On Friday, Nov. 28, the 2026 edition of the CPL-U SPORTS Draft gets underway at 1 p.m. ET / 10 a.m. PT on OneSoccer and the CPL YouTube channel.
Sixteen of the top collegiate players across Canada will be selected, looking for their chance to crack a CPL roster, and join the impressive ranks of CPL-U SPORTS Draft alumni including Joel Waterman, Victor Loturi and Garven Metusala.
This year's list of available players features some top talents, with exciting profiles capable of helping the CPL side that selects them right away.
Here, in alphabetical order, are eight standout players who have an opportunity to be selected in this year's draft.
Kautchy Andji-Yapi
University: Moncton
Position: Winger
Year: 1st
A direct and dynamic winger, Andji-Yapi had an outstanding first year in the AUS, scoring eight goals and adding an assist. For his efforts, he was named a member of the U SPORTS All-Rookie team and was also nominated for U SPORTS Rookie of the Year and won AUS Rookie of the Year honours while being named an AUS first-team all-star.
Noah Bickford
University: Toronto Metropolitan
Position: Defender
Year: 3rd
A composed central defender out of TMU, Bickford is one of the top defensive players available in this year's draft. Strong in the air and dangerous on set pieces, he played 12 matches for TMU this season, scoring twice. Before joining the Bold, Bickford spent two seasons at Oakland University in the NCAA, and he is also the captain of the Simcoe County Rovers in League1 Ontario.
Maxime Bourgeois
University: Sherbrooke
Position: Midfielder
Year: 3rd
The 23-year-old midfielder from Granby, Québec came through the CF Montréal youth system and has three caps for Canada at the U-17 level. Bourgeois had a goal and an assist in eight appearances this season with Sherbrooke and was named a U SPORTS second-team all-Canadian. He was named man of the match in Sherbrooke's 2-1 playoff loss to Université de Montréal.
Mateo Brazinha
University: Fraser Valley
Position: Striker
Year: 4th
The 2025 U SPORTS Player of the Year, Brazinha scored 13 goals in 13 regular-season matches for Fraser Valley, adding a pair of assists. He is also the back-to-back Canada West player of the year. A lethal attacker, Brazinha led U SPORTS in assists last season, with nine to go with eight goals, and the Port Coquitlam native has the potential to make an immediate offensive impact should he be selected and signed.
Calin Calaidjoglu
University: Montréal
Position: Midfielder
Year: 1st
The 24-year-old's resume instantly jumps off the page. Born in Moldova, he grew up in Lasalle, Québec, playing for the CF Montréal youth team, and going on loan to Bologna. He has pro experience in both France and Moldova, and played in Ligue1 Québec with FC Laval. He scored six goals and added three assists this season in U SPORTS action, including scoring in a 2-0 win over Laval in the RSEQ final and was named a second-team All-Canadian.
Matheus De Souza
University: Fraser Valley
Position: Goalkeeper
Year: 1st
The imposing first-year goalkeeper has a strong professional background. De Souza spent time in both the Vancouver Whitecaps academy, and with Vancouver FC. In his first season with Fraser Valley, he kept seven clean sheets and made 59 saves. He was named a U SPORTS second-team All-Canadian, and a first-team All-Star in Canada West as well as the All-Rookie team.
Alexandre Marcoux
University: UQTR
Position: Forward
Year: 1st
The RSEQ Most Outstanding Player for this season, Marcoux helped UQTR to reach the national championship with an impressive first U SPORTS campaign. Lethal with both feet, he scored seven goals and added five assists in 10 matches. He had an outstanding national championship, with a goal and an assist in a quarter-final win over Toronto, before being the lone UQTR scorer in the third-place game.
Luke Norman
University: UBC
Position: Midfielder
Year: 1st
The second overall pick in the 2024 CPL-U SPORTS Draft by Vancouver FC, Norman is again available for selection this year, and now has a national title under his belt with UBC triumphing last year. This season, the midfielder enjoyed another strong campaign, with five goals and six assists as UBC once again reached the national championship. He was named a Canada West first-team All-Star at the end of the campaign.
