Canadian Premier League betting is now available, although it is more limited than other professional soccer leagues, largely because it is only coming into its second season.
Many Canadian soccer betting sites will have odds available for matches, with the second season due to start on April 11, although the threat of Coronavirus looms large, with many sports competitions already called off globally.
Our top CANPL betting sites for the 2020 season are:
What is the CanPL?
THE Canadian Premier League is the top-flight soccer competition in Canada which had its first season begin in April of 2019.
The competition had seven starters in its inaugural season, with this number growing to eight for its second season, due to start in April of 2020. The CanPL has been very vocal in its desire to have a 16 team competition by 2026.
The new team for the 2020 season will be Atletico Ottawa, which were formed from the USL team Ottawa Fury FC, which disbanded prior to the 2019 season.
Despite Canada finally launching its own pro soccer competition, the three Canadian teams participation in the American-based Major League Soccer (Toronto FC, Montreal Impact and Vancouver Whitecaps FC) continues .
Hamilton Forge FC won the 2019 Premiership in brilliant fashion, shutting down the season’s highest scoring team Calvary FC, to clinch a 1-0 victory, after also winning at home 1-0.
From a betting perspective, like all major football competitions around the world, there will be all types of wagers available. Canadians have two options when it comes to wagering online, with these being both sportsbooks based in provinces in Canada, which are few and far between and don’t offer head-to-head bets, and those offshore which are almost certain to frame markets on the burgeoning competition.
QUICK LINKS:
Best betting sites for Canadian Football
Most of the online betting sites that target Canada offer betting on the CanPL, with 100s of different betting markets available at any one time. The best CanPL betting sites are those based overseas, with it still illegal for local sportsbooks to offer single-match wagers.
It’s also possible to bet on the Canadian Premier League on mobile devices in 2020, which is almost a necessity given our reliance on them.
Canadian Premier League teams
There are only seven teams likely to feature in the opening season of the CPL while there are several other provinces considering making a pitch to establish a team in the professional league.
One club many football fans in Canada will be familiar with is FC Edmonton, who have been around for over 10 years, mainly playing in the North American Soccer League, but dropped out to focus on their revered academy.
Team: | Based: | Stadium | Ground Capacity | Founded | First season | Head coach |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Canadian Premier League | ||||||
Cavalry FC | Calgary, Alberta | Spruce Meadows | 5000 | 2018 | 2019 | Tommy Wheeldon Jr. |
FC Edmonton | Edmonton, Alberta | Clarke Stadium | 5000 | 2009 | 2019 | Jeff Paulus |
Forge FC | Hamilton, Ontario | Tim Hortons Field | 14,000 | 2017 | 2019 | Bobby Smyrniotis |
HFX Wanderers FC | Halifax, Nova Scotia | Wanderers Grounds | 5000–7000 | 2018 | 2019 | Stephen Hart |
Pacific FC | Langford, British Columbia | Westhills Stadium | 6500[c] | 2018 | 2019 | Michael Silberbauer |
Valour FC | Winnipeg, Manitoba | Investors Group Field | 33,234 | 2017 | 2019 | Rob Gale |
York 9 FC | York Region, Ontario | York Lions Stadium[d] | 6000–8000[e] | 2018 | 2019 | Jimmy Brennan |
CPL odds for the 2019 Premiership
There are currently no odds available for the first season, with no online sportsbooks currently setting prices for the inaugural competition.
History of the Canadian Premier League
THE CPL was officially given the green light by the Canadian Soccer Association on May 6, 2017. The competition was expected to launch in 2018 but delays in administering it mean it has been pushed back to April 2019.
The league is based in Toronto, Ontario, and already plans to open a second office in Hamilton, Ontario. In January of 2018 David Clanachan was announced as the first commissioner of the league. Paul Beirne is the inaugural president of the competition.
The inaugural Canadian Premier League competition kicked off on April 27, 2019, with many commentators impressed by the standard of the competition in its fledgling season. The CANPL is expected to continue to grow in the coming seasons, with league head honchos already indicating areas where they would consider birthing teams.
To learn more about the history of sports betting in Canada read our comprehensive guide.
CANPL competition structure & players
The Canadian Premier League’s main aim is to develop the talented local players, which means the league will put a quota on the amount of home-grown talent each team must have. Having said this each club is expected to be able to have up to 25% of its roster as foreigners.
In July a league official told a local newspaper that there would be a salary cap, more than half the roster (which will be between 22 and 25 players) must be Canadian and at least six on the field at any-one time must also be local. The league has also indicated a willingness to help clubs secure “home-town heroes” or players who are associated with the province where they were developed.
In the second half of 2018 a series of try-outs were to be held by the CPL which are open to anyone 16 or older. All teams are being represented at the try-outs and many clubs have signed players from these ventures. Canadian players playing in the MLS and other international football competitions are also being heavily courted as league bosses try to drum up interest in the new venture.
Premier League manifesto
The league might be in its infancy but that has not stopped the league laying down some moral guidelines to play the beautiful game in Canada. In late 2017 league officials released the following “manifesto”.
To the world, it’s the beautiful game.
To us, it’s proving we belong.
In the neighbourhoods and cities
that make us who we are.
This is a league we can call our own.
For Canadians, by Canadians.
We’re on a journey out of the shadows
and back into the hearts of a nation.
That noise you hear is us moving in.
And we’re bringing the best
home-grown talent with us.
Players that bleed the same red as you.
Sworn to defend your home turf.
Playing for your loyalty.
Playing for respect.
Bonds will be forged.
Colours flown.
History will be written.
Rivalries born.
The stage is ours.
The journey has begun.
This is the Canadian Premier League.