Forge FC will face HFX Wanderers in Round One of the TELUS Canadian Championship.
Forge FC & the TELUS Canadian Championship
The TELUS Canadian Championship is Canada’s premier domestic cup competition, bringing together clubs from Major League Soccer, the Canadian Premier League, and League1 Canada in a national knockout tournament. For Forge FC, the competition has become a key stage to test itself against the country’s top sides and represent Hamilton on a national level. Forge enters the 2026 edition ranked second overall in Canada, a reflection of the club’s consistent performances and deep runs in recent tournaments. The ranking is based on results from the past four editions of the competition, with added weight given to recent success, reinforcing Forge FC’s place among the nation’s elite.
With national ranking, experience in knockout football, and a proven ability to rise to big moments, Forge FC approaches the 2026 TELUS Canadian Championship with momentum and ambition. The tournament offers more than silverware, providing a pathway to continental competition and the chance to compete for national honours.
Stats:
-
20 matches played
-
9 wins, 4 draws, 7 losses
-
27 goals
Forge FC Tournament Historic Results
| Year | Result |
|---|---|
| 2019 | Round 2 vs. CPL Cavalry FC |
| 2020 | Runners-up vs. MLS Toronto FC |
| 2021 | Semifinals vs. MLS CF Montreal |
| 2022 | Quarterfinals vs. MLS CF Montreal |
| 2023 | Semifinals vs. MLS CF Montreal |
| 2024 | Semifinals vs. MLS Toronto FC |
| 2025 | Semifinals vs. MLS Vancouver Whitecaps |
| Rankings |
|---|
| Vancouver Whitecaps FC |
| Forge FC Hamilton |
| Toronto FC |
| CF Montréal |
| Pacific FC |
| Atlético Ottawa |
| Vancouver FC |
| Inter Toronto FC |
| Cavalry FC |
| Halifax Wanderers FC |
| FC Supra du Québec |
| Langley United |
| CS Saint-Laurent |
| Woodbridge Strikers SC |
| Calgary Blizzard SC |
How the 2026 Draw Works
The 2026 TELUS Canadian Championship features 15 clubs from across Canada, with matchups determined through an official draw conducted by Canada Soccer. Forge FC enters the competition in the Preliminary Round and has been pre-seeded as the No. 2 club based on its national ranking, securing a fixed position in the bracket and underscoring the club’s standing heading into the tournament.
As a higher-ranked club, Forge is positioned to host in the opening round, with future rounds played as two-legged home-and-away series that reward strong seeding with hosting advantages. The draw is designed to balance competition while maintaining regional matchups where possible, setting the stage for high-stakes encounters as the tournament progresses. With the bracket defined and the stakes clear, the 2026 Canadian Championship promises meaningful matchups and another opportunity for Forge FC to make a national statement.
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.
