The 2018 season was the 142nd season of competitive
soccer in Canada.
News and events
2026 FIFA World Cup
As part of the
United 2026 World Cup bid with the United States and Mexico, the Canadian Soccer Association announced on March 15 that the three potential Canadian host cities were
Edmonton
Edmonton ( ) is the capital city of the Canadian province of Alberta. Edmonton is situated on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Metropolitan Region, which is surrounded by Alberta's central region. The city anc ...
,
Montreal
Montreal ( ; officially Montréal, ) is the second-most populous city in Canada and most populous city in the Canadian province of Quebec. Founded in 1642 as '' Ville-Marie'', or "City of Mary", it is named after Mount Royal, the triple- ...
, and
Toronto
Toronto ( ; or ) is the capital city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Ontario. With a recorded population of 2,794,356 in 2021, it is the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, most pop ...
. The
2026 FIFA World Cup
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be the 23rd FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international men's soccer championship contested by the national teams of the member associations of FIFA. The tournament will be jointly hosted by 16 cities in three ...
was awarded to the United bid on June 13.
National teams
John Herdman
John Herdman (born 19 July 1975) is an English professional football manager who is the head coach of the Canada men's national team.
Coaching career Early career
Herdman began coaching football at a young age in England, while he was a st ...
was named as head coach of the men's national team in January, replacing
Octavio Zambrano
Octavio Zambrano Viera (born February 3, 1958) is an Ecuadorian football coach. He is a former player with international coaching experience. Zambrano has coached in North America, Latin America, and Europe. He holds a UEFA "A" diploma and a USS ...
.
Mauro Biello was later named assistant coach of the men's national team.
Kenneth Heiner-Møller
Kenneth Heiner-Møller (born Kenneth Heiner Christiansen; 17 January 1971) is a Danish football manager and former player. He is the former manager of the Canadian women's national team. In 1994–1995 he played for Ferencvárosi TC in Hungary, ...
was named as head coach of the women's national team following Herdman's departure.
Women's National Team Assistant Coach Bev Priestman stepped down from her position at the end of August.
Canadian Premier League
The
Canadian Premier League
The Canadian Premier League (CPL or CanPL; french: Première ligue canadienne, links=no) is a professional men's Association football, soccer league in Canada. At the top of the Canadian soccer league system, it is the country's primary nationa ...
announced that it will kick off in April 2019, with
Paul Beirne
Paul Beirne (born April 16, 1966) is a Canadian sports executive, who is currently the Managing Director of Pacific FC.
He has also worked with the Toronto Raptors of the National Basketball Association, the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Ottawa S ...
as its president, David Clanachan as its commissioner, and James Easton as its head of soccer operations.
On March 28, the Canadian Premier League and the Canadian Soccer Association announced the creation of the ''Canadian Soccer Business'' (CSB); an organization "representing commercial assets and inventory for marquee soccer properties in Canada", including "all corporate partnerships and broadcast rights related to Canada Soccer's core assets including its national teams, along with all rights associated with the CPL".
The Canadian Premier League announced a number of new teams for its inaugural 2019 season, at present including
York 9 FC
York United Football Club (formerly known as York9 FC) is a Canadian professional soccer club based in Toronto, Ontario. The club competes in the Canadian Premier League and plays its home games at York University's York Lions Stadium.
Histor ...
(announced May 10),
Cavalry FC
Cavalry Football Club, is a Canadian professional soccer club based in the Calgary metropolitan region of Alberta. The club competes at the top of the Canadian soccer league system in the Canadian Premier League, and plays their home matches ...
(May 17),
HFX Wanderers FC
HFX Wanderers Football Club, commonly known as HFX Wanderers, and spoken as Halifax Wanderers, is a Canadian professional soccer club in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The club competes in the Canadian Premier League at the top of the Canadian soccer lea ...
(May 25),
Valour FC
Valour Football Club is a Canadian professional soccer club based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The club competes in the Canadian Premier League and plays its home matches at IG Field.
The team is coached by Phillip Dos Santos and community owned ...
(June 6),
FC Edmonton
FC Edmonton was a Canadian professional Association football, soccer club based in Edmonton, Alberta. The club was founded in 2010 and competed in the North American Soccer League (2011–2017), North American Soccer League (NASL) from 2011 to ...
(June 8),
Forge FC
Forge FC is a Canadian professional soccer club based in Hamilton, Ontario, that competes in the Canadian Premier League, the top tier of Canadian soccer. The club plays its home matches at Tim Hortons Field. Forge FC joined the CPL in 2019 as ...
(July 12), and
Pacific FC
Pacific Football Club is a Canadian professional soccer club based in Greater Victoria, British Columbia. The club competes in the Canadian Premier League, playing home matches at Starlight Stadium located in Langford.
History
On May 5, 20 ...
(July 20).
On November 14, the Canadian Premier League announced that it had acquired the Division 3
League1 Ontario
League1 Ontario (L1O) is a semi-professional men's soccer league in Ontario, Canada. The league began play in 2014 and is sanctioned by the Canadian Soccer Association and the Ontario Soccer Association as a pro-am league in the Canadian ...
