The inaugural season of the Northern Super League is set to conclude this Saturday at Toronto’s BMO Field, nearly seven months after it began. League co-founder Diana Matheson expressed her excitement for the upcoming championship game, highlighting the hard work put in by everyone involved to make the first season a success.
The final match between AFC Toronto and Vancouver Rise FC is expected to draw a full lower bowl at BMO Field, with favorable weather conditions forecasted. This comes after challenging weather conditions during previous games, including a blizzard in Ottawa and snow affecting the semifinal match between AFC Toronto and Montreal Roses.
AFC Toronto secured the top spot in the regular season standings with a record of 16-6-3, while Vancouver finished in third place with a record of 11-8-6. The championship game will be broadcast nationally on CBC and live-streamed on CBC Sports and CBC Gem.
Both teams had a competitive regular-season series, each winning two games and drawing one. The league attracted significant attention during its debut season, with over 275,000 tickets sold in 2025 to watch players from 19 different countries.
Looking ahead, the league is considering expansion plans for 2027, focusing on Central and Western Canada. There is growing international interest in investing in women’s professional sports and soccer in Canada, positioning the Northern Super League as a competitive global player in the women’s sports industry.
The league’s success has sparked enthusiasm among fans and stakeholders, with plans to further develop women’s professional sports in Canada. As the league continues to grow, efforts are being made to enhance the sport’s infrastructure, with the hope that events like the 2026 World Cup will drive collaboration between the private and public sectors to build necessary soccer facilities.
The season’s climax will see Matheson awarding the Diana B. Matheson Cup to the championship-winning team, a moment that she describes as surreal and eagerly anticipated.