Canadian Premier League to host offside trial in 2026 season

Canadian Premier League to host offside trial in 2026 season

League introduce trial, Football Video Support (FVS) as part of 2026 competition update

TORONTO — March 31, 2026 — The Canadian Premier League today confirmed it will provide the competition environment for an official trial related to an alternative offside law, conducted by the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) under the mandate of The International Football Association Board (IFAB).

The trial will be accompanied by the introduction of Football Video Support (FVS) technology, as well as additional measures to enhance match tempo and reduce time-wasting.

“This is about positioning the Canadian Premier League at the forefront of innovation and contributing meaningfully to the global evolution of the game,” said James Johnson, Group CEO, Canadian Soccer Media & Entertainment and Commissioner, Canadian Premier League. “By working closely with FIFA and IFAB, we are proud to play a role in shaping the future of football while continuing to build a competition that reflects our ambition here in Canada.”

These changes form part of the league’s broader 2026 competition updates.

FIFA and CPL to Conduct Offside Trial in 2026

The trial will apply an alternative offside law during the 2026 season, with the CPL becoming the first professional league to apply the alternative offside law on a trial basis.

Under the revised approach, an attacking player will be considered onside if at least one part of their body that can legitimately be used to score (i.e. not the hands/arms) is in line with (or behind) the second-to-last defender. A player will only be ruled offside if there is a gap – or “daylight” – between themselves and the defender. In effect, attackers must be fully beyond the second last defending player to be penalised. By introducing a clearer visual threshold, the trial is aimed at restoring a greater attacking advantage and boosting the flow of matches.

The trial will be conducted in close collaboration with FIFA, combining the league’s operational expertise with FIFA’s oversight of the research and evaluation framework to assess the impact of the proposed law change. Together with Canada Soccer, the organizations will ensure education and preparation for match officials, clubs and players, while coordinating stakeholder engagement and collecting match data throughout the season to inform a detailed evaluation and potential future considerations.

Implementation of Football Video Support (FVS)

As part of the 2026 offside trial, Football Video Support (FVS) will be implemented across the CPL season. Introduced in collaboration with FIFA, the system will provide match officials with an additional review mechanism in key match situations, supporting accuracy and transparency in decision-making.

FVS is a video review system that allows match officials to review key incidents using available broadcast footage with the support of qualified Replay Operators. Unlike VAR, there is no dedicated video match officials, and reviews are initiated by the team’s head coaches. Under the FVS system, each team will be allocated a limited number (2) of video review requests per match in clearly defined match-changing situations, including goals, penalty decisions, direct red cards and cases of mistaken identity. If a review results in a decision being overturned, the team will retain its review opportunity. All goals will also be checked for clear and obvious offences which may have been committed by the attacking team in the attacking phase of play that led directly to the goal.

All reviews will be conducted pitch-side by the referee using a monitor located within a designated Referee Review Area. The on-field match official retains final authority over any decision following video assessment.

CPL adopts additional measures to enhance match tempo and reduce time wasting

The CPL will also adopt a package of measures designed by FIFA and approved by IFAB to enhance match tempo and reduce time-wasting across the game. These changes, which will also be implemented at the FIFA World Cup 2026 and all other FIFA competitions, include:

  • Throw-ins and goal kicks: If the referee considers that a throw-in or goal kick is being deliberately delayed, a five-second visual countdown will be initiated. If the ball is not in play at the end of the countdown, the throw-in will be awarded to the opposing team; a delayed goal kick will result in a corner kick to the opposing team
  • Time-limited substitutions: Substituted players must leave the field of play within 10 seconds of the substitution board being displayed or, where no board is used, upon the referee’s signal. Should the player fail to leave within this time, they must still exit the field; however, the substitute will not be permitted to enter until the first stoppage after one minute of play (running clock) has elapsed.
  • Off-field treatment and assessment: Where a player receives on-field assessment for an injury, or their injury causes play to be stopped, the player will be required to leave the field of play and remain off for one minute once play (running clock) has restarted.

2026 Playoffs to Return to Feature Refined Four-Team Format

The 2026 CPL Playoffs will feature a four-team format with two-leg semifinals and a single-match CPL Final. The top four clubs from the Regular Season will qualify, with first facing fourth and second facing third. Each semifinal will be played over two legs, with the higher-seeded team hosting the second leg.

Winners will advance on aggregate score, with ties decided by extra time and, if required, penalties. 

The CPL Final will be hosted by the higher-seeded team.

