League1 Canada

Canadian soccer league

Football league

League1 Canada

Founded| March 31, 2022; 3 years ago (2022-03-31)
First season| 2022
Country| Canada
Confederation| CONCACAF
Divisions| 4
Number of clubs| 39 clubs (men)
39 clubs (women)[n 1]
Level on pyramid| 3[n 2]
Domestic cup(s)| Canadian Championship (men)
League cup(s)| Inter-Provincial Championship (women)
International cup(s)|

* CONCACAF Champions Cup[n 3]
* CONCACAF W Champions Cup

Broadcaster(s)| OneSoccer (select matches)
Website| league1canada.ca
Current: 2025 League1 Canada season

League1 Canada (L1C; French: Ligue1 Canada) is a national pro–am soccer organization in Canada. It consists of four regional leagues; League1 Alberta, League1 British Columbia, League1 Ontario, and Ligue1 Québec with each league operating men's and women's divisions. L1C is overseen by Canada Soccer Business, in partnership with participating provincial member federations.

League1 Canada is the third tier of the Canadian soccer league system which is the highest level of pro–am soccer in the country. It is below the Canadian Premier League which is the nation's top-tier professional league. Winners of each provincial league gain entry to the Canadian Championship the following season alongside Canadian Premier League teams and Canadian teams from Major League Soccer.

## History

[edit]

In 2011, the Première ligue de soccer du Québec was established to begin play in 2012, marking the return of semi-professional soccer in the province of Quebec.[1] In 2013, League1 Ontario was founded as a semi-professional league by the Ontario Soccer Association to begin play in 2014 with a men's division,[2] followed by a women's division in 2015.[3] After multiple years of consideration, League1 British Columbia began play in 2022 in both the male and female divisions.[4]

On March 31, 2022, League1 Canada was announced as an alliance of the three existing division three pro-am leagues, aligning the national soccer pathway.[5] L1O and L1BC adopted new logos that day, while the PLSQ transitioned to a common logo and rebranded to Ligue1 Québec in 2023.[5] Dino Rossi became the first league president in May 2022.[6]

From August 12 to 14, 2022, the inaugural Women's Inter-Provincial Championship was held in Laval, Quebec. The competition was a four-team knockout tournament featuring the champions of each of the three divisions, as well as an additional team from the PLSQ (allocated as host).[7][8] A.S. Blainville won the inaugural title.[9][10] The 2023 tournament was held in British Columbia.[11][12]

In March 2023, League1 Alberta was announced with a five-team exhibition series to be played that summer.[13] The league launched officially in 2024 season with eight teams participating in the inaugural season. In June 2023, League1 Prairies was announced with plans for the league to operate between Manitoba and Saskatchewan; the league plans to launch for the 2025 season.[14] Similarly in early 2023, League1 Canada also announced exploring expanding with a multi-provincial League1 Atlantic for Atlantic Canada in March 2023, but a timeframe for its formal expansion was not announced.[15][16][17] An annual showcase tournament, known as the Maritime Super Series, began play in 2023 as a stepping stone towards the formation of a formal league.[18][19][20][21]

On December 7, 2023, League1 Canada announced it had reached an agreement with the Alberta Soccer Association to add League1 Alberta to its national alliance of Division III Pro-Am leagues.[22] Later that week, Dino Rossi resigned from his role as League1 Canada president.[15]

## Provincial competitions

[edit]

### Leagues

[edit]

Each member league determines their own season format and schedules. In 2024, League1 British Columbia and the League1 Alberta men's division determined their league champions via a playoff tournament, while all other leagues determined their champions via regular season standings.

League | Men's division | Women's division

|
|

First season | Teams | Current winner | First season | Teams | Current winner
League1 Alberta | 2024 | 9 | Edmonton Scottish (2024) | 2024 | 9 | Calgary Blizzard SC (2024)
League1 British Columbia | 2022 | 9 | Langley United (2025) | 2022 | 9 | Altitude FC (2025)
League1 Ontario | 2014 | 11[a] | Scrosoppi FC (2024) | 2015 | 10[b] | NDC Ontario (2024)
Ligue1 Québec | 2012 | 10[c] | FC Laval (2024) | 2018 | 11[d] | CS Mont-Royal Outremont (2024)

1. ^ Number of teams in the men's Premier Division
2. ^ Number of teams in the women's Premier Division
3. ^ Number of teams in the men's Ligue1 Division
4. ^ Number of teams in the women's Ligue1 Division

### League cups

[edit]

Not to be confused with a league's playoff phase.

