The Canadian Premier League will be expanding to Quebec for the first time next year.
A new team based in the greater Montreal area will begin play during the league's eighth season, which begins in April 2026, the league announced Wednesday morning. The name, crest and colours for the new team will be announced later on Wednesday.
Former Canadian international Rocco Placentino will serve as team president. The new team will share a home with Roses FC of the Northern Super League at Stade Boréale in Laval.
The CPL’s first Quebec-based club is led by an ownership group of Matt Rizzetta, Angelo Pasto, Stéphane Tétrault and Jean-François Chenail.
The team was scheduled to unveil its name, crest and colours on Wednesday night at Complex Multi-Sports de Laval.
“Quebec is producing world-class talent, and with the arrival of a Canadian Premier League team in the province, we now have a platform that will allow local players to shine, inspire the next generations and compete at the highest level in the country,” said Placentino in a statement. “The club will be made up of homegrown players from Quebec, with a mission to showcase their talent.”
The new Montreal team will be the CPL's ninth club, joining Atlético Ottawa, Cavalry FC, Forge FC, HFX Wanderers FC, Pacific FC, Valour FC, Vancouver FC and York United FC.
--with files from the Canadian Press