In this column, each week, Ivan Sørensen will take you through the current standings and give you a heads up on what the games of the next week might mean for the season.

Week 1 is behind us

The opening week of the 2026 Canadian Premier League season has come and gone. 

The first matches saw Forge beat Ottawa 2-0 in Hamilton, while Halifax travelled to Langley to win 1-0 over Vancouver. On Sunday, Cavalry defeated Pacific 2-1 in Starlight.

With only 6 teams having played so far, it is perhaps too soon to talk seriously about what the season is turning out like, but some pictures do emerge from the first weekend: 

Forge will likely feel confident about their early form, having put in an impressively controlled performance against last year's champions, with the outcome rarely in doubt.

Halifax claimed a win, though perhaps not without a degree of fortune on their side. That said, an opening victory on the road is never something to dismiss lightly from a morale standpoint.

Despite the defeat, Nash can feel reasonably satisfied with Vancouver's performance in the opening round. The Eagles played with intensity and did a lot of things right.

Ottawa, however, have the most cause for concern, having produced a display that bore little resemblance to last year's ability to create chances and play through defensive structures.

The Cavalry and Pacific clash had the feel of a derby, with seven yellow cards and genuine intent from both sides. Much has been made of Cavalry's historical struggles in April, but if James Merriman is honest with himself, the energy Pacific brought to the pitch should leave him cautiously optimistic heading into the rest of the season.

What comes next?

Saturday brings a full slate as the Wanderers hit the road again, this time to York Lions Stadium, where Inter Toronto opens its season. On the same day, FC Supra du Québec will not only begin its campaign but also its CPL journey with a visit to Starlight Stadium to face Pacific.

Both matches offer an early look at what’s to come, from what Toronto might have in store this season to how the expansion side could shape up on the pitch.

On Sunday, Ottawa and Cavalry meet in Alberta, with likely far less snow than the last time these two sides faced off. The reigning champions will be eager to show that they are a serious contender once again this year.

Vancouver then returns home to host Forge, providing a real test for the new roster under Nash. Last season, VFC managed just one draw and three losses in this fixture. Are the Eagles ready to show something different?