2016 Amway Canadian Championship Schedule Set
Canada Soccer's road map has been outlined for the 2016 Amway Canadian Championship with the release of the new schedule which kicks off May 11 in Edmonton, Alberta. This year's competition again features Canada's five professional clubs, with the winner earning a spot in 2017-18 CONCACAF Champions League.
FC Edmonton will face Ottawa Fury FC in the preliminary round, with the home-and-away series set for May 11 and 18. The winner will advance to the semifinal phase to be played June 1 and 8 against last year's champion Vancouver Whitecaps FC.
In the other semifinal series, Toronto FC will face Impact Montréal FC. The two semifinal winners will then meet in the national final, to be played in the weeks of June 21 or 22 and June 28 or 29 (dates to be confirmed).
"The 2016 edition of the Amway Canadian Championship promises to be exciting once again this year,” President of Canada Soccer Victor Montagliani said . “The Amway Canadian Championship is always an intense competition, so it bodes well for the future growth of the game in our country."
Last year, Vancouver Whitecaps FC knocked off the two-time defending winners from Montréal in the two-leg final. Vancouver hoisted its first Voyageurs Cup and qualified for the 2016-17 CONCACAF Champions League. The winner of CONCACAF Champions League, featuring professional clubs from across the region, will qualify for the FIFA Club World Cup.
Since the introduction of the Amway Canadian Championship in 2008 and CONCACAF Champions League in 2008-09, Canada's professional soccer clubs have made a significant impact on the Canadian sporting scene. Just last year, Montréal made a terrific run to the continental final before falling to Mexico's CF America. In the Grand Final, Montréal drew 61,004 at Olympic Stadium, the highest attendance in Canada for an in-stadium competition of any sport in 2015.
2016 Amway Canadian Championship (home team listed first)
May 11 2016
Preliminary round - first leg
FC Edmonton v Ottawa Fury FC
May 18 2016
Preliminary round - second leg
Ottawa Fury FC v FC Edmonton
June 1 2016
Semifinal 1 - first leg
Ottawa Fury FC/FC Edmonton v Vancouver Whitecaps FC
Semifinal 2 - first leg
Toronto FC v Montreal Impact
June 8 2016
Semifinal 1 - second leg
Vancouver Whitecaps FC v Ottawa Fury FC/FC Edmonton
Semifinal 2 - second leg
Montreal Impact v Toronto FC
June 21 or 22 2016
Final - first leg
June 28 or 29 2016
Final - second leg
