The 2025 TELUS Canadian Championship is heating up, and Forge FC is one step closer to lifting the Voyageurs Cup.
Forge began their tournament in the Preliminary Round with a 3-1 win over the HFX Wanderers, securing a spot in the Quarter-Finals.
Next up was a two-legged showdown with CF Montréal. Forge took the first leg 1-0 at home in May, then sealed the series with a 2-2 road draw at Stade Saputo on July 9, winning 3-2 on aggregate to advance.
Now in the Semi-Finals, Forge FC are locked in a fierce battle with MLS side Vancouver Whitecaps FC. Leg 1 in Hamilton ended in a dramatic 2-2 draw on August 13, setting the stage for a decisive Leg 2 in Vancouver on September 16.
The winner will not only advance, but also earn the right to host the 2025 TELUS Canadian Championship Final on October 1. The Battle of the North continues.
About the TELUS Canadian Championship
Canada Soccer’s TELUS Canadian Championship, also known as the Battle of the North, is the nation’s highest men’s domestic competition featuring clubs from coast to coast across the country, notably professional teams in Major League Soccer and the Canadian Premier League as well a representative in League1 BC, League1 Ontario and Ligue1 Québec. Winners of the 2025 TELUS Canadian Championship lift the Voyageurs Cup and qualify to the annual international competition, Concacaf Champions Cup. Winners of the CONCACAF Champions Cup qualify for the FIFA Club World Cup.
Quick Facts
- The Voyageurs Cup – The trophy awarded to the champion was created by a Canadian soccer supporter group, the Voyageurs, in 2002, before the tournament itself even existed.
- Winner Gets the World Stage – The champion earns a berth in the Concacaf Champions Cup, giving Canadian clubs the chance to face powerhouse teams from Mexico, MLS, and beyond.
- David vs. Goliath Matchups – The tournament is famous for pitting clubs from several different leagues against each other, creating opportunities for “cupsets” where smaller clubs knock out giants.
- Expanded Field – Originally, just four clubs competed, but it has since grown to include CPL teams and semi-pro sides across the country, truly making it a national competition.
- History Makers – Forge FC became the first Canadian Premier League club to reach the semifinals of the competition (in 2021), solidifying their reputation as trailblazers for the CPL on the national stage.
