Hamilton Stadium is the site of the Canadian Premier League's lone match this weekend, as Forge FC host Vancouver FC on Saturday afternoon.
While Vancouver FC enter Saturday's contest at the bottom of the CPL table, they have a lot of good memories in Hamilton. The Eagles were the only team who went undefeated at Hamilton Stadium against the 2025 regular season winners.
They stunned Forge 2-1 in their first meeting last season, courtesy of a Vasco Fry Olimpico winner, before a thrilling 3-3 draw in their second trip to Hamilton.
Vancouver will be bolstered by the return of Nicolás Mezquida, who came off the bench last weekend against Pacific FC in a chaotic 4-4 draw and made an instant impact, scoring in second-half stoppage time.
The Uruguayan has been a game-changer for Vancouver when healthy this season, with three goals in just 426 minutes played.
Forge played to a draw of their own this past Saturday, albeit one that wasn't quite as dramatic, 2-2 with 905 Derby rivals York United. If the Hamilton club could have one complaint in what has been an outstanding CPL season so far, it is probably how many games they have drawn at Hamilton Stadium.
They have already drawn four times in six home matches. After posting the best home record in the league last season, a single-season club best of 34, they have just 10 this season -- fourth most in the league.
Scoring first has been a real issue for Forge at home, as they have done so just twice in six home matches this season -- their two home victories.
Still, they have consistently found ways to fight back and earn points, doing so twice this past weekend against York United.
"They've been very consistent, and I think it's the most balanced and the most deep Forge I've seen in the last three years," said Vancouver FC head coach Afshin Ghotbi. "So it's going to be an incredible challenge for us, and we're excited."
Home field hasn't actually traditionally been much of an advantage in this fixture, however, as only two of nine all-time meetings between the two sides have been won by the hosts -- one each.
Can Forge change that, and earn a victory that would put them just a single point behind top-of-the-table Atlético Ottawa going into a meeting between those teams in the nation's capital on July 12? Or can Vancouver FC pull off another famous victory in Hamilton?
3 THINGS TO WATCH
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Can Vancouver build on a big offensive performance?: Vancouver FC come into Saturday's match off the back of their best offensive performance of the season. In a 4-4 draw with Pacific FC this past Friday, they fired 24 shot attempts, including 10 on target, while controlling the majority of the ball. The goal scorers were important as well. Henri Godbout's first professional goal to open the scoring was well-taken and should give him plenty of confidence after a fantastic performance. Pathé Ndiaye added another goal, as an increasingly important player for this Eagles team, while Nicolás Mezquida marked his return to the team with a goal as well. Vancouver will look to build on this offensive momentum against the league's best defensive team this year on Saturday.
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How do Forge, Vancouver balance squads with CanChamp coming up?: Both Bobby Smyrniotis and Afshin Ghotbi will perhaps have some extra squad-selection headaches this week as they consider important matches upcoming in the Canadian Championship. Following Saturday's match, Vancouver FC return out west to ATCO Field to take on Calgary in the second leg of their quarter-final matchup -- currently tied 1-1. Forge, meanwhile, are off to Montréal on Wednesday as they look to eliminate MLS side CF Montréal for a second consecutive year, having won the first leg 1-0. How those massive upcoming matches impact who starts on Saturday remains to be seen, but it is likely to play a role in the way both sides line up.
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A Forge original set to make his 200th appearance: Saturday could be a historic day in the Canadian Premier League, as for the first time ever, a player hits 200 appearances in a CPL shirt. Should Swedish midfielder/defender Alex Achinioti-Jönsson make an appearance on Saturday, he will become the first to reach that milestone as the CPL's all-time appearance leaders, all of those games coming with Forge FC. The four-time CPL champion, who has appeared in all six of the league's finals, also won its inaugural Defender of the Year award in 2022. This would be yet another honour in what has been an incredible career for a player who has played a key role in building this league.
PROJECTED STARTING XIs
Forge FC: Koleilat; Paton, Achinioti-Jönsson, Nimick, Jevremović; Kane, Jensen, Borges; Ampomah, Choinière, Wright
Vancouver FC: Irving; Bah, O'Connor, Campagna, Dada-Luke; Essoussi, Norman; Fotsing, Fry, Godbout; Ndiaye
ALL-TIME SERIES
Forge FC wins: 5 || Vancouver FC wins: 2 || Draws: 2
Last meeting:
June 15, 2025 — Vancouver FC 0-2 Forge FC
KEY QUOTES
"I always ask the players from the start of the season, throughout the season, to remain humble, with whatever we do, that allows you to be steady through success. That allows you to be steady through the bumps in the road that you have in the season. " -- Forge FC head coach Bobby Smyrniotis
"I think that's been our strength this year, is the refusal of defeat. And I have belief in our team to come through in these moments. But it doesn't just automatically come. It comes with hard work and determination. " -- Forge FC defender Alexander Achinioti-Jönsson
"It's going to be nice for us to travel to Hamilton. We like that stadium. We love Forge. We think that we match up quite well with them. They play football. We try to play football. So hopefully we can be the first team that [defeats them]" -- Vancouver FC head coach Afshin Ghotbi
"We like playing these hard games against big teams, and I feel like we've performed this season against the big teams. We're still looking for results, but I think we'll bring the same energy and same grit and will to win against a big team [on Saturday]." -- Vancouver FC midfielder Mehdi Essoussi