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The Canadian Premier League is unveiling a number of significant changes ahead of the 2026 season, most notably the introduction of the "daylight offside rule," championed by iconic coach Arsène Wenger.
Wenger, currently serving as FIFA's Chief of Global Football Development, has put forward a new interpretation regarding the positioning of defenders and attackers in offside situations, and the CPL—Canada's FIFA-recognized top flight—will become the first league globally to adopt it on a trial basis.
Under the updated framework, an attacking player will be deemed onside if at least one part of their body capable of scoring is level with or behind the second-to-last defender. A player will only be ruled offside if a visible gap—referred to as "daylight"—exists between them and that defender.
The league will collaborate closely with FIFA and ensure that its referees, overseen by Canada Soccer, are fully equipped for the new regulations.
"This is a significant pilot," Wenger stated in a press release. "By testing this new interpretation within a professional competition, we can gain a clearer understanding of its effects, including improvements to clarity, match flow, and the promotion of attacking football. We look forward to reviewing the findings of the trial period."
The eight-club competition, which welcomes new Montréal-based side FC Supra, gets underway on Saturday, aiming to capitalize on the excitement surrounding the 2026 World Cup, a viral snow-blanketed 2025 championship match, and now a revamped offside rule.
How Is Daylight Offside Different?
The CPL is leading the line on innovation ⚽️🇨🇦
This season, we're trialing the "daylight offside" rule, approved by IFAB and in cooperation with FIFA, to enhance attacking play and match flow.
Starts Saturday.#CPLSoccer pic.twitter.com/q3dxPUJsFA
The daylight rule is not entirely unlike the current system used across the globe.
The positioning of players is still determined by where they stand at the moment the ball leaves the passer's foot, consistent with the standard applied in top competitions worldwide. Under the old rulebook, an attacker's body was required to be fully behind the last defender at the time of the kick.
The CPL states that the new rule is "aimed at restoring a greater attacking advantage and boosting the flow of matches."
Challenge-Based Video Review Enters the CPL
In addition to the daylight offside rule, the CPL will also roll out Football Video Support, marking the first time in the eight-year-old league's history that any form of video-assisted officiating has been used.
The system grants officials a review tool in critical moments, but remains under the sole authority of the on-field referee rather than a separate dedicated video official, as is typical in standard Video Assisted Refereeing. Reviews will also be restricted to broadcast cameras covering the match.
Previously seen at youth World Cups, FVS will be triggered when teams use one of their two challenges per game in situations involving goals, penalty decisions, straight red cards, and cases of mistaken identity. Every goal will additionally be checked for clear and obvious infractions—a factor that may affect the natural rhythm of play.
Time Wasting Rules Added
The CPL has followed the lead of other leagues and the upcoming World Cup by implementing measures to crack down on time wasting.
Players must now exit the pitch within 10 seconds of a substitution being signaled. Failure to comply will result in the incoming player being held back for a minimum of one minute. Similarly, players receiving on-field treatment for injuries will be required to leave the pitch and stay off for one minute.
Canadian Premier League Ready for Eighth Season
GOAL 🦖
DAVID RODRIGUEZ ARE YOU KIDDING ME!!!!!!
BICYCLE KICK GOAL IN THE 2025 CANADIAN PREMIER LEAGUE FINAL TO LEVEL THINGS UP FOR @atletiOttawa 🤯🤯🤯
🔴 Watch the #CanPL final LIVE on OneSoccer, TSN & FuboTV pic.twitter.com/4RhNsBI4zH
Despite fielding only eight clubs, the CPL involves some of the most extensive travel in world football, with the distance between Victoria's Pacific FC and the Halifax Wanderers stretching 2,789 miles—a journey requiring a connecting flight of over six hours, made twice a season by each team.
Atlético Ottawa, an affiliate of La Liga powerhouse Atlético Madrid, claimed the 2025 championship in a snow-covered final, defeating Calgary's Cavalry FC thanks to a bicycle kick—now immortalized as "The Icycle Kick"—and a stoppage-time strike from David Rodríguez, a Mexican forward who had never encountered snow prior to the match.
In 2026, Ottawa will look to defend their crown while Cavalry pursue their second North Star Cup, having fallen short in three of their four final appearances. Hamilton's Forge FC are eager to reclaim the top spot after their remarkable run of four titles in the league's opening five seasons stalled in 2023, despite a strong regular season campaign in 2025.
The remaining clubs include the recently rebranded Inter Toronto FC, with deep connections to Liga MX, along with Vancouver FC, Halifax Wanderers, Pacific FC, and FC Supra—a new side committed to an Athletic Club-inspired squad model, recruiting exclusively players from Québec, Canada's sole French-speaking province.
The season gets underway on April 4.