The 2025 Forge FC season will be the seventh season in the history of Forge FC and the club's seventh season in the Canadian Premier League (CPL), the top flight in Canadian soccer. Forge are the defending CPL Shield winners, having finished first in the 2024 Canadian Premier League season.
| 2025 season | |
|---|---|
| Chairman | Bob Young |
| Head coach | Bobby Smyrniotis |
| Stadium | Tim Hortons Field |
| Canadian Premier League | Matchday 1 |
| Canadian Championship | TBA |
| CONCACAF Champions Cup | Round one |
In addition to the Canadian Premier League, the club will compete in the Canadian Championship and the CONCACAF Champions Cup.
Review
editBackground
editForge FC will enter the 2025 Canadian Premier League season as the reigning regular season winners after having finished first and claiming the CPL Shield in the 2024 season.[1] This was the club's second regular season title and sixth trophy in six years, continuing their dynasty.[2] In the CPL playoffs, Forge advanced to the 2024 CPL final where they were defeated by rival side Cavalry FC, finishing as runner-up.[3]
The Hammers will also compete in the 2025 Canadian Championship, a domestic cup organized by the Canadian Soccer Association. In the 2024 edition, Forge defeated MLS side CF Montréal in the quarter-final.[4] They were knocked out in the semi-final by Toronto FC, losing on away goals after tying 2–2 on aggregate.[5]
Forge qualified for the 2025 CONCACAF Champions Cup as 2024 CPL regular season winners.[1][6] This will be Forge's third appearance in the competition and second appearance in a row. In the 2024 edition, Forge faced Mexican side C.D. Guadalajara in round one, losing 5–2 on aggregate.[7]
Head coach and sporting director Bobby Smyrniotis is contracted to return for his seventh season with the club after signing a four-year contract extension in 2023.[8][9]
Squad
editIn 2024, Forge signed goalkeeper Jassem Koleilat, midfielders Alexander Achinioti-Jonsson and Elimane Cissé, and attacker Nana Ampomah to multi-year deals.[10][11][12][13] In addition, Daniel Parra's 2024 loan deal from C.F. Monterrey included a team option for 2025.[14]
Transfers
editIn
editDraft picks
editForge FC will make two selections in the 2025 CPL–U Sports Draft on December 5, 2024.[15] Draft picks are not automatically signed to the team roster; only those who are signed to a contract will be listed as transfers in.
| Round | Selection | Pos. | Player | Nationality | University |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 7 | ||||
| 2 | 15 |
Competitions
editMatches are listed in Hamilton local time: Eastern Daylight Time (UTC−4) from March 9 until November 2, and Eastern Standard Time (UTC−5) otherwise.
Overview
edit| Competition | Starting round | Record | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Win % | ||
| Canadian Premier League | Matchday 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | +0 | — |
| Canadian Championship | TBA | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | +0 | — |
| CONCACAF Champions Cup | Round one | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | +0 | — |
| Total | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | +0 | — | |
Source: Competitions
Canadian Premier League
editThe Canadian Premier League schedule is expected to be released around late January to early February, 2025.[16]
Canadian Championship
editCONCACAF Champions Cup
editThe CONCACAF Champions Cup draw will be held on December 10, 2024. Having qualified as CPL regular season winners, Forge will enter the competition in round one and begin play in February, 2025.[6]
Round one
edit| February, 2025 Leg 1 | Forge FC  | v | TBD | Hamilton, Ontario |
| Stadium: Tim Hortons Field |
| February, 2025 Leg 2 | TBD | v | Forge FC |
References
edit- ^ a b Radley, Scott (October 17, 2024). "After first-place finish, Forge FC is chasing CPL history". The Hamilton Spectator. Archived from the original on October 17, 2024. Retrieved October 17, 2024.
- ^ Dichter, Myles (October 24, 2024). "Hamilton Forge FC's championship pedigree a model other franchises can only dream of". CBC Sports. Archived from the original on October 24, 2024.
- ^ Hall, Vicki (November 9, 2024). "Calgary's Cavalry FC dethrones Hamilton's Forge FC for 1st-ever Canadian Premier League title". CBC Sports. The Canadian Press. Archived from the original on November 11, 2024. Retrieved November 11, 2024.
- ^ Grigoriadis, Elias (May 22, 2024). "CPL's Forge FC upsets CF Montreal, advances to Canadian Championship semifinal". The Hamilton Spectator. The Canadian Press. Archived from the original on May 24, 2024. Retrieved May 24, 2024.
- ^ Chidley-Hill, John (August 28, 2024). "Forge FC 'made us work for it,' says Toronto FC coach after team beats Hamilton 1-0 in semifinal". CBC News. The Canadian Press. Archived from the original on September 21, 2024. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
- ^ a b "Concacaf confirms important details for 2025 Concacaf Champions Cup" (Press release). Miami, FL: CONCACAF. October 25, 2024. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
- ^ "Mexico's Chivas Guadalajara knocks Hamilton's Forge FC out of CONCACAF Champions Cup". CBC News. The Canadian Press. February 14, 2024. Archived from the original on February 15, 2024. Retrieved February 21, 2024.
- ^ "Forge FC Announce Extension and Expanded Role For Bobby Smyrniotis" (Press release). Forge FC. May 1, 2023. Retrieved May 1, 2023.
- ^ Milton, Steve (May 1, 2023). "Forge FC locks in coach Bobby Smyrniotis for four more years". The Hamilton Spectator. Retrieved May 1, 2023.
- ^ Jacques, John (March 22, 2024). "Forge Signs Former LAFC2 Goalkeeper Kolielat On Multi-Year Deal". Northern Tribune. Archived from the original on March 22, 2024. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
- ^ Jacques, John (January 29, 2024). "Alexander Achinioti-Jonsson Inks Multi-Year Deal With Forge". Northern Tribune. Archived from the original on January 29, 2024. Retrieved January 29, 2024.
- ^ Tierney, Mitchell (January 31, 2024). "Forge FC announce return of midfielder Elimane Cissé". Canadian Premier League. Archived from the original on January 31, 2024. Retrieved January 31, 2024.
- ^ Jacques, John (February 1, 2024). "Forge Adds Former Bundesliga Winger Nana Opoku Ampomah". Northern Tribune. Archived from the original on February 1, 2024. Retrieved February 1, 2024.
- ^ Milton, Steve (April 12, 2024). "Hamilton's relentless left back Daniel Parra is about to meet the intense realities of Forge vs. Cavalry". Forge FC. Archived from the original on April 23, 2024. Retrieved November 12, 2024.
- ^ "Canadian Premier League Announces 2025 CPL-U Sports Draft Presented By Degree" (Press release). U Sports. October 18, 2024. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
- ^ "2025 Season Seats". Forge FC. Archived from the original on November 11, 2024. Retrieved November 11, 2024.