The first season of the Northern Super League is coming to a close with the championship game scheduled for Saturday at Toronto’s BMO Field. League co-founder Diana Matheson expressed her excitement, highlighting the hard work put in by everyone involved to make the inaugural season a success. The final match between AFC Toronto and Vancouver Rise FC aims to showcase women’s professional sports in Canada, coinciding with the upcoming Grey Cup in Winnipeg.
Matheson’s goal is to fill the lower bowl at BMO Field for the championship game, with favorable weather conditions forecasted. AFC Toronto led the regular-season standings, finishing ahead of Vancouver Rise FC. The game will be aired nationally on CBC and streamed live on CBC Sports and CBC Gem.
Both teams had a balanced head-to-head record in the regular season, each winning two out of five matches. The league attracted significant attention, with over 275,000 ticket sales in 2025 from fans in 19 countries. Matheson emphasized the overwhelming positive response from players and fans, indicating a strong future for women’s professional sports in Canada.
The league is planning to expand by adding a seventh team in 2027, focusing on Central and Western Canada. The expansion committee, including current team owners and Whitecap Sports Group, is exploring opportunities for growth. Matheson highlighted Canada’s appeal to global investors interested in women’s sports, citing the league’s competitive position among international leagues.
The importance of developing soccer infrastructure was underscored, with hopes that the upcoming 2026 World Cup will spur investments in stadium facilities. After the championship game, Matheson will present the Diana B. Matheson Cup to the winning team, a culmination of the effort put into establishing the league. Matheson expressed a mix of anticipation and surrealism ahead of the final match day.