belal Halbouni diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Whitecaps centreback Belal Halbouni revealed this week that he has been diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a type of blood cancer. It goes without saying that we hope the best for Belal. Whitecaps supporters have also started a campaign where you can write a note of encouragement for him, hopefully filling a digital BC Place.

🤨 CF Montréal up for sale? Not so fast. Money and Twitter (or X) don’t always go well. Certainly no reminder needed there. But this week, Montreal-based WatchMojo founder Ashkan Karbasfrooshan added CFMTL to his list of targets after earlier this year, campaigning to bring back the Expos.

😮‍💨 Jahkeele Marshall-Rutty with a stunner. Who knew the fullback had THAT in his locker? Not us as JMR left our mouths on the floor this week with an absolute screamer from a dead ball sitch in NYRB’s 3-0 win over Atlanta.

👏 Lukas MacNaughton in Arlington Houston, Texas. Just like the polar bear from the meme, you’d be forgiven for assuming MacNaughton was a midfielder (or a forward) by the way he jumped into this play. He certainly had the finish of a forward as he scored St. Louis’ late winner over Houston in a 1-0 result.

👀 Is Sebastian Gomez the next big dual-national target for Canada? The tri-eligible Gomez (U.S., Canada and Nicaragua) had the goal that secured Seattle’s playoff spot as they snuck past LAFC, 2-1. The 20-year-old Sounders homegrown now has 4 goals and 2 assists on the season—not too shabby.

Sunday, November 22
Game 1: Vancouver Whitecaps vs. winner of Seattle Sounders/Real Salt Lake (8:30 PM PT @ BC Place)

Friday, November 27
Game 2: Winner of Seattle Sounders/Real Salt Lake vs. Vancouver Whitecaps (7:00 PM PT @ TBD)

Wednesday, December 2
Game 3 (if necessary): Vancouver Whitecaps vs. winner of Seattle Sounders/Real Salt Lake (TBD)

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