Canada Soccer announced on Thursday the full preliminary round schedule for the 2026 TELUS Canadian Championship.
Fourteen of the 15 clubs competing in this year's tournament will play in the opening round, which runs from May 5 to May 10. Defending champions Vancouver Whitecaps have a bye to the quarterfinals.
The tournament begins on Tuesday, May 5, when Toronto FC host Canadian Premier League champions Atlético Ottawa at BMO Field. The following day, CF Montréal will host defending Alberta Premier League champs Calgary Blizzard.
Friday, May 8 will see FC Supra du Québec host their first ever Canadian Championship match, against the Ontario Premier League's Woodbridge Strikers.
An all-CPL doubleheader on Saturday, May 9 features Forge FC versus the Halifax Wanderers and Pacific FC versus Cavalry FC.
Finally, the round will conclude on Sunday, May 10 as Inter Toronto host Ligue1 Québec's CS Saint-Laurent and Vancouver FC host the B.C. Premier League's Langley United.
The Canadian Championship will continue to run over the next few months, with quarterfinals played in mid-July and semifinals in September. The final is currently set for Wednesday, Oct. 21.
The 2026 CPL season schedule is structured to include a break in early May to allow the first round of the Canadian Championship to be played over a weekend, easing fixture congestion. Likewise, the two legs of the quarterfinals are set to be played within the same week, starting July 8 and wrapping up by July 12 — the only exception being that Toronto FC would have to host their leg on Aug. 11 if they advance to the quarters.
This year's CanChamp first round schedule is as follows:
| Date | Home Team | Away Team | Stadium | Local Time | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 5 | Toronto FC | Atlético Ottawa | BMO Field | 7:30 p.m. | 7:30 p.m. |
| May 6 | CF Montréal | Calgary Blizzard | Stade Saputo | 7:30 p.m. | 7:30 p.m. |
| May 8 | FC Supra du Québec | Woodbridge Strikers | Stade Boreale | 7 p.m. | 7 p.m. |
| May 9 | Forge FC | Halifax Wanderers | Hamilton Stadium | 4 p.m. | 4 p.m. |
| May 9 | Pacific FC | Cavalry FC | Starlight Stadium | 4 p.m. | 7 p.m. |
| May 10 | Inter Toronto | CS Saint-Laurent | York Lions Stadium | 3 p.m. | 3 p.m. |
| May 10 | Vancouver FC | Langley United | Willoughby Stadium | 3 p.m. | 6 p.m. |