.
Awards and honours
Women's national team captain
Christine Sinclair
Christine Margaret Sinclair (born June 12, 1983) is a Canadian professional soccer player who plays as a forward and captains both National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) club Portland Thorns FC and the Canadian national team. An Olympic ...
, was appointed to the
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada (french: Ordre du Canada; abbreviated as OC) is a Canadian state order and the second-highest honour for merit in the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, after the Order of Merit.
To coincide with the c ...
on January 24.
Alphonso Davies
Alphonso Boyle Davies (born November 2, 2000) is a Canadian professional soccer player who plays as a left-back or winger for club Bayern Munich and the Canada national team. He is regarded as one of the best full-backs in the world due to ...
and Christine Sinclair were named Canadian Player of the Year, while Davies was also named Postmedia Male Athlete of the Year.
National teams
When available, the home team or the team that is designated as the home team is listed in the left column; the away team is in the right column.
Senior Men
2019–20 CONCACAF Nations League qualifying
Friendlies
Senior Women
2018 CONCACAF Women's Championship
finishes in second place; qualifies for
2019 FIFA Women's World Cup
The 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup was the eighth edition of the FIFA Women's World Cup, the quadrennial international Women's association football championship contested by 24 women's national teams representing member associations of FIFA. It ...
.
2018 Algarve Cup
finishes in fifth place.
Friendlies
Domestic leagues
Division 1 leagues
Major League Soccer
Three Canadian teams (
Montreal Impact,
Toronto FC
Toronto Football Club (commonly known as Toronto FC or TFC) is a Canadian professional soccer club based in Toronto. The club competes in Major League Soccer (MLS) as a member of the Eastern Conference. The team plays its home matches at BM ...
, and
Vancouver Whitecaps FC
Vancouver Whitecaps Football Club is a Canadian professional soccer team based in Vancouver. They compete in Major League Soccer (MLS) as a member club of the league's Western Conference. The MLS iteration of the club was established on Marc ...
) play in this league, which also contains 20 teams from the
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 U.S. state, states, a Washington, D.C., federal district, five ma ...
. It is considered a Division 1 men's league in the
United States soccer league system
The United States soccer league system is a series of professional and amateur soccer leagues based, in whole or in part, in the United States. Sometimes called the American soccer pyramid, teams and leagues are not linked by the system of pro ...
.
;Overall standings
National Women's Soccer League
No Canadian teams play in this league, though eleven players from the
Canada women's national soccer team
The Canada women's national soccer team (french: Équipe du Canada féminine de soccer) represents Canada in international soccer competitions. They are overseen by the Canadian Soccer Association, the governing body for soccer in Canada.
T ...
are allocated to its teams by the Canadian Soccer Association.
It is considered a Division 1 women's league in the
United States soccer league system
The United States soccer league system is a series of professional and amateur soccer leagues based, in whole or in part, in the United States. Sometimes called the American soccer pyramid, teams and leagues are not linked by the system of pro ...
.
Division 2 leagues
United Soccer League
Two Canadian teams (
Ottawa Fury FC
Ottawa Fury Football Club was a Canadian professional soccer club based in Ottawa, Ontario. The club competed in the North American Soccer League and USL Championship and played its home games at TD Place Stadium.
The Ottawa Fury FC were d ...
and
Toronto FC II
Toronto FC II is a Canadian professional soccer team based in Toronto, Ontario, who play in MLS Next Pro, a third tier league of the United States soccer league system. It is the reserve team and minor league affiliate of Toronto FC as well as ...
) play in this league, which also contains 31 teams from the
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 U.S. state, states, a Washington, D.C., federal district, five ma ...
. It is considered a Division 2 men's league in the
United States soccer league system
The United States soccer league system is a series of professional and amateur soccer leagues based, in whole or in part, in the United States. Sometimes called the American soccer pyramid, teams and leagues are not linked by the system of pro ...
.
;Eastern Conference
United Women's Soccer
One Canadian team (
Calgary Foothills WFC
Calgary Foothills WFC is a Canadian soccer club based in Calgary, Alberta that currently plays in United Women's Soccer. The club was founded as a youth club in 1972 and in 2017 as a UWS franchise. The team is the women's team of Calgary Foothi ...
) plays in this league, which also contains 21 teams from the United States. It is unofficially considered a Division 2 league in the
United States soccer league system
The United States soccer league system is a series of professional and amateur soccer leagues based, in whole or in part, in the United States. Sometimes called the American soccer pyramid, teams and leagues are not linked by the system of pro ...
.
Women's Premier Soccer League
One Canadian team (TSS Rovers FC) plays in this league, which also contains 106 teams from the United States. It is unofficially considered a Division 2 league in the
United States soccer league system
The United States soccer league system is a series of professional and amateur soccer leagues based, in whole or in part, in the United States. Sometimes called the American soccer pyramid, teams and leagues are not linked by the system of pro ...
.
