On Monday, the Canadian Premier League announced the home openers for each of its eight clubs ahead of the 2025 Canadian Premier League season. With the full schedule set to be announced on Wednesday, the league’s fans can start to circle dates on their calendars as they prepare to visit their club’s home grounds for the first time this year. Here is a deeper look at all eight 2025 home openers:
Atlético Ottawa vs. Halifax Wanderers — Saturday, April 5 (2 p.m. ET)
The Canadian Premier League once again kicks off its campaign in the nation’s capital, where Atlético Ottawa host the Halifax Wanderers on Saturday, April 5. Last year, Atleti began the season in dramatic fashion with a comeback 2-1 victory over York United on a late winner by Kris Twardek (now with Valour FC). This match will also be their first under new head coach Diego Mejía, kicking off an exciting new chapter for the capital club. The Wanderers, meanwhile, have only ever won once in the nation’s capital, and not since 2021, a fact they will be desperate to change as they look to find better road form in 2025. Atlético Ottawa and Halifax also met on the first day of the 2023 season, a match which ended in a 1-1 draw. Atleti have never lost their first match of a CPL campaign.
Forge FC vs. Cavalry FC — Saturday, April 5 (4:30 p.m. ET)
For a fourth straight year, Forge open the home portion of their schedule with a battle against long-time rivals Cavalry FC. This is also the fourth meeting between the two clubs on the league’s opening day. Last year was the first time in club history that Forge won their opening match of the season. They came from behind to defeat Cavalry 2-1 courtesy of two quick second-half goals from Béni Badibanga, and 2024 CPL Player of the Year Tristan Borges. Cavalry, however, enter this year’s clash as the defending CPL playoff champs for the first time after defeating Forge 2-1 in the 2024 final at ATCO Field. Forge, the 2024 regular season winners, have not lost a regular season match to Cavalry at home since the final day of the 2021 campaign.
Pacific FC vs. Valour FC — Saturday, April 5 (4 p.m. PT)
The league’s opening day concludes on Vancouver Island, with Pacific FC hosting Valour in their 2025 home opener at Starlight Stadium. The Tridents have traditionally owned this fixture. Since losing to Valour 2-1 in their first-ever meeting at Starlight Stadium back in May of 2019, Pacific won nine of their next ten meetings between the two clubs in Langford, with their only blemish a 2-2 draw in 2022. However, the most recent meeting between these two clubs at Starlight Stadium was a complete departure from that, with Valour dominating 3-0. Both sides will be keen to use this match as a launching point for better seasons in 2025, with Valour finishing bottom last year, while Pacific finished fifth — lowest since their inaugural campaign.
Vancouver FC vs. York United — Sunday, April 6 (4 p.m. PT)
The final match of the CPL’s opening weekend takes place at the Langley Events Centre, where Vancouver FC host a familiar foe, York United. The Eagles recorded their first-ever victory against York United on April 22, 2023. Vancouver FC hope to begin their 2025 home campaign much like they did in 2024 — when they won three of their first four home matches, including a dominant 4-1 victory over Valour in their home opener. That remains the biggest margin of victory in club history. The Nine Stripes, however, have quite enjoyed their trips to Langley over the past two seasons, winning three of four matches — and going undefeated — at the Langley Events Centre.The match will be a return to the West Coast for a pair of former Eagles: Kembo Kibato and Gabriel Bitar.
York United vs. Halifax Wanderers — Sunday, April 13 — (3 p.m. ET)
The last time York United set foot on their home pitch, they hosted and won a playoff match for the first time in club history. It is against that exciting backdrop that they kick off the home portion of their 2025 campaign against the Halifax Wanderers on Sunday, Apr. 13. York United set all kinds of club records for home performance in 2024, as only Forge had more home victories than their seven, and more points than their 24. They also set a club high for home goals in a season, with 22, doubling their output from 2023. This match will have a bit of extra spice given the fact that former Wanderers Massimo Ferrin and Riley Ferrazzo now wear the Nine Stripes of York United.
Cavalry FC vs. Vancouver FC — Friday, April 18 — (5 p.m. MT)
The champs get a special, and sure to be emotional, homecoming on Friday, Apr. 18 as they step onto the ATCO Field pitch for the first time in CPL action in 2025. This is especially true given the fact that 20 members of that winning squad have returned to the club for this season. No team has secured more points at home than Cavalry FC in CPL history — nor over the past two seasons where they have put up a combined 15-11-2 (W-D-L) record at ATCO Field with a league-leading 56 home points in that span. In their 2025 home opener, Cavalry take on Vancouver FC, a club that still has never defeated them in their two seasons of existence.
Halifax Wanderers vs. Pacific FC — Saturday, April 19 — (4:30 p.m. AT)
After an exciting off-season full of additions, the Wanderers Grounds will be witness to their new-look club for the first time on Saturday, Apr. 19. One signing, in particular, will be in focus on this day, however. After five outstanding seasons with Pacific, including a CPL title in 2021, central defender Thomas Meilleur-Giguère made the move to the East Coast this off-season and will face his former club in the Wanderers’ 2025 home opener. The last time these two sides met at the Wanderers Grounds, it was Meilleur-Giguère who broke Halifax hearts with a goal in the sixth minute of stoppage time to secure a 2-2 draw. Halifax are tied with Cavalry FC for the most combined home wins over the past two seasons in the CPL, with 15, and will be intent on continuing to make the Wanderers Grounds a fortress in 2025.
Valour FC vs. Halifax Wanderers — Friday, April 25 (7 p.m. CT)
Having to wait until June 2 last season to watch their side play at home due to a pitch resurfacing at Princess Auto Stadium — Valour fans need only to wait a couple of weeks after the season’s kickoff this year. Valour have not lost a home opener since falling 2-1 to FC Edmonton in their inaugural season. Last year’s long-awaited opener was a special moment for fans as they defeated Vancouver FC 2-0. Improving on home form will be a big goal for Valour in 2025, as they had the second-fewest points (17) and tied for the fewest goals scored (14) of any club at home this past season. However, only regular season winners Forge and playoff champs Cavalry recorded more points over the back half of the 2024 campaign than Valour. They will look to carry that momentum into the start of this year. For the visiting Halifax Wanderers, this match will be the fourth time, including their own, that they will be involved in a 2025 home opener.