Cavalry FC and Atletico Ottawa Set for Rematch in 2026 CPL Final
It’s official: Cavalry FC and Atletico Ottawa will clash in the 2026 Canadian Premier League (CPL) Final. The upcoming North Star Cup match will see Cavalry host Ottawa at ATCO Field, marking a rematch of last year’s final.
This year, Cavalry aims to avenge their loss from the previous season, while Ottawa strives to achieve back-to-back championships.
The 2025 final is remembered in CPL history for being contested amid blizzard conditions, highlighted by David Rodriguez’s viral ‘icicle kick’ moment on social media.
Cavalry prepares for their fourth consecutive final appearance, while Ottawa is making its second straight appearance. The Alberta-based club hopes the match’s weather will not mirror last year’s conditions.
This matchup offers Cavalry an opportunity for a domestic double, having already secured the CPL Shield for the best regular season record.
Atletico Ottawa and Cavalry Impress to Earn 2026 CPL Final Berth
Atletico Ottawa and Cavalry earned their places in the final by demonstrating strong performances in the playoffs.
Ottawa secured their spot first with a thrilling victory over Forge FC. After what looked like a matchup heading for extra time, Nicolas Fleuriau Chateau found the net in the 103rd minute, completing a hat-trick and clinching a 3-2 win, which resulted in a 5-4 aggregate victory.
Ottawa’s victory was particularly impressive, as Forge previously carried momentum from defeating MLS side CF Montreal to win the Canadian Championship last month.
On the other side, Cavalry displayed their championship caliber by overcoming a setback. Following a surprising 2-1 loss to expansion team Supra Du Quebec the previous week, Cavalry rebounded with a solid 2-0 win at home, securing a 3-2 aggregate victory.
Now, Cavalry and Ottawa are set to face off in the 2026 CPL Final.
Tommy Wheeldon Jr. Reacts to Playing in Fourth Straight CPL Final
Cavalry head coach Tommy Wheeldon Jr. shared his thoughts following the team’s achievement of reaching their fourth straight final.
Wheeldon Jr. has led Cavalry since the league’s inception in 2019, making him one of the league’s longest-serving coaches, alongside Forge FC’s Bobby Smyrniotis.
Expressing his excitement about returning to the finals, Wheeldon Jr. emphasized the advantage of playing at home this time around. “Last time we played [a CPL Final] at home, we got pretty good memories. So, nice that it’s a rematch of last year. Hopefully, there’s no snowgate 2.0, and we have a good game,” he told OneSoccer.
He conveyed pride in his players, noting that they had faced criticism for their season’s end despite demonstrating resilience. “If you’re going to do something special and lift a trophy, whether it’s the Shield or the North Star, you got to have some element of resistance and resilience. And I think we showed that in spades today,” Wheeldon Jr. said.
