Canada Soccer’s road map has been outlined for the 2016 Amway Canadian Championship with the release of the new schedule which kicks off 11 May in Edmonton, Alberta. This year’s competition again features Canada’s five professional clubs, with the winner earning a spot in 2017-18 CONCACAF Champions League.
\u200bFC Edmonton will face Ottawa Fury FC in the preliminary round, with the home-and-away series set for Wednesday nights 11 and 18 May. The winner will advance to the semi-final phase, to be played Wednesdays 1 and 8 June against last year’s Canadian champion Vancouver Whitecaps FC.
In the other semi-final series, Toronto FC will face Impact Montréal FC. The two semi-final winners will then meet in the national final, to be played in the weeks of June 21 or 22 and June 28 or 29 (dates to be confirmed).
“The 2016 edition of the Amway Canadian Championship promises to be exciting once again this year,” said Victor Montagliani, President of Canada Soccer. “The Amway Canadian Championship is always an intense competition, so it bodes well for the future growth of the game in our country.”
Last year, Vancouver Whitecaps FC knocked off the two-time defending winners from Montréal in the two-leg final. Vancouver hoisted their first Voyageurs Cup and qualified for 2016-17 CONCACAF Champions League. The winner of CONCACAF Champions League, featuring professional clubs from across the region, will qualify for the FIFA Club World Cup.
Since the introduction of the Amway Canadian Championship in 2008 and CONCACAF Champions League in 2008-09, Canada’s professional soccer clubs have made a significant impact on the Canadian sporting scene. Just last year, Montréal made a terrific run to the continental final, drawing 61,004 for the final leg at Olympic Stadium. It marked the second time that a Canadian soccer club registered the highest attendance for an in-stadium competition (after drawing a remarkable 55,571 in 2009).
2016 Amway Canadian Championship (home team listed first)
11 May 2016
\u200bPreliminary round – first leg
\u200bFC Edmonton v Ottawa Fury FC
18 May 2016
\u200bPreliminary round – second leg
\u200bOttawa Fury FC v FC Edmonton
1 June 2016
\u200bSemi Final 1 – first leg
\u200bOttawa Fury FC/FC Edmonton v Vancouver Whitecaps FC
Semi Final 2 – first leg
\u200bToronto FC v Montreal Impact
8 June 2016
\u200bSemi Final 1 – second leg
\u200bVancouver Whitecaps FC v Ottawa Fury FC/FC Edmonton
Semi Final 2 – second leg
\u200bMontreal Impact v Toronto FC
21 or 22 June 2016
\u200bFinal – first leg
28 or 29 June 2016
\u200bFinal – second leg
About the Amway Canadian Championship
\u200bThis ninth edition of the Amway Canadian Championship features Canada’s five professional clubs: Ottawa Fury FC (NASL), FC Edmonton (NASL), Montreal Impact (MLS), Toronto FC (MLS) and Vancouver Whitecaps FC (MLS).
Through the past eight editions of the Amway Canadian Championship, Montreal Impact were inaugural champions (2008) followed by Toronto FC who won the Voyageurs Cup in four successive seasons (2009 to 2012), before Montreal Impact won the championship again in 2013 and 2014. Vancouver Whitecaps FC then hosted their first Voyageurs Cup in 2015.
Additional information on the competition format and the clubs’ rosters can be found on the Amway Canadian Championship official website at migmultidev-canada-soccer.pantheonsite.io/championship.
Fans are encourage to follow @CanadaSoccerEN on Twitter using #canChamp for tournament updates, but also to connect with the five Canadian professional clubs involved for live match coverage ( @OttawaFuryFC, @FCEdmontonNow, @impactmontreal, @torontofc, @WhitecapsFC). Match highlights and reports will be available on migmultidev-canada-soccer.pantheonsite.io/championship as well as on CanadaSoccerTV.
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