Canada Soccer have confirmed that Toronto FC will be the
\u200bCanadian representative in the 2021 Concacaf Champions League with an
\u200bagreement reached by Canada Soccer and both Forge FC and Toronto FC that every
\u200beffort will be made to hold the Canadian Championship at a later date pending
\u200bleague schedules and in accordance with all public health and safety measures. Forge
\u200bFC is still not able to return to full training and as such the agreement
\u200breached will see Toronto FC face Club León at Estadio León on Wednesday 7 April
\u200bin the first leg of the Concacaf Champions League Round of 16.
In December 2020, ahead of Forge FC’s game in the 2020
\u200bConcacaf League, Canada Soccer confirmed that the Canadian Championship Final
\u200bwould be played in the first quarter of 2021 per requirements to advance a
\u200bCanadian representative to the 2021 Concacaf Champions League. Since January
\u200b2021, Canada Soccer and both clubs have discussed 20 March as the scheduled
\u200bdate for the Canadian Championship Final, which was the last Saturday in Q1
\u200bbefore clubs had to release players to National Teams for FIFA’s fixed dates
\u200bfor international “A” matches. The proposed date also provided the necessary time
\u200bfor the advancing club to make preparations for travel and hosting their home
\u200b2021 Concacaf Champions League games outside of Canada.
Through the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and restrictions put
\u200bin place to ensure the health and safety of Canadian citizens, the revised
\u200bschedules for the two finalists from different leagues, including the Concacaf
\u200bLeague, did not provide any reasonable opportunity for the Canadian
\u200bChampionship Final to be played in 2020. Canada Soccer acknowledges the
\u200btremendous amount of work that was done by all parties to get approvals for the
\u200bFinal to be played in Canada before the deadline for the 2021 Concacaf
\u200bChampions League Round of 16. Canada Soccer also acknowledges the Province of
\u200bOntario for their efforts in providing guidance and consideration in an effort
\u200bto have the match ultimately played in the province in March.
“Canada Soccer looks forward to hosting the Canadian Championship Final at Tim Hortons Field and celebrating the achievements of both clubs with their fans in the stands in a safe manner. Eventually, we will crown a Battle of the North champion and award the Voyageurs Cup for the 2020 season,” said Dr. Nick Bontis, President, Canada Soccer. “We recognise that the past year has been difficult for Canadians, and applaud the valiant efforts of all public health authorities including the Government of Ontario, Forge FC and Toronto FC in support of hosting the Canadian Championship Final. All parties have agreed to coordinate the future scheduling of the 2020 final in a true show of collaborative sportsmanship.”
Toronto FC qualified for the Canadian Championship by
\u200bwinning a round-robin competition among Canadian MLS clubs in summer 2020. Toronto
\u200bFC are the last of 16 teams confirmed for this year’s 2021 Concacaf Champions
\u200bLeague, which kicks off Tuesday 6 April. Toronto FC and Club León will play
\u200btheir two Round of 16 matches on 7 and 14 April. From there, the Concacaf
\u200bChampions League Quarterfinals are set for 27-29 April and 4-6 May (two
\u200bmatches).
Forge FC qualified for the Canadian Championship final by
\u200bwinning its second consecutive Canadian Premier League title on 19 September
\u200b2020 by defeating HFX Wanderers FC 2-0 in The Island Games final from
\u200bCharlottetown.