2023 Canadian Championship: Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal already have rivals

Posted On: March 5, 2023

The outline of the 2023 Canadian Championship was announced on Tuesday evening with a live draw, which paved the way to the title for 14 clubs, including Toronto F.C., FC Montreal And Vancouver Whitecapsof the MLS.

Toronto and Vancouver (the defending champions) will enter the competition directly in the quarter-finals, while Montreal will participate in the first round. The tournament – which qualifies the winner for the 2024 Concacaf Champions League – will begin in mid-April. The winner will be crowned in early June and dates, times and stadiums will be announced later.

Preliminary round: 18-20 April
Quarter-finals: 9-11 May
Semi-finals: May 23-25
Final: June 6-8

. Opponent: Vaughan SC (Ligue 1 Ontario)
. Starting stage: preliminary round
. When: April 18-20

. Opponent: CF Montreal (MLS) or Vaughan SC (Ligue 1 Ontario)
. Starting phase: Quarter-finals
. When: May 9-11

. Opponent: Vancouver FC (Canadian Premier League) or York United FC (Canadian Premier League)
. Starting phase: Quarter-finals
. When: May 9-11

A TICKET FOR THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE IN DISPUTE

The team that wins the Voyageurs Cup in early June will qualify for the 2024 Concacaf Champions League, to later have the chance to secure a ticket to the FIFA Club World Cup continental tournament.

If the winner of the Canadian Championship has already qualified for the Concacaf Champions League in the 2023 Major League Soccer season, the 2023 League Cup or the 2023 Canadian Premier League, the other runner-up will take place in the 2024 Concacaf Champions League.

Only MLS teams have won previous editions of the Canadian Championship: Toronto FC (8 times), CF Montreal (5 times) and Vancouver Whitecaps FC (2 chances). It’s the easiest way to get into the Concacaf Champions League for Major League Soccer teams, as only 3-4 wins are needed, and they have bigger budgets and resources than their rivals. of the Canadian Premier League or lower categories.