The Open Canada Cup was an annual knock-out cup competition in Canadian Soccer. The competition was first held during the 1998 season as the CPSL League Cup. It was organized by the Canadian Soccer League originally as a League Cup for CSL member clubs. After operating the competition for several seasons as an exclusive tournament, the league's ownership decided in 2003 to grant accessibility to all Canadian professional and amateur clubs. The decision was influenced by the lack of initiative by the Canadian Soccer Association in providing a potential candidate for the CONCACAF Champions' Cup.
Serbian White Eagles prior to a 2007 Open Canada Cup match
Trois Rivieres Attak celebrating their 2007 Open Canada Cup
The Canadian Soccer League 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.
Canadian international Atiba Hutchinson began his career in the CPSL