Cup | Men's division | Women's division

|
|

First season | Current winner | First season | Current winner
L1 Cup | 2014 | Vaughan Azzurri (2024) | 2015 | FC London (2024)
Coupe L1QC | 2013 | CS Saint-Laurent (2024) | 2021 | PEF Québec (2023[a])

1. ^ The women's Coupe L1QC was not played in 2024

### Other secondary competitions

[edit]

Cup | First season | Current winner[a]

|
|

Juan de Fuca Plate | 2022[b] | Altitude FC (2025)

1. ^ Trophy is awarded to the club with the most combined points acquired in the regular season by their men's and women's teams.
2. ^ Trophy was awarded from 2012–2014 and 2017–2019 to men's Premier Development League teams in British Columbia. The trophy only became affiliated with League1 BC in 2022.

## Inter-provincial competitions

[edit]

### Women

[edit]

The Women's Inter-Provincial Championship is a four-team knockout tournament organized by League1 Canada. It is contested annually by the four provincial league champions. The tournament is held over a single weekend at the end of the season and determines a national champion.[23] The winner of the 2023 tournament qualified for the 2024–25 CONCACAF W Champions Cup.[24]

Cup | First season | Current winner

|
|

Women's Inter-Provincial Championship | 2022 |  Simcoe County Rovers FC (2025)

### Men

[edit]

The winners of the men's provincial leagues qualify for the following year's Canadian Championship, organized by the Canadian Soccer Association. There are plans for a Men's Inter-Provincial Championship to begin in 2024.[25] From 2014 to 2016, prior to the formation of League1 Canada, the winners of League1 Ontario and the Première ligue de soccer du Québec (now Ligue1 Québec) participated in a similar competition known as the Inter-Provincial Cup.

## See also

[edit]

* Canada portal
* soccer portal

* Canadian soccer league system
* Inter-Provincial Cup (soccer) – a defunct super cup competition between the Ontario and Quebec champions
* National Premier Leagues – a grouping of Australian regional soccer leagues
* Canadian Hockey League

