August 20, 2025
The Canadian Premier League could have an expansion team in Quebec in 2026
The Canadian Premier League has reached an agreement with a group of local buyers to establish a Canadian Premier League expansion team in the province of Quebec, but have remained tight-lipped as to where the new franchise would set up shop.
It would seem, that there are currently three areas being considered to home the new franchise, and there’s no surprise as to what the three locations are. Quebec City, Laval and of course Montreal.
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While all three locations make sense, with soccer on a continuous and steady rise in the province, it will be difficult to select just one of the three spots. Ideally, all three should have a team of their own.
Quebec City hosted a Canadian Premier League game earlier this season, when Vancouver FC and Atletico Ottawa played to two-two draw on a wet and cold day at Laval University stadium. However, there isn’t a permanent stadium solution available in Quebec currently, and that might be years away. Even the Montreal Roses FC of Northern Super League are playing their inaugural season at a makeshift Stade Boreale that has proven to have its difficulties.
Laval and Montreal would probably offer the Canadian Premier League the ability to bring more fans to games, but there is already stiff competition with the aforementioned Montreal Roses FC, who play in Laval, and CF Montreal of Major League Soccer – and again, there’s no proper stadium to house a team in any of the three proposed locations. Yet.
While CF Montreal seem reluctant to share their grounds, as it puts too much stress on the pristine grass in the stadium, maybe some sort of partnership with the Montreal Roses FC could be made. Whether that means the Roses actually begin to play in Montreal, as their namesake says they should – or stay in Laval and build a permanent grounds, remains the question at hand.
Several years ago, an investment group attempted to bring MLB baseball back to Montreal, which ultimately fell through. That project targeted the Peel basin area of Point Saint-Charles as a potential location – one that funnily enough, is practically across the street from the Farine Five Roses landmark from which the Montreal Roses FC took their name. Perhaps this is the stars aligning.
Personally, I believe adding teams in both Montreal and Quebec City, two rival and local cities, would be the ideal solution.
The CPL has said that is plans to double its number of clubs by 2032.
“You need a market like Quebec, and we really like the people there,” says Canadian Premier League commissioner Mark Noonan. “Then you add the fact that you know Quebec Soccer and the grassroots levels have 25,000 registered players and 2,000 referees who really want us there. They all really want us there – and I can’t say that about every expansion community we’re talking to.”
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There is still chatter that Kelowna too could be in the running for their very own CPL team, although as was the case in Saskatchewan, funding for building a stadium seems to be the key issue.
“You know, we could expand by two teams in ’26, but we’re debating whether that’s the right thing for our business and the right time.”
