Article content The Al Classico could rise again soon. Perhaps as early as 2026, if all goes well for a Canadian Premier League return to Edmonton. At least, the Alberta capital is on the immediate expansion radar, says CPL commissioner Mark Noonan.
“Our goal is to add two new teams for our 2026 season,” said Noonan, during the CPL Final weekend at Spruce Meadows in Calgary. “We are in discussions with several potential investor groups and municipalities in this regard. “Markets of interest include — in alphabetic order — Edmonton, Laval, Kelowna, Kitchener-Waterloo, Quebec City, Saskatoon, several in the great Toronto area and Windsor, among others.
” Of course, FC Edmonton was dissolved by the league after three years of challenges both on and off the field. And the CPL has been without a club there since the end of 2022. Cavalry FC would love a reincarnation of a franchise there to reignite the Al Classico — soccer’s version of the Battle of Alberta.
But it has to come under the proper conditions. “It’s very important that we do expand at the right time in the right place,” said Noonon, listing off pre-requisites such as an appropriate facility, strong ownership, municipal support, corporate sponsorship, solid connections with youth soccer and a stable fanbase. “In addition to giving us more content, more games for distribution, what expansion does is it increases the player pipeline,” continued the commissioner.
“When you increase the player p.
