Canada's Northern Super League has a slightly odd format with each club playing against each other five times for a total of 25 regular season matches. While this results in a balance of matches between all clubs, it does result in an imbalance of home and away matches however. In 2026 the season has a very similar look to last year, including one team pulling up the rear with a horrendous record through the first half of the season.
How has the season gone?
1st Place: Ottawa Rapid (9-1-2, 28 pts)
Coming off a second place finish in 2025, Ottawa Rapid have had a tremendous first half of their sophomore campaign. Only two losses and one draw on the season, with both losses coming in their opening five matches of play. Rapid are currently on a seven match winless streak coupled with four wins on the trot. If Ottawa keeps playing as they have the NSL Shield will be headed to Canada's Capital at the end of the regular season.
2nd Place: Montréal Roses (7-3-2, 24 pts)
2025 ended with a disappointing finish in the playoffs with the Roses falling to Vancouver Rise. Since then the Roses have reloaded and it has paid off very well. Seven wins and just three loses in the opening 12 matches puts Montréal as the only team within striking distance of the rising Rapid up in Ottawa. With recent additions of Montréal native Mimi Alidou the Roses are gearing up for a shield chase in the back half of the season.
3rd Place: Vancouver Rise (5-1-6, 16 pts)
Defending NSL champion Vancouver lost more a few key players over the offseason, but Canadian superstar Quinn has remained a constant with the club. After a rough start out of the gate for the Rise they have somewhat righted the ship. With five wins and earning points in six of their last nine matches the Rise have propelled themselves from near bottom of the table to a playoff spot. Vancouver will need some additions during the summer transfer window in order to Rise to the occasion and repeat as NSL Champions.
4th Place: AFC Toronto (4-3-4, 15 pts)
In the league's first season AFC Toronto ran away with the NSL Shield and ultimately made it to the NSL Final. But they were not the club to hoist the Matheson Cup in Toronto as they fell in their home city to Vancouver. 2026 has seen a dropoff for AFC Toronto with the club struggling to find constant performances on the pitch. With two losses on the bounce and an upcoming match at Montréal, things aren't looking so hot for Toronto.
5th Place: Halifax Tides (4-2-6, 14 pts)
Through twelve matches Halifax has already eclipsed their win total from 2025, a season that saw the Tides win just thrice and claim the wooden spoon. A tight playoff race means the Tides could very well be in the hunt until near the end of the season. But they'll need to step up their goal production in order to do so. While tight defensively that lack of scoring has led Halifax to three losses on the bounce and a meeting this weekend in Vancouver will not be an easy task for Atlantic Canada's only club.
6th Place: Calgary Wild (0-2-9, 2 pts)
Sitting at the bottom of the table are the Calgary Wild who have not won a single match through the first half of the campaign. It has been a month since the last time Calgary earned points, coming in a 1-1 draw with Montréal on 21 June. The question now is weather the appointment of Australian Leah Blayney as manager will help the Wild who are now on their third manager (second full time) since the club started last season.
Round 14 Matches
Wednesday, 22 July
Calgary Wild vs Ottawa Rapid - 8pm CT / 7pm MT
Watch on: TSN (Canada), ESPN+ (USA), YouTube (Internationally)
Thursday, 23 July
Montréal Roses vs AFC Toronto - 6pm CT / 7pm ET
Watch on: CBC Gem and RDS (Canada), YouTube (Internationally)
Saturday, 25 July
Vancouver Rise vs Halifax Tides - 3pm CT / 1pm PT
Watch on: TSN (Canada), ESPN+ (USA), YouTube (Internationally)