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ Top-division teams only
2. ^ League1 Ontario and Ligue1 Québec have their own three-tier league system. However, Canada Soccer sanctions the entire L1ON and L1QC systems as being in the third division of the Canadian soccer league system, despite the internal promotion and relegation structure.
3. ^ Men's League1 Canada teams can qualify for the CONCACAF Champions Cup through the Canadian Championship.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Retour d'une ligue semi-pro" [Return of a semi-pro league]. Ici Radio-Canada Télé. August 30, 2011.
2. ^ "OSA to pilot semi-pro League1 Ontario in 2014–2015". Ontario Soccer Association. November 15, 2013. Archived from the original on July 6, 2014. Retrieved April 13, 2014.
3. ^ "League1 And OSA Announce 2015 Women's Division". League1 Ontario. January 28, 2015.
4. ^ "BC Soccer officially launches League1 British Columbia". BC Soccer. October 5, 2021. Archived from the original on April 4, 2022. Retrieved April 1, 2022.
5. ^ a b "League1 Canada officially launched today". Canadian Premier League. March 31, 2022.
6. ^ Jacques, John (May 16, 2022). "Dino Rossi Named League1 Canada President". Northern Tribune. Retrieved May 16, 2022.
7. ^ "PLSQ 2022 : Une Saison Chargée" [PLSQ 2022: A Busy Season]. Première ligue de soccer du Québec (in French). April 4, 2022.
8. ^ "BC Soccer announces League1 BC participation at the Women's Interprovincial Championship". bcsoccer.net. April 8, 2022. Archived from the original on December 2, 2022. Retrieved April 8, 2022.
9. ^ "L'AS Blainville couronnée championenne de la première édition du championnat interprovincial" [AS Blainville crowned champions of the first edition of the interprovincial championship]. Première ligue de soccer du Québec (in French). August 15, 2022.
10. ^ Jacques, John (August 15, 2022). "AS Blainville Named First-Ever League1 Canada Inter-Provincial Champions". Northern Tribune.
11. ^ "AS Blainville crowned winners of the inaugural Inter-Provincial Championship". League1 Canada. August 15, 2022.
12. ^ Dubois, Julien (August 15, 2022). "La Ligue 1 Canada, un pas vers le professionalisme au féminin" [League1 Canada, a step towards female professionalism]. Just eSoccer (in French).
13. ^ Parkes, David (March 10, 2023). "Official: League1 Alberta Exhibition Series Confirmed". Northern Tribune.
14. ^ "League1 Canada to explore opportunity to launch League1 Prairies in 2025". June 20, 2023.
15. ^ a b "Statement from Dino Rossi". League1 Canada. December 9, 2023. Retrieved December 14, 2023.
16. ^ "League1 Canada announces exploratory visit to Atlantic Canada" (Press release). League1 Canada. March 14, 2023.
17. ^ Parkes, David (January 27, 2023). "Exclusive: League1 Canada's Dino Rossi On Growing The Game From Coast-To-Coast". NorthernTribune.ca.
18. ^ Hampshire, Gareth (May 27, 2023). "New soccer tournament aims to boost competition for Maritime players". CBC News.
19. ^ Jacques, John (May 3, 2023). "The Maritime Super Series Schedule Is Here". Northern Tribune.
20. ^ "2023 Exhibition Series: The story so far". League1 Canada. June 8, 2023.
21. ^ Jacques, John (May 2, 2023). "Atlantic Summer Series Set To Test Soccer Waters Out East". NorthernTribune.ca.
22. ^ "League1 Canada announces expansion to Alberta – League1Canada". Retrieved December 7, 2023.
23. ^ Mahmoudi, Nelson (June 13, 2024). "Hamilton To Host 2024 League1 Canada Women's Inter-Provincial Championship". Northern Tribune. Retrieved June 16, 2024.
24. ^ "CONCACAF announces qualification criteria for Confederation's 2024/25 CONCACAF W Champions Cup". CONCACAF. April 24, 2024. Retrieved April 24, 2024.
25. ^ "League1 Canada's Women's Inter-Provincial Championship Heads to British Columbia in August". Canadian Premier League. July 21, 2023. Retrieved September 8, 2023.

* v
* t
* e

League1 Canada

* Canadian Soccer Association

Leagues|

* League1 Alberta
* League1 British Columbia
* League1 Ontario
* men
* women
* Ligue1 Québec
* men
* women

Secondary competitions|

* Coupe L1QC
* Juan de Fuca Plate
* L1 Cup
* men
* women

National competitions|

* Women's Inter-Provincial Championship

Seasons|

* 2022
* 2023
* 2024
* 2025

* v
* t
* e

Soccer in Canada

* Canadian Soccer Association
* League system
* Seasons
* Hall of Fame
* Clubs
* Champions
* Club honours
* Stadiums
* Women's soccer in Canada
* Player of the Year award

Men's national teams|

* Senior
* results
* players
* records and statistics
* U-23 (Olympic)
* U-20
* U-17
* Beach soccer
* Futsal

Women's national teams|

* Senior
* results
* players
* U-20
* U-17

Men's outdoor leagues|

| Tier 1|

* Canadian Premier League
* Playoffs
* Finals
* Major League Soccer
* Playoffs
* MLS Cup

|

Tier 3|

* League1 Canada
* Alberta
* British Columbia
* Ontario
* Québec
* MLS Next Pro

Below tier 3|

* Alberta Major Soccer League
* Ligue de soccer élite du Québec
* Manitoba Major Soccer League
* Ontario Soccer League
* Pacific Coast Soccer League
* Vancouver Metro Soccer League

Non-FIFA|

* Canadian Soccer League
* Finals

Women's outdoor leagues|

| Professional|

* Northern Super League

|

Pro-am|

* League1 Canada
* Alberta
* British Columbia
* Ontario
* Québec

Indoor and futsal competitions|

* MASL
* Futsal Canadian Championship

Cup competitions|

| Pro / pro-am|

* Canadian Championship
* Finals
* Voyageurs Cup
* Women's Inter-Provincial Championship

|

Amateur|

* National championships
* Challenge Trophy
* Jubilee Trophy
* Provincial championships
* BC
* NL
* ON

