For the second time ever, the CPL Final will be hosted in the nation's capital this year. Atlético Ottawa, after winning the Championship Semifinal back on Oct. 26, have earned the right to host the CPL's marquee matchup.
Last time the Final was in Ottawa, it didn't go the home team's way. This version of Atleti, however, is completely different, under first-year head coach Diego Mejía. They're a fast-paced, attack-minded team who scored more than anybody else in the CPL in 2025.
Standing in their way are the defending champions Cavalry FC, but Atlético Ottawa have ambitions of lifting the North Star Cup at TD Place on Sunday.
They have had an extra week of rest to prepare for the final, and the city of Ottawa is buzzing for it.
Here's why they might be able to finally bring a championship to the capital.
1. They haven't lost at home this year
Atlético Ottawa played 14 CPL games at TD Place in 2025, and didn't lose a single one of them (eight wins, six draws). In fact, they became the first team in league history to go a full regular season unbeaten at home — although Forge did match their feat a week later.
At home this year, Atleti have outscored their opponents 35 to 13 in all competitions. They have eight home clean sheets, and have scored three or more on six occasions.
It's a stark contrast to the 2022 Ottawa team who finished in first place and made the Final; much of their success had come on the road, and they had more away points than home. Instead, TD Place has become a fortress for Atleti in 2025.
Ottawa led the league in points gained from losing positions this season with 17, and a whopping 15 of those came at home. Something about the familiar pitch and the friendly atmosphere on Bank Street has allowed the home side to fight back in matches, even when they don't start well.
Atlético are currently riding a 22-game unbeaten streak at home, in all competitions; their last defeat at TD Place was Aug. 3, 2024 — although ironically, it was against Cavalry.
At Sunday's CPL Final, Atleti are expected a huge crowd and an uproarious atmosphere, desperate for the city of Ottawa's first championship since the Redblacks' Grey Cup triumph in 2016.
2. They've shown they can beat Cavalry
Quite simply, history favours Ottawa in this matchup.
In 20 total meetings between Atlético and Cavalry over the six years since Ottawa joined the CPL, Cavalry have won just four times. Ottawa, on the other hand, have beaten the Calgarians on 11 occasions. Even in years where Atleti have been near the bottom of the table, they've had Cavalry's number.
This year, it's been even more dramatic a split between these sides. They met four times in the regular season, and Ottawa won three. The only time Cavalry got a point against Atleti was their trip to TD Place on Aug. 22, where they took a 2-0 lead but conceded twice within three minutes in the second half to leave with just a draw.
Ottawa have outscored the Cavs by a margin of 10-3 this year. They beat them 3-1 and 2-0 in Calgary, and the last time Cavalry came to the capital, Atlético claimed a 3-0 win featuring a Ballou Tabla brace.
It seems that many of Ottawa's biggest regular season successes over the years have come against Cavalry. In fact, the first win in club history was against the Cavs in 2020, during the Island Games in Prince Edward Island.
The year Ottawa won the regular season title, 2022, they beat Cavalry three times, including twice in Calgary. In one of those games, Ballou Tabla scored an absolutely outrageous overhead kick.
Historically, Atlético have a plus-15 goal differential against the Cavs.
Of course, much of that is ancient history now. What does have a bearing on this Final, however, is the fact that Cavalry have struggled against this particular Atleti team in 2025.
3. They have the best attack in the league
Statistically, at least.
Ottawa scored 54 goals in the regular season this year, which is a CPL record. Their attack has been powered all year by the three-headed monster that is David Rodríguez, Sam Salter and Ballou Tabla.
Head coach Diego Mejía has deployed that exact front three in 30 out of 34 of his starting lineups this season. Together, they have combined for 49 goals and 11 assists in all competitions.
Leading the way is Salter, who set a new CPL record with 19 regular season goals this year; he won the Golden Boot by a huge margin, beating second-place Tiago Coimbra by seven.
Rodríguez, meanwhile, was a revelation in his first year in Ottawa, joining on loan from parent club Atlético de San Luis. The Mexican winger produced 12 goals and 11 assists in all competitions, and he has been arguably the most entertaining creative player in the league.
Finally, Tabla — one of just two current Atleti players who was with the team for the 2022 CPL Final — has been getting better and better over the final two months of the year. With five goals and three assists in the last nine games, he has become a lethal attacking outlet on the left side with opposing defences focusing on shutting down Rodríguez on the right.
