Updated as of Thursday, October 15.
The Canadian club season is nearing its end, and with it, the three, and potentially four, Concacaf Champions Cup spots are beginning to take shape.
Three Canadian clubs already have a place in next year's edition, with the Whitecaps potentially joining the pack if they maintain their MLS form. Here's how qualification is looking.
1. CPL Shield
The first-placed team in the Canadian Premier League will qualify for next year's Concacaf Champions Cup.
Cavalry lead the table over Forge on goal difference, a tiebreaker they have likely already won with a six-goal advantage and just two games remaining. Their final regular-season matches are at home against Pacific and Vancouver, with the Tridents enduring their worst-ever season and having won just once in their last 18 meetings against Cavalry, while Vancouver have never won in 90 minutes in Calgary.
The task is straightforward for the Cavs: win their last two games against opponents they should handle comfortably. Vancouver, though, may enter the final matchday still fighting for the fourth and final playoff spot, and will bring their best football to try and cause an upset.
Forge, meanwhile, must win both remaining matches, away to Ottawa and Pacific, and hope Cavalry drop points in at least one of their two games.
2. CPL champion (playoff winner)
The second Canadian spot goes to the Canadian Premier League champions, or in other words, the playoff winners.
Six teams are still mathematically in contention for the North Star Cup, though realistically it will come down to Cavalry, Forge, or Atlético Ottawa. Vancouver, Supra, and Halifax are all in the fight.
If one team finishes first in the regular season and wins the playoffs, the second-placed team in the regular season would claim the other Concacaf spot.
3. Canadian Championship winner
CF Montréal hosts Forge in the Voyageurs Cup final next Wednesday, October 21, with kickoff at 7:00 pm ET / 4:00 pm PT. The winner will earn a berth in the Concacaf Champions Cup.
If Forge wins the final and also claims one of the Canadian Premier League's two spots, the Canadian Championship berth would go to the runner-up, CF Montréal.
4. Vancouver Whitecaps through MLS
Vancouver can still qualify for the Champions Cup by claiming one of the following spots in MLS:
- MLS Cup winner
- Supporters' Shield winner
- Western Conference winner
- Top 2 clubs in the Supporters' Shield standings not already qualified for the Champions Cup
The Whitecaps sit first in the Western Conference, just one point above St. Louis and two ahead of FC Dallas, and second in the Supporters' Shield standings, with Nashville well out of reach at the top.
Five games remain for them to hold onto those positions and secure Concacaf Champions Cup qualification for a fifth consecutive year.