Other competitions|

* Soccer at the Canada Games
* Croatian-North American Soccer Tournament

College and university soccer|

* U Sports men's
* Championship
* U Sports women's
* Championship
* CCAA Soccer National Championship

Defunct Canadian leagues|

* Canadian Professional Soccer League (1983)
* Canadian Soccer League (1987–1992)
* Pacific Coast Soccer League
* National Soccer League
* Eastern Canada Professional Soccer League
* Western Canada Soccer League
* Canadian Major Indoor Soccer League

Defunct American leagues|

* United Soccer Association
* National Professional Soccer League
* North American Soccer League (1968–1984)
* Soccer Bowl
* North American Soccer Football League
* Western Soccer Alliance
* American Professional Soccer League
* USL First Division
* Finals
* USSF Division 2 Professional League
* North American Soccer League (2011–2017)
* Soccer Bowl
* USL W-League

Related American leagues|

* USL Championship
* USL League One
* USL League Two
* United Premier Soccer League
* Women's Premier Soccer League
* United Women's Soccer

Defunct cup competitions|

* Inter-Provincial Cup
* Mainland Cup
* Open Canada Cup
* Victoria Challenge Cup
* WFA Challenge Cup

Other|

* Canadian clubs in American leagues
* Canadian clubs in international competitions

Associations|

* AB
* BC
* MB
* NB
* NL
* NS
* NT
* NU
* ON
* PE
* QC
* SK
* YT
* Historical: DFA (1877–1881)
* WFA (1880–1940)

* v
* t
* e

Third-tier association football leagues of North America, Central America, and the Caribbean (CONCACAF)

North America|

* Canada
* Alberta
* British Columbia
* Ontario
* Quebec
* Mexico
* United States
* USL1
* NISA
* MLS Next Pro

Central America|

* Costa Rica
* El Salvador
* Guatemala
* Honduras
* Nicaragua
* Panama

Caribbean|

* Barbados
* Puerto Rico
* Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
* Suriname

* v
* t
* e

Canadian Soccer – Division 3 seasons (CSA & USSF)

Canadian Soccer League|

* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013

League1 Canada|

| Ligue1 Québec|

* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* 2020
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024
* 2025

|

League1 Ontario|

* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* ~~2020~~
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024
* 2025

League1 British Columbia|

* 2022
* 2023
* 2024
* 2025

League1 Alberta|

* 2024
* 2025

USSF (U.S. based leagues)|

| USL Championship|

* 2015
* 2016

|

USL League One|

* 2019
* 2021

MLS Next Pro|

* 2022
* 2023
* 2024
* 2025

Note: There is no clear information from CSA about tier of U.S. based leagues which have Canadian clubs. In terms of historical information, they have been deployed as tier 3 league as USSF have done.

Member leagues

* v
* t
* e

League1 Alberta

* Alberta Soccer Association
* Canadian Soccer Association
* League1 Canada

Men's clubs|

* Edmonton BTB SC
* Calgary Blizzard SC
* Calgary Foothills FC
* Calgary Rangers SC
* Calgary Villains FC
* Callies United
* Cavalry FC U21
* Edmonton Scottish
* St. Albert Impact

Women's clubs|

* Edmonton BTB SC
* Calgary Blizzard WSC
* Calgary Foothills WFC
* Calgary Rangers SC
* Calgary Villains FC
* Calgary Wild FC U21
* Callies United
* Edmonton Scottish
* St. Albert Impact

Seasons|

* 2023 (exhibition)
* 2024
* 2025

* v
* t
* e

League1 British Columbia

* League1 Canada
* Canada Soccer
* BC Soccer
* Juan de Fuca Plate

Clubs|

| Current|

* Altitude FC
* Burnaby FC
* Evolution FC
* Kamloops United FC
* Langley United
* Nanaimo United FC
* TSS FC Rovers
* Unity FC
* Whitecaps FC Academy
* men
* women

|

Former|

* Nautsaʼmawt FC
* Victoria Highlanders FC
* men
* women

Seasons|

* 2022
* 2023
* 2024
* 2025

League1 Ontario

* v
* t
* e

League1 Ontario – Men's Division

* Canadian Soccer Association
* Ontario Soccer Association
* L1O Women's Division
* League1 Canada

