Canadian Premier League embracing global spotlight as 8th season begins

With the FIFA World Cup coming to Canada and plans in place for a notable rule change, the eyes of the soccer world are sure to turn to the Canadian Premier League this season.

Those at the top of the eight-team national league believe it is ready for the glare.

"They're going to be pleasantly surprised by this national league in Canada and these players," said CPL executive vice-president Costa Smyrniotis.

"Ultimately, the question is going to be, where's the next Jonathan David, where's the next Alphonso Davies? And all roads lead back to CPL. And this is our kind of opportunity to kind of say that loud and clear and ensure that the world is watching."

The CPL will kick off its eighth season Saturday when Forge FC host Atletico Ottawa in Hamilton at 12 p.m. ET (CBC TV, CBC Gem, CBCSports.ca).

Forge finished the 2025 regular season atop the standings, but it was Atletico who captured the championship last November in a dramatic game that included a blizzard, a viral goal and extra time.

As heavy snow fell at TD Place Stadium in Ottawa, David Rodriguez struck a stunning overhead bicycle kick that hit the underside of the crossbar of the Cavalry FC goal and fell behind the goal line, tying the game at 1-1.

Broadcaster OneSoccer has said footage of the play — dubbed the "icicle kick" — was viewed more than one billion times over the next five days.

#TheMoment an 'icicle-kick' helped win Canada's premier league final

Rodriguez scored his second goal of the game in extra time to secure the dramatic victory for Atletico.

The championship game showed onlookers that the CPL is a great, unique product, said commissioner James Johnson.

"It needs to be interesting. It needs to be appealing. There needs to be surprise, there needs