Atlético Ottawa reaches CPL Final, secures 2027 Concacaf spot
OTTAWA, ON - November 7, 2026: Forge FC vs Atlético Ottawa at Hamilton Stadium. (Photo by Phil Lariviere/Atlético Ottawa)
Atlético Ottawa will have the opportunity to defend its Canadian Premier League championship after defeating Forge FC 3-2 in Hamilton, completing a 5-4 aggregate semifinal victory to reach the 2026 CPL Final. The result also secured Ottawa’s qualification for the 2027 Concacaf Champions Cup.
Nicolas Fleuriau Chateau delivered the decisive performance, scoring a hat-trick in the second leg to eliminate Forge and send the defending North Star Cup champions back to the championship match.
Ottawa will face Cavalry FC in the final on Saturday, November 21, with kickoff scheduled for 3 p.m. ET. The match will take place in Calgary, where Atlético will attempt to win consecutive CPL championships.
The victory marks Ottawa’s third appearance in the league final since 2022 and its second in as many seasons, extending a period in which the club has established itself as a regular contender for the North Star Cup.
Nicolas Fleuriau Chateau scores hat-trick against Forge FC
Atlético Ottawa arrived in Hamilton with the semifinal finely balanced following the opening leg, needing another strong performance to overcome one of its familiar playoff opponents.
Fleuriau Chateau gave the visitors an early advantage, finishing an attacking move created by Ballou Tabla Habibullah. The goal was his 10th of the season despite joining Ottawa in July, underlining his importance to the team’s attack during the latter part of the campaign.
Forge responded before halftime, scoring from a corner to level the match. Set pieces had already played a significant role in the series, with the Hamilton club scoring twice from similar situations in the first leg.
The second half produced opportunities at both ends as neither side managed to establish control for an extended period.
One of the most disputed moments came when Fleuriau Chateau had an effort near the goal line, prompting questions over whether the ball had crossed completely. The decision did not result in a goal.
The Ottawa striker eventually restored his team’s lead late in the match, putting the visitors in position to advance.
However, the contest took another turn when Fleuriau Chateau conceded a penalty, allowing Forge to equalize and keep its hopes of reaching the final alive.
Rather than allowing that setback to decide the series, the forward responded with another goal, completing his hat-trick and securing a 3-2 victory.
His three goals ultimately separated the teams in a semifinal decided by a single goal on aggregate.
Atlético Ottawa returns to the CPL Final as defending champion
The victory carries particular significance given Ottawa’s recent playoff history against Forge FC.
For the third consecutive season, Atlético travelled to Hamilton for a postseason meeting with Forge.
The 2024 encounter ended in defeat for Ottawa, but the club reversed that result in 2025 on its way to winning the North Star Cup for the first time.
This year’s meeting produced another victory in Hamilton, allowing Atlético to continue its title defence.
Reaching the 2026 final also gives Ottawa three championship appearances since 2022, matching the total achieved by Forge FC and Cavalry FC during that period.
The club previously reached the final in 2022 before returning to the championship match in 2025.
Ottawa’s latest qualification demonstrates the continuity of its postseason results, although the final will present another challenge against a Cavalry side that earned the higher regular-season seed.
Ottawa qualifies for 2027 Concacaf Champions Cup
Beyond the opportunity to defend its domestic title, Atlético Ottawa’s progression also confirms its place in the 2027 Concacaf Champions Cup.
The continental qualification gives the club another opportunity to compete beyond the Canadian Premier League, adding an international dimension to its achievements this season.
For Ottawa, securing that place before the championship match means the team will enter the final with its continental participation already confirmed.
The focus now shifts to Cavalry FC, with the North Star Cup remaining the principal prize on November 21.
Cavalry’s higher regular-season seeding gives the Calgary club hosting rights for the final, meaning Ottawa must win away from home to retain its championship.
After eliminating Forge through a five-goal aggregate performance, Atlético will look to carry its attacking production into the deciding match.
Fleuriau Chateau’s hat-trick has already secured one major objective. The next will be helping Ottawa become back-to-back Canadian Premier League champions.
