Quest to lift CPL Shield begins with 2024 Home Openers

2024 Canadian Premier League regular season schedule, presented by WestJet, to be announced in full on Tuesday, Jan. 23

The Canadian Premier League (CPL) today announced the regular season home openers for each of its eight member clubs, in preparation for kickoff of the league’s sixth season on Saturday, April 13, 2024.

The CPL’s full 2024 regular season schedule, presented by WestJet, will be announced on Tuesday, Jan. 23.

There are no days off in the hunt to win the 2024 regular season title, lift the CPL Shield and earn an automatic berth in the 2025 Concacaf Champions Cup. CPL fans will not want to miss the opportunity to play the critical role of twelfth man for their favourite club as it embarks on its 2024 home campaign. 

“Our milestone fifth season in 2023 was our most competitive year yet, which sets the stage for an even more exciting campaign in 2024,” said Costa Smyrniotis, Executive Vice President, Soccer, Canadian Premier League. “I expect this season to pick up exactly where we left off in 2023, with eight hungry sides all competing to be the best. That shared desire across the league leads to a high standard of play worthy of the passionate, growing fan bases we’re seeing from coast to coast.” 

Atlético Ottawa, Forge FC and Pacific FC will each kick off their home campaigns as part of a triple-header on opening day of the 2024 season on April 13. 

Ottawa and York United FC will officially kick off the 2024 CPL season in the nation’s capital on Saturday, April 13 in a battle of Ontario worthy of first billing. Atleti fans have turned TD Place into a fortress for their side in recent seasons, and getting the best of a tough rival in York could set an early tone for another massive season. The match in Ottawa, Ont. kicks off at 1 p.m. ET.

Opening day action then continues in Hamilton, Ont., where reigning CPL champion Forge will take on reigning regular season winner Cavalry FC in a rematch of the 2023 CPL Final. It wasn’t long ago that these two sides battled it out for the North Star Cup. Forge will hope this upcoming match, at Tim Hortons Field at 4 p.m. ET/2 p.m. MT, will finish in similar fashion.

The first day of CPL play in 2024 ends at Starlight Stadium in Langford, B.C., where Pacific will welcome the Halifax Wanderers. The two sides most recently met in the quarter-finals of the 2023 CPL playoffs, a tight tie decided by the slimmest of margins. Pacific spoiled that party for Halifax last fall, and the Tridents will look to do the same at home in April. The meeting of the coastal sides is set for 4 p.m. PT/7 p.m. ET.

Vancouver FC will round out opening weekend play when it hosts Valour FC on Sunday, April 14 at 4 p.m. PT/7 p.m. ET at Willoughby Community Park in Langley, B.C. Both sides will be looking to start the season strong after finishing just three points apart in the 2023 standings. The Eagles will hope a wealth of new, local talent in their 2024 roster is just the ticket to coming out on top.

The Nine Stripes’ return to York Lions Stadium on Sunday, April 21 at 4 p.m. ET will mark the first 905 Derby of the 2024 CPL calendar, as York faces Forge in the next chapter of another longstanding rivalry. With the announcement of new ownership in its not-so-distant past, the Nine Stripes will be itching to open this new era of club history with a victory.

The best party in Halifax, N.S., the kitchen party at Wanderers Grounds, will pick back up starting Saturday, April 27 at 2 p.m. AT/1 p.m. ET, when Patrice Gheisar’s side welcomes Atlético Ottawa. It took the Wanderers nine games before the club was able to carve out its first victory in 2023. After finishing last season strong, Halifax will be looking to notch its opening win much sooner this year.

Cavalry had no trouble collecting home wins during the 2023 regular season, finishing with a league-best 10-3-1 record at ATCO Field at Spruce Meadows, and Tommy Wheeldon Jr. will hope it’s the same story for his side in 2024. The reigning regular season winner will begin the home portion of its title defence in Calgary, Alta. on Sunday, April 28 at 3 p.m. MT/5 p.m. ET against Pacific, a club the Cavs most recently met in the semifinals of the 2023 CPL playoffs, en route to the CPL Final. 

The slate of 2024 CPL home openers wraps up on Sunday, June 2 when Valour hosts Vancouver in Winnipeg, Man. A late start to Valour’s home schedule because of upgrades to the playing surface at IG Field means home matches for Valour will be coming thick and fast in the latter parts of the 2024 season. The side will look to make its long-awaited return home all the sweeter with a victory over the Eagles, at 4 p.m. CT/5 p.m. ET.

Fans of the CPL won’t need to miss a moment of their favourite team in action in 2024 thanks to WestJet, the league’s Official Airline and Vacation Partner. WestJet will provide an exclusive offer for travelling supporters when the full 2024 regular season schedule is announced next Tuesday. WestJet is continuing its commitment to bringing soccer fans across the country closer to the game with this limited time offer, making it easier for CPL supporters to take their passion on the road and cheer on their favourite club this year.