The Canadian Championship is back Tuesday night as Toronto take on Atlético Ottawa.
It's been just over 200 days since the Vancouver Whitecaps defeated Vancouver FC in the final of last year's edition, making it four Voyageurs Cups in a row.
The format remains largely unchanged, with two additions: extra time will now be present in all rounds, and the re-draw before the semi-finals has been removed, meaning the path to the final is fully mapped out from the start.
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It's the first-ever clash between both Toronto and Atlético Ottawa, with the latter having never faced a Canadian MLS team until this meeting.
How Toronto FC come into the match
It has been a pretty mixed couple of months for the Reds, winning two, drawing five, and losing one of their last eight, all played at home.
Many of those matches went down to the wire, with late goals proving decisive in both directions. Toronto are currently on a five-game winless streak, with their last three-point haul coming in a 3-2 win over Colorado that featured a late Josh Sargent winner.
Most recently, they drew 1-1 with Supporters' Shield leaders San Jose Earthquakes, a result that will feel more like two points earned than one dropped, despite playing at home.
On a more concerning note, injuries have taken a significant toll on the squad of late, with as many as 10 players missing the last match through various problems.
Debt in the cup
It has been seven seasons since Toronto were last crowned champions of Canada in a regular Voyageurs Cup tournament. Their last title came in the 2020 edition, played in 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, in a one-game format against CPL champions Forge.
The last time they won a normal edition of the competition was in 2018, before CPL sides had entered the fold.
As a result, Toronto have been absent from the Concacaf Champions Cup for five years, having last participated in 2021 after being awarded a spot by Canada Soccer.
Last season brought little comfort either, with Toronto falling to rivals CF Montréal in the opening round, their earliest exit in the competition's 19-year history.
How Atlético Ottawa come into the match
It has been a disappointing start to the season for the reigning CPL champions.
Ottawa sit second-last in the standings with just one win from five, having suffered three heavy defeats, most recently a 4-1 loss to Inter Toronto in a match where the hosts could have added more. They are tied for last in goals scored, a problem that has been glaring since the departures of David Rodríguez and Sam Salter.
A combination of defensive frailty and a lack of chance creation has seen Atlético Ottawa endure their worst ever start to a season.
Availability
Toronto will be without the 10 players who missed the San Jose clash over the weekend: Jose Cifuentes, Theo Corbeanu, Nicksoen Gomis, Benjamin Kuscevic, Richie Laryea, Djrodje Mihailovic, Matheus Pereira, Jules-Anthony Vilsaint, Henry Wingo, and Josh Sargent.
Additionally, head coach Robin Fraser confirmed that Lazar Stefanovic has a lower foot complication that will "take a little while" to get over, as per John Molinaro.
On Atlético Ottawa's side, Santiago López continues to be day-to-day after missing the Inter Toronto defeat, while Erling Myklebust is also questionable.
Projected XIs
Toronto FC (4-2-3-1): Luka Gavran; Raheem Edwards, Micah Chisholm, Zane Monlouis, Kobe Franklin; Jonathan Osorio, Markus Cimermancic; Derrick Etienne Jr., Antone Bossenberry, Malik Henry; Emilio Aristizábal
Atlético Ottawa (3-4-2-1): Garissone Innocent; Loïc Cloutier, Noah Abatneh, Rony Mbomio; Wesley Timóteo, Manuel Aparicio, Juan 'Coque' Castro, Joaquim Coulanges; Ballou Tabla, Jonantán Villal; Emiliano García
Game information and how to watch
📆 Tuesday, May 5, 2026
⏰ 7:30 pm ET / 4:30 pm PT
📺 OneSoccer
🧑⚖️ Scott Bowman
🏟 BMO Field, Toronto, Canada
