Forge FC and Atlético Ottawa have clinched spots in the 2024 Canadian Premier League Playoffs, thanks to Forge’s 3-1 victory over Vancouver FC at Willoughby Community Park and Ottawa’s 1-1 draw with Pacific FC.

Forge are the reigning North Star Cup champions, having beaten Cavalry in dramatic fashion at Tim Hortons Field in last year’s final. They missed their chance to clinch a playoff spot last weekend, but only needed a win or a draw on Saturday night to book their ticket in the postseason for the sixth year in a row. Bobby Smyrniotis’s side delivered, and they have not only clinched a playoff spot, but a home playoff game by guaranteeing themselves a spot in the top four.

The four-time playoff champions also lead the race for the CPL Shield, awarded to the team that finishes in first place at the end of the regular season. No team has won both trophies in the same season since the CPL Shield was introduced in 2022, but the league’s most decorated club will look to change that over the coming weeks.

2023 CPL Final: The Film 📽️

Check out our behind-the-scenes documentary with every angle of the CPL Final between @ForgeFCHamilton and @CPLCavalryFC at Tim Hortons Field 🏆

This is a match nobody will forget any time soon ⚽#CanPL I 📺 @onesoccer pic.twitter.com/G2KbsfUtTJ

— Canadian Premier League (@CPLsoccer) November 8, 2023

Atlético Ottawa’s spot in the postseason was confirmed by their 1-1 draw against Pacific. The 2022 CPL Shield winners will look to add their first playoff title to the trophy cabinet after being disappointed by missing the playoffs a year ago. Ottawa also hosted the 2022 CPL Final, but were denied the double by Forge FC — and Carlos Gonzalez and co. will be out to avenge that defeat this time around. They also guaranteed themselves a home playoff game and a spot in the top four.

Meanwhile, Cavalry FC are currently on the cusp of clinching their own playoff spot after beating York United FC 2-0 on Friday night. They need just one more point to ensure Vancouver FC and the other sides outside the top five can’t catch them; they’ll have an opportunity to do so when they play Vancouver next Saturday, Sept. 28.

Only one team other than Forge has made the playoffs in all six seasons, and that team is Cavalry FC. Tommy Wheeldon Jr’s Cavs have been incredibly successful over the years, but a playoff trophy has thus far eluded them and they will be keen to finally rewrite that narrative.

Ottawa and Cavalry are both very much alive in the CPL Shield race as well, needing to make up ground on Forge in this final month of the season.

The top five teams at the end of the regular season will advance to the playoffs, which will be contested in the same format as was introduced by the CPL last year. The 2024 CPL Playoffs will kick off on Wednesday, Oct. 23 and run through Saturday, Nov. 9 or Sunday, Nov. 10, depending on which club hosts the 2024 CPL Final.

Find more details on the CPL’s playoff format here.