Roster Regulation Updates for 2026

The maximum Player Compensation Budget will increase to $1,217,500 CAD per club for the 2026 season. In alignment with its strategy to invest in the development of young Canadian talent, the CPL continues to create opportunities for significant additional off-budget investment through U-21 Primary Roster spots and the Developmental Roster, resulting in clubs consistently spending meaningfully above the stated Player Compensation Budget. The following roster regulation updates further support this approach:

  • A new U-21 Graduate Provision will allow eligible players entering their U-22 year to continue at or sign a new SPC with the same club and count at 80% of their compensation toward the Player Compensation Budget, provided the player has previously spent at least two seasons with the same club and not while on loan from another club.
  • The maximum relief for the U-21 Player Incentive will increase to $120,000 CAD per club.
  • Clubs may now carry up to three Exceptional Young Talent U-18 players on the Developmental Roster. Further, if one of these EYT-designated players is a goalkeeper, a club may choose to carry only one goalkeeper on its Primary Roster.

The 2026 CPL Regular Season — the League’s eighth campaign — kicks off Saturday, April 4 and runs through Sunday, Oct. 25. Visit schedule.cplsoccer.com for more details.

-30-

About Canadian Premier League
The Canadian Premier League (CPL) is Canada’s Tier 1 domestic men’s professional soccer league, provides a national platform for Canadian players to compete at the highest level on home soil and gain exposure on the global stage, contributing to the long-term growth of Canadian soccer domestically and internationally. As part of Canadian Soccer Media & Entertainment’s league portfolio, which also includes Premier Soccer Leagues Canada (PSLC), the CPL brings high-quality professional soccer to communities from coast to coast and competes in Concacaf- and FIFA-sanctioned competitions.

For more information, please contact:

Katrin Ivanov
Manager, League Communications
Canadian Premier League and Premier Soccer Leagues Canada
katrin.ivanov@cplsoccer.com

Laura Armstrong
Vice President, Communications and Business Integration
Canadian Soccer Media & Entertainment
laura.armstrong@cansme.ca

Related Post

Scroll to Top

Costa Smyrniotis

Costa Smyrniotis is a senior Canadian soccer executive with more than 20 years of experience across the professional, developmental, and commercial sides of the game in Canada and internationally. His career spans league governance, club operations, player representation, and academy leadership, giving him a comprehensive understanding of the soccer ecosystem.

As Executive Vice President of the Canadian Premier League, Smyrniotis oversees sporting and business operations across Canadian Soccer Media & Entertainment’s league portfolio, including the CPL and Premier Soccer Leagues Canada, the umbrella organization for Canada’s national pro-am competitions.

Previously, he served as Executive Vice President, Soccer, helping professionalize the league’s on-field product and strengthen its reputation in the global transfer market, increasing player movement and international recognition.

Prior to his league role, Smyrniotis spent five years as Director of Football and Business at Forge FC, building one of Canada’s most successful professional clubs. Earlier, he co-founded Sigma FC, built a leading player agency, and held senior business roles with multinational organizations.

Laura Armstrong

Laura Armstrong is Vice President, Communications & Business Integration at Canadian Soccer Media & Entertainment, where she leads strategic communications, public relations, and key stakeholder engagement across the company’s corporate functions, leagues, and media assets.

In this role, Laura works closely with executive leadership to align organizational strategy and priorities, supporting the delivery of the company’s long-term vision through coordinated planning and execution across teams.

Prior to joining CSME, Laura spent nearly a decade as a journalist with the Toronto Star, Canada’s largest daily newspaper, where she led the paper’s soccer coverage beginning in 2015. A leading voice in Canadian soccer — particularly in the women’s game — she covered major milestones including the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup, Toronto FC’s treble-winning 2017 season, and Canada’s men’s national team qualification for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Laura regularly appeared across national and international broadcast platforms including OneSoccer, Sportsnet, CBC, CTV, the BBC and more

A bilingual native of Barrhaven, Ont., Laura holds a combined honours degree in Journalism and English Literature from the University of King’s College in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Dylan Hewko

Dylan Hewko is a finance executive with extensive experience in professional sports, specializing in financial strategy, governance, and organizational oversight. He currently serves as Senior Vice President, Finance, supporting the continued growth and financial stewardship of Canadian Soccer Media & Entertainment.

In this corporate leadership role, Dylan is responsible for financial planning, reporting, and governance, as well as people operations and organizational policies, supporting the company’s overall business objectives across its leagues and properties.

Prior to joining the Canadian Premier League in 2021, Dylan spent three years with New York City FC as Controller and held finance roles with the Toronto Blue Jays. He began his professional career at Deloitte Canada in the Assurance & Advisory practice, building a strong foundation in corporate accounting and financial management.

