OTTAWA, ON - Atlético Ottawa has today welcomed in the New Year with a new member of the Atleti Family, following the announcement of Atlético Ottawa Juniors.
Atlético Ottawa Juniors (AOJ), formerly known as Ottawa TFC, has become the first local club to enter into a holistic formal agreement to wear Atleti’s famous red and white jerseys and to carry the club’s philosophy through 2030. AOJ is widely considered one of the most respected youth clubs in Ontario, on and off the pitch, and was a standout candidate for this novel agreement.
“We are thrilled to see Atlético Ottawa Juniors become the first club in Ottawa to commit to amplifying Atlético Ottawa’s brand values, colours and name,” said Ron Palaczka, Chief Strategy Officer, Atlético Ottawa. “This is a reciprocal investment to grow the local soccer community in the spirit of open-minded and customized collaboration. Atlético Ottawa’s goal is to create robust pathways across the region, allowing aspiring players new avenues to achieve their goals. This is yet another step in that direction, and we thank Atlético Ottawa Juniors for their trust and commitment.”
This tailor-made agreement will enable AOJ to benefit from Atlético Ottawa’s global network and professional resources through a shared soccer methodology and the facilitation of talent identification and development. AOJ has a committed community of passionate soccer players, families and staff who will, in turn, help elevate Atlético Ottawa through a deepening support of the defending Canadian Premier League Champions.
“This first‑of‑its‑kind affiliation in Ottawa reflects a shared belief in community‑rooted, values‑driven player development,” said Pavel Cancura, General Manager, Atlético Ottawa Juniors. “Our culture-first approach aligns closely with Atlético Ottawa’s global philosophy, reinforcing a common vision for long‑term development and positive impact across the entire soccer community.”
In December, scouts from Atlético Ottawa’s Mexican affiliate, Atlético de San Luis Femenil, visited the nation’s capital to scout Atlético Ottawa Juniors female alumni, as well as additional select players from the National Capital Region (NCR), for a chance to earn a trial with the Liga MX Femenil (Mexico - first tier) side.
Additionally, the collaborative creation of a new reserve program is set to be introduced. This first-of-its-kind and exciting project reaffirms their joint commitment to bridging the gap to professional soccer in the NCR.
About Atlético Ottawa Juniors
Atlético Ottawa Juniors is a soccer club based in eastern Ottawa with 3,000 members and players from grassroots to adults, competing in local, regional and provincial leagues. The Club has won numerous provincial championships at all levels, as well as a U17 National Championship. Most recently, its boys and girls U15 teams won their respective provincial championships (Ontario Provincial Development League). Atlético Ottawa Juniors was previously known as Ottawa TFC, following the merger of Cumberland United and Capital United Soccer Clubs in 2018.
Ottawa’s youth soccer system has been at the heart of the club’s vision since its inception. Under the banner of the Powered By Program, access to professional soccer has been facilitated for the past five seasons, and Atlético remains grateful for the community’s trust. We are excited to continue developing this structure with inclusivity at its core.
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