Cavalry, Forge Could Clinch Playoffs This Weekend

Nothing is certain but three things in life: death, taxes, and seeing both Forge and Cavalry reach the postseason.

While there are still eight rounds of football left to play, both Canadian Premier League favourites could clinch a playoff berth as soon as this weekend.

Having extended their grip on first place to four points, Tommy Wheeldon Jr’s Cavalry FC side would clinch a playoff berth if they beat or draw with last-placed Pacific at Starlight Stadium this Sunday.

They’re on 46 points from the opening twenty games and will be hoping to hold that four-point lead over Forge, and they’ll enter their road game against Pacific as heavy favourites.

Even if Cavalry lose against the resurgent Tridents, they could still qualify if FC Supra draw or lose against Halifax and Inter Toronto draw or lose against Vancouver FC.

Similarly, second-place Forge FC can qualify for the playoffs in round 21 if they beat reigning champions Atletico Ottawa, though they also need Supra to draw or lose against Halifax and Inter Toronto to draw or lose against Vancouver FC, too.

Forge sits second with 42 points after 20 games played, 12 above a fourth-placed Vancouver FC side still chasing their first-ever playoff appearance.

In the first seven CPL seasons, every final has included one of Cavalry or Forge – and three finals included them both. Suffice to say, these two sides clinching playoff berths was always the expectation for 2026.

At the opposite end of the spectrum, Pacific FC is enjoying its best run of form in quite some time with one win and two draws after suffering over a year without a single win. Despite Dunfield breathing some life into the Tridents, they could be officially eliminated from contention this weekend if they lose against Cavalry and Vancouver FC beat or draw with Inter Toronto.

With Pacific on just ten points after 20 games, the side is not expected to come remotely close to a playoff position – and they have their work cut out for them if they want to avoid finishing dead last, though that didn’t stop head coach Terry Dunfield from taking some big swipes at Inter Toronto following their 3-3 draw on Wednesday.

The Canadian Premier League has reduced the postseason spots up for grabs from five teams to four for the 2026 season. Following the conclusion of the regular season, the top four teams will square off in two-legged semi-finals, with the aggregate winners advancing to the 2026 CPL Final, hosted by the higher-seeded finalist.

Header Image Photo Credit: Canadian Premier League