A graduate of Queen’s University, Dylan holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) and a Graduate Diploma in Accounting, and is a Chartered Professional Accountant (Canada) and Certified Public Accountant (USA). He has long been engaged in the intersection of sport and business, including through leadership roles with the Queen’s Sports Industry Conference.

Marni Dicker

Marni Dicker is a senior executive and governance leader with deep experience in corporate law, infrastructure development, and organizational leadership across complex public- and private-sector environments.

In her dual role as Chief Legal Officer and Executive Vice President, Infrastructure, Marni oversees legal strategy, corporate governance, risk management, and compliance, while also leading infrastructure planning and expansion strategy and execution for the Canadian Premier League.

Her career includes senior roles such as Chief Commercial Officer and General Counsel at Infrastructure Ontario, where she led legal and commercial oversight for major infrastructure and venue development projects, including facilities for the Toronto 2015 Pan American Games. She has also served as Executive Vice President at Live Work Learn Play Inc. and held board positions with organizations including CreateTO, Tarion, and Habitat for Humanity GTA.

A nationally recognized leader, Marni has been named one of Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women and one of the Top 25 Most Influential Lawyers. Her honours include the Canadian General Counsel Award for Business Achievement and induction into the Urban Land Institute’s Hall of Champions. She lectures at Toronto Metropolitan University’s Faculty of Law and holds degrees from Western and McGill, along with the ICD.D designation. Marni is a proud wife and mother of two.

Shaun Guest

Shaun Guest is a senior sports business executive with more than a decade of experience driving commercial growth through sponsorships, partnerships, and revenue strategy. He currently serves as Vice President, Commercial Operations, working within the commercial leadership team to support partner growth across Canadian Soccer Media & Entertainment and its properties.

In his role, Shaun leads corporate partnerships and sponsorship initiatives, while also overseeing ticketing, and licensing operations. He works closely with internal teams and external partners to deliver integrated commercial programs that support long-term business objectives.

Prior to joining CSME, Shaun served as Vice President, Business Operations for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and Forge FC, where he played a key role in Forge FC’s launch and oversaw corporate partnerships, ticket sales, community engagement, and marketing initiatives.

Earlier in his career, Shaun held roles with the 2007 Grey Cup Festival and the Toronto Rock, building a strong foundation in ticket sales, sponsorship development and revenue generation across multiple sports and event platforms. He is a graduate of Brock University’s Sport Management program and holds a Master’s degree in Sport & Leisure Commerce from the University of Memphis.

Michael Beckerman

Michael Beckerman is a seasoned marketing and business leader with more than two decades of global experience across sports, media, and consumer brands. He brings a strategic, partner-first approach to growing audiences, brands, and commercial impact within the soccer ecosystem.

Beckerman’s career spans three continents and includes senior leadership roles as Director of Advertising for Nike Europe, Vice President of Marketing at Canadian Airlines, Chief Marketing Officer at the Bank of Montreal, and CEO of sponsorship agency MKTG Canada. He also led Ariad Communications, an award-winning marketing and digital agency, and most recently served as Chief Client Officer at Torstar Corporation.

A recognized voice in sponsorship and brand strategy, Beckerman is a frequent speaker on marketing trends, consumer engagement, and the evolving business of sport.

At CSME, Mike leads partner strategy, helping organizations — including Canada Soccer, the Canadian Premier League, Premier Soccer Leagues Canada, OneSoccer, and other media and properties — connect meaningfully with fans to achieve their business objectives while advancing the growth of soccer in Canada.

James Johnson 

James Johnson is a globally recognized sport and entertainment executive with more than two decades of leadership experience across North America, Europe, Australia and Asia. He was appointed Group CEO of Canadian Soccer Media & Entertainment (CSME) and Commissioner of the Canadian Premier League in July 2025 to accelerate the growth and transformation of Canadian soccer ahead of the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup.

Johnson previously served as CEO of Football Australia, leading a period of transformation marked by record commercial growth, strong national team performance, increased participation, and the successful hosting of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup. The tournament delivered a lasting legacy, unlocking $389 million in government investment to support the sport’s growth in Australia. He also secured record broadcast agreements with Paramount+, Disney+, and Fox Sports.

His career includes senior executive roles with FIFA, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and City Football Group, where he built a reputation as a commercially driven, innovative leader advancing sport on and off the pitch.

Johnson leads the group’s overall strategic direction, aligning commercial growth, media innovation, and sporting performance to strengthen the business of Canadian soccer. He serves on the board of OneSoccer.