Hamilton will play home to the first ever match in Canadian Premier League history on Saturday, April 27, 2019, at 1 p.m.
Opening day at Tim Hortons Field will also feature the inception of the “905 Derby” when Forge FC hosts York9.
The full CPL schedule will be released at a later date.
“Celebrating the launch of our own national soccer league in Hamilton is extremely exciting,” said CPL and Forge FC co-founder Bob Young in a media release. “This match will mark the official launch of a truly Canadian professional soccer league, and it’s also the beginning of another great rivalry for fans in Hamilton and the York Region/Greater Toronto Area.”
The Canadian Premier League is a Tier 1 professional soccer league that will launch with seven teams: Cavalry FC (Calgary), FC Edmonton, Forge FC (Hamilton), HFX Wanderers FC (Halifax), Pacific FC (Victoria), Valour FC (Winnipeg), York 9 FC (York Region).
The CPL says more teams are expected to join in 2020.
“We are beyond excited to kick-off our first season in Hamilton at the end of April,” said David Clanachan, commissioner of the CPL, in a media release. “Canadians have been waiting for what seems like forever for their own sanctioned professional league with clubs playing coast to coast. There is no doubt that I share that level of excitement.”
The league is headquartered in Toronto with plans for a second office in Hamilton.