Division 3 leagues
League1 Ontario (Men)
17 teams play in this league, all of which are based in Canada. It is considered a Division 3 men's league in the
Canadian soccer league system
The Canadian soccer league system, also called the Canadian soccer pyramid, is a term used in soccer to describe the structure of the league system in Canada. The governing body of soccer in the country is the Canadian Soccer Association (CSA), ...
.
League1 Ontario (Women)
13 teams play in this league, all of which are based in Canada. It is considered a Division 3 women's league in the
Canadian soccer league system
The Canadian soccer league system, also called the Canadian soccer pyramid, is a term used in soccer to describe the structure of the league system in Canada. The governing body of soccer in the country is the Canadian Soccer Association (CSA), ...
.
Première Ligue de soccer du Québec (Men)
Eight teams play in this league, all of which are based in Canada. It is considered a Division 3 league in the
Canadian soccer league system
The Canadian soccer league system, also called the Canadian soccer pyramid, is a term used in soccer to describe the structure of the league system in Canada. The governing body of soccer in the country is the Canadian Soccer Association (CSA), ...
.
Première Ligue de soccer du Québec (Women)
Five teams play in this league, all of which are based in Canada. It is considered a Division 3 league in the
Canadian soccer league system
The Canadian soccer league system, also called the Canadian soccer pyramid, is a term used in soccer to describe the structure of the league system in Canada. The governing body of soccer in the country is the Canadian Soccer Association (CSA), ...
.
Division 4 leagues
Premier Development League
Five Canadian teams play in this league, which also contains 69 teams from the United States. It is unofficially considered a Division 4 league in the
United States soccer league system
The United States soccer league system is a series of professional and amateur soccer leagues based, in whole or in part, in the United States. Sometimes called the American soccer pyramid, teams and leagues are not linked by the system of pro ...
.
Heartland Division -
Thunder Bay Chill
Thunder Bay Chill Soccer Club is a Canadian soccer team based in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada. Founded in 2000, the team plays in USL League Two, the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid.
The team plays its home games at Chapples Park S ...
,
WSA Winnipeg
FC Manitoba is a Canadian soccer team based in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada that plays in USL League Two, the fourth tier of the United States soccer league system. The club was founded in 2010 as WSA Winnipeg. In 2020, the club was acquired by a ...
Northwest Division -
Calgary Foothills FC
Calgary Foothills Football Club (CFFC) is a Canadian soccer club based in Calgary, Alberta, that competes in USL League Two (USL2). The club was founded as a youth club in 1972 and joined as a USL2 franchise in 2015. The team plays its home ga ...
,
TSS FC Rovers
TSS FC Rovers are a Canadian soccer team based in Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada that play in League1 British Columbia. Established for the 2017 PDL season by general manager Will Cromack and head coach Colin Elmes, the Rovers are the under-2 ...
,
Victoria Highlanders
Victoria Highlanders FC is a Canadian soccer team based in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. The club was founded in 2008 and currently play in the League1 British Columbia.
The team had played in the American USL League Two from 2009 to 20 ...
Non-FIFA leagues
Canadian Soccer League
Fifteen teams play in this league, all of which are based in Canada. It is a
Non-FIFA league previously sanctioned by the Canadian Soccer Association and is now a member of the Soccer Federation of Canada (SFC).
;First Division
;Second Division
Domestic cups
Canadian Championship
The Canadian Championship is a national cup contested by men's teams in divisions 1 through 3.
Challenge Trophy
The
Challenge Trophy
The Challenge Trophy (french: Trophée Challenge) is a national amateur soccer cup in Canada contested by the champions of individual provincial soccer competitions. It is one of the oldest soccer competitions in Canada, being held since 1913. ...
is a national cup contested by men's teams at the division 4 level and below.
Jubilee Trophy
The Jubilee Trophy is a national cup contested by women's teams at the division 4 level and below.
Canadian clubs in international competition
2018 CONCACAF Champions League
Toronto FC
Toronto Football Club (commonly known as Toronto FC or TFC) is a Canadian professional soccer club based in Toronto. The club competes in Major League Soccer (MLS) as a member of the Eastern Conference. The team plays its home matches at BM ...
wins 2–0 on aggregate.
Toronto FC
Toronto Football Club (commonly known as Toronto FC or TFC) is a Canadian professional soccer club based in Toronto. The club competes in Major League Soccer (MLS) as a member of the Eastern Conference. The team plays its home matches at BM ...
draws 4–4 on aggregate, wins 2–1 on away goals.
Toronto FC
Toronto Football Club (commonly known as Toronto FC or TFC) is a Canadian professional soccer club based in Toronto. The club competes in Major League Soccer (MLS) as a member of the Eastern Conference. The team plays its home matches at BM ...
wins 4–2 on aggregate.
Toronto FC
Toronto Football Club (commonly known as Toronto FC or TFC) is a Canadian professional soccer club based in Toronto. The club competes in Major League Soccer (MLS) as a member of the Eastern Conference. The team plays its home matches at BM ...
draws 3–3 on aggregate, draws 2–2 on away goals, loses 4–2 on penalties, and finishes in second place.
References
External links
Canadian Soccer Association
{{2018 in Canadian soccer
Seasons in Canadian soccer
2018 sport-related lists