As has been the case since the 2018 edition of the Canadian Championship, one team from each semi-pro league in the country takes part in the domestic cup.
This year featured a record four League1 Canada teams, and the 2026 edition will be no different.
With the League1 Canada seasons now wrapped up, all four representatives have been confirmed—three debutants and one notable returnee.
Langley United – League1 British Columbia
Debutant #1 is Langley United, who, in their first year as a semi-pro side, won their league and qualified for the Canadian Championship.
Langley edged TSS Rovers by just one point to claim the title, and did so in the final minute of their final game, a fairy tale story.
The club shares its home stadium with Vancouver FC of the CPL at Willoughby Community Park, and has been around for 100 years in the community.
Calgary Blizzard SC – League1 Alberta
Calgary Blizzard, much like Langley United, clinched its place in next year’s Voyageurs Cup on the final matchday.
A 5-3 win over St. Albert Impact in the season finale sealed the League1 Alberta title and punched their ticket to the national competition.
Woodbridge Stikers – League1 Ontario
After finishing as runner-ups four times in 2014, 2015, 2017, and 2018, the Woodbridge Strikers finally got the chance to lift the League1 Ontario trophy, and with that, secured their spot in the 2026 Canadian Championship.
They finished two points clear of Scrosoppi, who took part in this year's cup.
CS Saint-Laurent – Ligue1 Québec
CS Saint-Laurent is the sole returnee among the four semi-pro teams, earning a spot in next year’s Canadian Championship after a remarkable league campaign, losing only once.
They finished with a 13-4-1 (W-D-L) record, nine points ahead of the second-placed team.
In the 2024 edition of the cup, Saint-Laurent eliminated Halifax before hosting Toronto FC at the Complexe Sportif Claude-Robillard, all amid speculation of a potential move to the CPL.
With the four semi-pro teams now confirmed, the current line-up for the 2026 Voyageurs Cup looks like this:
- Vancouver Whitecaps (MLS)
- Toronto FC (MLS)
- CF Montréal (MLS)
- Pacific FC (CPL)
- Vancouver FC (CPL)
- Cavalry FC (CPL)
- Valour FC (CPL)
- Forge FC (CPL)
- York United (CPL)
- Atlético Ottawa (CPL)
- Halifax Wanderers (CPL)
- Langley United (L1BC)
- Calgary Blizzard SC (L1AB)
- Woodbridge Strikers (L1ON)
- CS Saint-Laurent (L1QC)
Now, while these are the 15 sides confirmed to participate in the competition so far, it's not confirmed that it will, in fact, be 15 teams. 👀
The CPL has wanted to expand by two teams for a while now, and the first concrete rumour of a Quebec expansion team popped up a few weeks ago, with the CPL itself confirming there were ongoing talks.
Should the league expand to 17 teams by next year, the format could look significantly different.
