The following is a series of summary interpretations from the official roster guidelines that formally govern play within the Canadian Premier League.

As of March 1, 2026

2026 CPL Roster Composition

A Canadian Premier League (CPL) Club’s Master Roster is comprised of up to thirty-three (33) players. All thirty-three (33) players are eligible for selection to their Club’s matchday squad during the League Season, which includes the CPL’s Regular Season and Playoffs.

A CPL Club’s Master Roster is divided into the Primary Roster and the Developmental Roster. A CPL Club’s Primary Roster can include up to twenty-three (23) players, all of whom count toward its total Player Compensation Budget. A Club’s Developmental Roster, which was created by the CPL to provide opportunities for the next generation of talent in Canada, can include up to ten (10) players. Players on a Club’s Developmental Roster generally do not count toward its Player Compensation Budget, with some exceptions for players signed under the Exceptional Young Talent designation.

Primary Roster

At all times during the 2026 League Season, a Club’s Primary Roster must include:

• A minimum of 20 players

• A maximum of 23 players

• A minimum of three (3) Domestic Under-21 Players born Jan. 1, 2005 or later

• A maximum of seven (7) International Players

Developmental Roster

At all times during the 2026 League Season, a Clubs’ Developmental Roster may include:

• A maximum of three (3) players designated Exceptional Young Talents

• A maximum of three (3) U SPORTS Players

• A maximum of four (4) Development Players

The Exceptional Young Talent designation allows a CPL Club to sign up to three (3) additional Under-18 domestic players to Standard Player Contracts outside of its twenty-three (23) man Primary Roster. For the 2026 League Season, new players signed under this designation must be born Jan. 1, 2008 or later to be eligible to be signed as an Exceptional Young Talent Player.

A player signed to a CPL-U SPORTS Contract can maintain his U SPORTS eligibility while earning professional experience in the CPL. In 2026, CPL-U SPORTS Contracts end on August 15, unless otherwise extended to the end of the 2026 League Season.

A player signed to a Development Contract must be a Domestic Under-18 Player, born Jan 1, 2008 or later. A player registered under a Development Contract is eligible to make four (4) appearances per Development Permit for a CPL Club, while maintaining his amateur status and ability to train and play with the amateur team that holds his registration. Development Permits are issued by Canada Soccer to eligible Domestic Under-18 Players. There is no time limit for completion appearances under a Development Permit. A player may be issued a maximum of two (2) Development Permits in the CPL during the 2026 calendar year, and both Development Permits may be used under the same Development Contract.

For clarity: A player may use both Development Permits under a single Development Contract with the same CPL Club, or may use one Development Permit under each of two (2) separate Development Contracts, provided the second contract is signed with a different CPL Club. In all cases, a player may not exceed two (2) Development Permits in total during the applicable CPL calendar year.

Inactive List

Players may be removed from a CPL Club’s Master Roster and placed on its Inactive List in the event of a season-ending injury or under exceptional circumstances, pending League approval.

A CPL Club is limited to roster and Player Compensation Budget relief for one (1) season-ending injury per League Season. A CPL Club may request roster relief for any other player moved to the Inactive List, pending League approval.

A player moved to a CPL Club’s Inactive List with a season-ending injury may not return to play through the remainder of the 2026 League Season.

Extreme Hardship

The CPL may approve a Club signing a player to a Short-Term Replacement Standard Contract in cases of Extreme Hardship, such as:

• A CPL Club’s Primary Roster falls below sixteen (16) available players through short-term injury, suspension, or unique circumstances.

• A CPL Club has fewer than two (2) available goalkeepers through short-term injury, suspension, or unique circumstances.

Loan Agreements

The following rules apply to incoming loan players:

• A CPL Club may utilize a maximum of six (6) incoming loans during a CPL League Season.

• A CPL Club shall have a maximum of three (3) incoming player loans from any one Club.

• The League shall have a maximum of five (5) incoming loans from any one Club in any CPL League Season.

The following rules apply to outgoing loan players:

• A CPL Club may loan no more than three (3) players to any one Club.

The following rules apply to player loans between CPL Clubs:

• A CPL Club may loan no more than one (1) player to another CPL Club during any CPL League Season.

Key Dates

Transfer Windows

For the 2026 League Season, transfer windows in Canada are as follows:

• Primary window:

• Starts: January 30, 2026

• Ends: April 16, 2026

• Secondary Window

• Starts: July 17, 2026

• Ends: August 20, 2026

Roster Compliance & Roster Freeze Dates

CPL Clubs must be fully roster compliant by April 1, 2026, at 5 p.m. ET.

CPL Club rosters will be frozen as of September 17, 2026, at 4 p.m. ET. No new signings to a Club’s Master Roster will be permitted following the Roster Freeze Date, except for in cases of Extreme Hardship, as approved by the League. CPL Clubs will be permitted to publicly announce signings after the Roster Freeze Date, provided the agreement was executed prior to the above stated deadline.

Compensation Budget Parameters

Player Compensation Budget

The maximum Player Compensation Budget available to all CPL Clubs in 2026 is $1,337,500 CAD. It can be achieved if a Club chooses to implement the League’s Under-21 Player Incentive, which sees Under-21 Players hit the Player Compensation Budget at 50 per cent of their total compensation up to a maximum benefit of $120,000 CAD per Club.

The minimum base salary for the 2026 League Season for all players on the Primary Roster is $30,000 CAD.

The costs to be calculated in determining a CPL Club’s Player Compensation Budget include any and all compensation and expenses (e.g. housing) associated with acquiring the services of a player on the CPL Club’s Primary Roster.

Players signed to a CPL-U SPORTS Contract are provided an educational grant paid to their U SPORTS institution. The grant does not count towards the Club’s Player Compensation Budget, nor do any other expenses for U SPORTS players.

Players on a Development Contract may receive a stipend up to a maximum of $250 per week, which does not count toward a CPL Club’s Player Compensation Budget.

Players signed by a CPL Club under the Exceptional Young Talent designation will receive no less than the current player minimum base salary. The minimum salary paid to a player designated an Exceptional Young Talent, as well as any monetary support for education, will not count toward a CPL Club’s Player Compensation Budget. Portions of Club bonuses as well as housing costs paid to a player designated Exceptional Young Talent will also remain outside of a CPL Club’s Player Compensation Budget.