Conditions are of no concern to Cavalry FC, Atlético Ottawa entering CPL final

OTTAWA — Controlling the controllable looks to be a theme for Sunday’s Canadian Premier League championship game.

Atlético Ottawa (16-2-11) will host Cavalry FC (13-8-9) in the nation’s capital where weather could prove to be a deciding factor. The winner will not only lift the North Star Cup, but also earn a coveted berth in the CONCACAF Champions Cup.

It’s the first-ever playoff meeting between Ottawa and Cavalry and the first final in league history not to feature Forge FC. Both teams enter the contest with compelling storylines. Ottawa is undefeated at home, while Cavalry, the reigning champions, are returning to the final for the third straight season.

With snow in the forecast and temperatures expected to hover near freezing, conditions could play a major role. Both coaches downplayed any worries about the weather.

“It’s things you cannot control,” said Atlético head coach Diego Mejía. “It’s impossible to control that. So, I like to control the things that I can, that are in my hands and that’s it. I don’t put a lot of attention in that.”

Cavalry coach Tommy Wheeldon Jr. echoed that sentiment, stressing adaptability over anxiety.

“You have to be adaptable, versatile,” he said. “If plan A isn’t working, you’ve got to have a plan B and C up your sleeve. We’ve shown that in our playoff format and that’s how we’ve got to where we are now.”

Ottawa enters the final on two weeks rest after defeating Forge FC in the championship semifinal. Cavalry punched its ticket last weekend with a win in the contender semifinal. It remains to be seen whether rest or momentum will make the bigger difference.

“Ottawa have had two weeks and they’re fresh,” said Wheeldon. “But sometimes it favours you when you’re playing every week. You don’t have too long to think about it. You can have paralysis by analysis as well.”

Atlético will look to extend its remarkable home record. The club became the first in CPL history to go undefeated at home during the regular season and is unbeaten in 22 straight matches at TD Place across all competitions. Their last home loss came on Aug. 3, 2024 against Cavalry FC.

Goalkeeper Nathan Ingham and forward Ballou Tabla are the only Atlético players remaining from the team that reached the 2022 final.

Ottawa scored a league-record 54 goals this season while conceding just 28.

“The first goal we had as a club was to be one of the best teams playing soccer in this league,” Mejía said. “Everything we’re living right now is a consequence of that idea. We are ready, ready to fight.”

Cavalry finished third in the regular season before defeating Forge FC to book its third consecutive trip to the final. However, they have struggled against Ottawa going 0-3-1.

“I don’t think it matters at all,” said Cavalry ‘keeper Marco Carducci. “We won’t shy away from the fact that in the regular season in Ottawa, credit to Ottawa, they’ve had a phenomenal season, but, you know, all of that goes out the window and it’s a one-off final. We love playing here. I think it’s this is a good opportunity to do what we do best.”

Wheeldon believes his team’s experience will serve them well once again. They’ve had to deal with the heartbreak of loss and the high of victory.

“I think what matters most is how you respond,” he said. “That experience of being in these games and the reps we’ve had.”

For Ottawa, Sunday’s final is a chance to cement a season that already rewrote club records. For Cavalry, it’s an opportunity to defend their crown and further their legacy.

“We’ve far exceeded what the country thought we were going to do this year,” said Ingham. “My job is to remind the boys that what we’ve done is incredible. Just keep doing what we’re doing, enjoy the moment and good things will happen.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 7, 2025.