Canadian Soccer League
The Canadian Soccer League (CSL; French: Ligue canadienne de soccer — LCS) is a semi-professional league for Canadian soccer clubs primarily located in the province of Ontario, and claims the history of the Canadian National Soccer League (CNSL). It is a non-FIFA league previously sanctioned by the Canadian Soccer Association (CSA), but now affiliated with the Soccer Federation of Canada (SFC). As of 2023, it consists of seven teams, all located in Ontario. The season usually runs from May to October, with most games played on the weekend followed by a playoff format to determine the overall champion.
| Founded | 1998 (as CPSL) 2006 (as CSL) |
|---|---|
| Country | Canada |
| Confederation | Non-FIFA |
| Number of teams | 7 |
| Current champions | Scarborough SC (2023) |
| Most championships | Toronto Croatia (6 titles) |
| Website | canadiansoccerleague |
The league was formed in 1998 as the Canadian Professional Soccer League (CPSL) by an alliance forged by the Ontario Soccer Association (OSA) with the Canadian National Soccer League. The new league was meant to provide opportunities for the development of players, coaches, and referees. The intention of the alliance was to form regional divisions across the nation under the CPSL banner with each divisional champion competing in a playoff format for the championship.