Four clubs, two semifinal series and a place in the November 14 NSL Final on the line — while the clocks play their own game this weekend.

The road to the Diana B. Matheson Cup starts this weekend as the Northern Super League (NSL) Playoffs kick off with two high-stakes semifinal matchups. Montréal Roses, Ottawa Rapid, AFC Toronto and defending champions Vancouver Rise begin their two-leg battles for a place in the November 14 NSL Final presented by BMO in Ottawa.

The Battle of Ontario Takes the Playoff Stage

Provincial rivals AFC Toronto and Ottawa Rapid FC meet with a place in the Final at stake, opening their semifinal series at York Lions Stadium on Saturday. Ottawa finished second in the regular-season standings with 40 points, just one ahead of third-place Toronto. Both sides enter the playoffs with attacking threats to watch: Toronto’s Kaylee Hunter, 18, found the net in the club’s regular-season finale against Halifax Tides FC, while Ottawa’s D.B. Pridham delivered a brace in a statement 5–2 win over Vancouver Rise FC earlier this month. With local bragging rights and a crucial first-leg result up for grabs, the Battle of Ontario promises a compelling start to the playoff campaign. AFC Toronto hosts Ottawa Rapid FC on Saturday, October 31, at 2 p.m. ET at York Lions Stadium.

Shield Winners Meet Defending Champions in Semifinal Clash

The defending champions face the regular-season winners as Vancouver Rise FC welcomes Montréal Roses FC to Swangard Stadium. Montréal enters the playoffs as the Supporters’ Shield winner after finishing atop the standings with 45 points, while Vancouver secured the final playoff berth with a dramatic 3–2 victory over Calgary Wild FC. Mia Pante scored twice in that decisive win, with Jessica de Filippo also finding the net, before a 1–1 draw between Toronto and Halifax confirmed Vancouver’s place in the final four. Montréal closed its regular season with a 1–0 win over Ottawa, with Tanya Boychuk scoring the decisive goal in the 80th minute to secure the club’s first Supporters’ Shield. Now, the Rise begin their title defence against the league’s top-ranked side, with both clubs looking to seize an early advantage before the return leg. Vancouver Rise hosts Montréal Roses FC on Sunday, November 1, at 5 p.m. PCT at Swangard Stadium.

Both semifinal series will be decided over two legs, with aggregate goals determining which clubs advance. Ottawa hosts the second leg against Toronto on November 7, while Montréal welcomes Vancouver to Laval, Que., on November 8. The two semifinal winners will meet in the 2026 NSL Final presented by BMO on Saturday, November 14, at TD Place in Ottawa, competing for the Diana B. Matheson Cup.

Where to Watch

The clocks may be playing their own game this weekend — check your local time before kickoff!

Saturday, October 31: AFC Toronto vs. Ottawa Rapid — 2 p.m. ET on CBC
Sunday, November 1: Vancouver Rise vs. Montréal Roses — 5 p.m. PCT / 7 p.m. ET on TSN, RDS-INFO and ESPN+

The road to the Diana B. Matheson Cup leads to Ottawa. Tickets for the NSL Final are available now at nsl.ca/final.

About the Northern Super League

The Northern Super League is Canada’s first professional women’s soccer league, launched in 2025 with six clubs: Calgary Wild FC, Halifax Tides FC, Montréal Roses FC, Ottawa Rapid FC, AFC Toronto and Vancouver Rise FC. The league will expand to Winnipeg in 2027, bringing its total to seven clubs. Grounded in global best practices, the NSL is designed for long-term growth, commercial sustainability and national impact. The league is committed to advancing Canadian excellence in sport while setting a new standard for equity, inclusion and professional women’s athletics. For more information, visit NSL.ca.

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