Clubs|

| Premier|

* Alliance United
* Burlington SC
* Guelph United F.C.
* Hamilton United
* North Toronto Nitros
* Oakville SC
* Scrosoppi FC
* Sigma FC
* Simcoe County Rovers FC
* Vaughan Azzurri
* Woodbridge Strikers

|

Championship|

* Darby FC
* FC London
* Master's FA
* North Mississauga SC
* Pickering FC
* St. Catharines Roma Wolves
* Sudbury Cyclones
* The Borough FC
* Unionville Milliken SC
* Waterloo United
* Windsor City FC
* York United FC Academy

League2|

* Cambridge United
* Railway City FC
* Rush Canada SA

Former|

* 1812 FC Barrie
* ANB Futbol
* Aurora FC
* Electric City FC
* Internacional de Toronto
* Kingston Clippers
* Ottawa South United
* ProStars FC
* Sanjaxx Lions
* Toronto FC III
* Toronto Skillz FC

Seasons|

* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* ~~2020~~
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024
* 2025

Cups|

* L1 Cup
* Inter-Provincial Cup

* v
* t
* e

League1 Ontario – Women's Division

* Canadian Soccer Association
* Ontario Soccer Association
* L1O Men's Division
* League1 Canada

Premier Division clubs|

* Alliance United
* Guelph United FC
* FC London
* NDC Ontario
* North Mississauga SC
* North Toronto Nitros
* Oakville SC
* Simcoe County Rovers FC
* Vaughan Azzurri
* Woodbridge Strikers

Championship Division clubs|

* Burlington SC
* Darby FC
* Hamilton United
* Pickering FC
* Rush Canada SA
* Scrosoppi FC
* Tecumseh SC
* Unionville Milliken SC
* Waterloo United

League2 clubs|

* Master's FA
* Railway City FC
* St. Catharines Roma Wolves
* Sudbury Cyclones

Former clubs|

* ANB Futbol
* Aurora FC
* DeRo United FA
* Electric City FC
* FC Oshawa
* Kingston Clippers
* Ottawa South United
* ProStars FC
* Sanjaxx Lions
* Toronto Azzurri Blizzard
* West Ottawa SC

Seasons|

* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* ~~2020~~
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024

Cups|

* L1O Cup
* Inter-Provincial Championship

Ligue1 Québec

* v
* t
* e

Ligue1 Québec – Men's Division

* Canadian Soccer Association
* Soccer Quebec
* League1 Canada

Current clubs|

* AS Blainville
* AS Laval
* Celtix du Haut-Richelieu
* CF Montréal U23
* CS Longueuil
* CS Mont-Royal Outremont
* CS St-Hubert
* CS Saint-Laurent
* FC Laval
* Ottawa South United
* Royal-Sélect de Beauport

Former clubs|

* ACP Montréal-Nord
* CS Lanaudière-Nord
* Dynamo de Quebec
* FC Boisbriand
* FC Brossard
* FC Gatineau
* FC Lanaudière
* FC St-Léonard
* Lakeshore SC
* Ottawa Fury FC Academy

Seasons|

* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* 2020
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024
* 2025

* v
* t
* e

Ligue1 Québec – Women's Division

* Canadian Soccer Association
* Soccer Quebec
* League1 Canada

Current clubs|

* AS Blainville
* AS Chaudière-Ouest
* AS Laval
* Celtix du Haut-Richelieu
* CS Longueuil
* CS Mont-Royal Outremont
* CS St-Hubert
* FC Laval
* Ottawa South United
* Pierrefonds FC
* PEF Québec EXCEL
* Royal-Sélect de Beauport

Former clubs|

* Dynamo de Quebec
* FC Sélect Rive-Sud
* Lakers du Lac Saint-Louis

Seasons|

* 2018
* 2019
* 2020
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024
* 2025

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