Atlético Ottawa

Location: Ottawa, Ontario
Date founded: 2020
Appearances in CCC: None
Best finish: N/A
First opponent: Nashville SC

History

Based in the nation's capital, Atlético Ottawa were the Canadian Premier League's first expansion club, launched in 2020. The red-and-white-striped team is owned by legendary Spanish club Atlético de Madrid, and they have often reaped the benefits of that family connection, with several young loan players from both Madrid and sister club Atlético de San Luis in Mexico.

Atlético Ottawa quickly became one of the CPL's top sides, winning the regular season title in 2022. This past season, Atleti won their first CPL championship, taking down defending champions Cavalry FC in a memorably snowy CPL Final. They lifted the North Star Cup in front of their fans at TD Place after a remarkable 2-1 extra time victory, thanks to two goals by David Rodríguez (one of them the fabled 'Icicle Kick').

However, it'll be a much changed Atlético side taking to the pitch in 2026. This winter, they said goodbye to CPL Final hero David Rodríguez and leading scorer Sam Salter, as well as goalkeeper and captain Nathan Ingham. It'll be a slightly new generation that makes the club's debut in Concacaf.

How they qualified

The aforementioned CPL Final triumph not only crowned them CPL champions, it also handed Ottawa their first ever Concacaf Champions Cup spot. They were one of the top CPL teams throughout 2025, finishing second in the table by two points. In the CPL Playoffs, Atleti knocked off Forge FC in the first round to earn the right to host the Final, then beat Cavalry in that title bout.

Ottawa are one of three CPL teams in this year's tournament, joined by regular season title winners Forge and last year's Canadian Championship runners-up Vancouver FC.

The coach

Diego Mejía, a former player hailing from Querétaro, Mexico, took over the reins in Ottawa a the beginning of 2025.

The new, attack-first system Mejía implemented was an instant success, catapulting Atleti to the top tier of the CPL table. They set a new league record with 54 goals in the regular season, tearing opponents apart with their aggressive, direct style of play.

Mejía also made an impression on the CPL with his willingness to trust young players. For much of the 2025 season, his starting back three was entirely composed of U-21 Canadian defenders, and Atleti put up the second-best defensive record in the league.

The Ottawa coach is confident and no stranger to a soundbite. He's a fiery character, and an entertaining face of the club.

3 Key Players

Manny Aparicio:

Aparicio is the engine of Ottawa's midfield. The 30-year-old covers acres of ground in the middle of the park, and is also Atleti's main creative outlet in central channels. Aparicio has made 67 career appearances for Ottawa and contributed six goals and 10 assists; he can deliver a ball from almost anywhere on the pitch, and also has a knack for shooting from distance. He also plays with a physical edge, and loves to go hunting to win the ball in midfield.

Ballou Tabla:

Arguably the most dangerous attacking player in Ottawa's current squad, Tabla is likely to play a big role on the wing this year. He scored 12 goals and had three assists in the last CPL season, and has 23 and 13 overall in 98 career games for Atleti.

Tabla is energetic on the dribble and tends to take on defenders in transition, but he also has a prolific ability to pop up in the best possible areas in the box. He is likely to be Ottawa's main attacking target this year, and could be poised for another big goalscoring year.

Noah Abatneh:

The 21-year-old Abatneh has become a mainstay in the CPL already, first with Inter Toronto (formerly York United) and then this past year with Atlético Ottawa. He was nominated for the CPL's Best U-21 Canadian Player and Defender of the Year awards in 2025, after playing 23 regular season games for the club.

Abatneh is excellent on the ball and can anchor a backline of three or four, and he rarely loses a duel to an attacking player. He recently earned his first call-up to the Canadian men's national team, making his senior debut in a Jan. 17 friendly against Guatemala.

Tournament outlook

This being Ottawa's Concacaf debut, they'll be looking to make an impression in the tournament but will be realistic. The opening matchup against Nashville SC will be the club's first time encountering Major League Soccer opposition.

Another challenge for Atleti is that their 'home' leg will be played about five hours down the road from Ottawa in Hamilton, Ont. due to renovation work being done at TD Place. Hamilton Stadium, the home of CPL side Forge FC, is a familiar venue for Atlético, who won a CPL playoff game last time they visited.

Ottawa will be motivated to put up a good fight against Nashville; no CPL side has ever won a knockout tie in this tournament before. If Atleti were to do so, a date with Lionel Messi's Inter Miami would await in the round of 16.

First round schedule

Leg 1: Tuesday, Feb. 17

Atlético Ottawa vs. Nashville SC — Hamilton Stadium, Hamilton, Ont.
8 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT

Leg 2: Tuesday, Feb. 24

Nashville SC vs. Atlético Ottawa — GEODIS Park, Nashville, Tenn.
8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT