2025 Forge FC season

Forge FC
2025 season
ChairmanBob Young
Head coachBobby Smyrniotis
StadiumTim Hortons Field[a]
Canadian Premier LeagueMatchday 1
Canadian ChampionshipPreliminary round
CONCACAF Champions CupRound one
← 2024
2026 →

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.

In addition to the Canadian Premier League, the club will compete in the Canadian Championship and the CONCACAF Champions Cup.

Review

Background

Forge 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.[2] This was the club's second regular season title and sixth trophy in six years, continuing their dynasty.[3] In the CPL playoffs, Forge advanced to the 2024 CPL final where they were defeated by rival side Cavalry FC, finishing as runner-up.[4]

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.[5] They were knocked out in the semi-final by Toronto FC, losing on away goals after tying 2–2 on aggregate.[6]

Forge qualified for the 2025 CONCACAF Champions Cup as 2024 CPL regular season winners.[2][7] 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.[8]

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.[9][10]

Preseason

On November 21, 2024, CF Montréal declined its 2025 contract option on Forge loanee Matteo Schiavoni, ending his time with the Hammers;[11] Forge later confirmed this in a December roster update.[12] On December 16, Dominic Samuel and Forge together announced that the defender was leaving the club following the expiry of his contract at the end of the year.[13]

On December 12, 2024, Forge announced that Alexander Achinioti-Jönsson, Nana Ampomah, David Choinière, Elimane Cissé, Noah Jensen, and Khadim Kane all had guaranteed contracts through the 2025 season. The club later announced that it had triggered contract options for the 2025 season for Béni Badibanga,[14] Christopher Kalongo,[15] Jassem Koleilat,[16] and Malik Owolabi-Belewu.[17] Forge also holds a loan option available for Daniel Parra from C.F. Monterrey.[12]

Forge had until December 31, 2024 to trigger contract options for the 2025 season for Orlendis Benítez and Sebastian Castello;[12] as of January 2, 2025, there have not been any additional updates announced for these players.[15][18]

Current squad

As of January 2, 2025[15]

No. Name Nationality Position(s) Date of birth (age) Previous club Notes
Goalkeepers
16 Jassem Koleilat Czech Republic GK (1999-07-30) July 30, 1999 (age 25) United States Los Angeles FC 2
29 Christopher Kalongo Canada GK (2002-01-07) January 7, 2002 (age 22) Canada Sigma FC
Defenders
13 Alexander Achinioti-Jönsson Sweden MF (1996-04-17) April 17, 1996 (age 28) Sweden IFK Värnamo INT
81 Malik Owolabi-Belewu England DF (2002-07-03) July 3, 2002 (age 22) Italy S.P.A.L. INT
Midfielders
8 Elimane Cissé Senegal MF (1995-03-12) March 12, 1995 (age 29) Senegal Diambars FC INT
22 Noah Jensen Canada MF (1999-07-20) July 20, 1999 (age 25) United States Oakland University
64 Khadim Kane Canada MF (2005-05-17) May 17, 2005 (age 19) Canada CF Montréal U23 U21, EYT
Forwards
7 David Choinière Canada FW (1997-02-07) February 7, 1997 (age 27) Canada Montreal Impact
11 Nana Opoku Ampomah Ghana FW (1996-01-02) January 2, 1996 (age 29) Germany Fortuna Düsseldorf INT
39 Béni Badibanga Belgium FW (1996-02-19) February 19, 1996 (age 28) Belgium RAAL La Louvière INT

Transfers

In

Draft picks

Forge FC made two selections in the 2025 CPL–U Sports Draft on December 5, 2024.[19][20] 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 MF Paul Ekwueme  Canada McMaster
2 15 FW Maxime Filion  Canada Montréal

Out

No. Pos. Player To club Fee/notes Date Source
4 DF Canada Dominic Samuel December 16, 2024 [13]

Competitions

Matches 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

Competition First match Last match 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 Preliminary round 0 0 0 0 0 0 +0 !—
CONCACAF Champions Cup February 5 Round one 0 0 0 0 0 0 +0 !—
Total 0 0 0 0 0 0 +0 !—

Source: Competitions

Canadian Premier League

Main article: 2025 Canadian Premier League season

The Canadian Premier League schedule is expected to be released around late January to early February, 2025.[21]

Canadian Championship

Main article: 2025 Canadian Championship

The draw for the preliminary round and quarterfinals was held on December 12, 2024.[22]

Preliminary round

April or May 2025 Single leg Forge FC v Halifax Wanderers FC Hamilton, Ontario
Stadium: Tim Hortons Field

CONCACAF Champions Cup

Main article: 2025 CONCACAF Champions Cup

The CONCACAF Champions Cup draw was held on December 10, 2024, with Forge drawing Liga MX side C.F. Monterrey in round one.[23][24] Having qualified as CPL regular season winners, Forge enter the competition in round one and will begin play in February 2025.[7]

Round one

The round one schedule was announced on December 13, 2024.[25]

February 5 Leg 1 Forge FC Canada v Mexico Monterrey Hamilton, Ontario
8:00 pm Stadium: Tim Hortons Field
February 11 Leg 2 Monterrey Mexico v Canada Forge FC Guadalupe, Nuevo León
8:00 pm Stadium: Estadio BBVA

Notes

  1. ^ The Hamilton Sports Group announced that Tim Hortons Field will be renamed with a new rights partner for 2025.[1]

References

  1. ^ Beattie, Samantha (December 18, 2024). "New name coming for Tim Hortons Field in Hamilton as 10-year agreement ends". CBC News. Archived from the original on December 18, 2024. Retrieved December 18, 2024.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ 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.
  4. ^ 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.
  5. ^ 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.
  6. ^ 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.
  7. ^ a b "Concacaf confirms important details for 2025 Concacaf Champions Cup" (Press release). Miami, FL: CONCACAF. October 25, 2024. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
  8. ^ "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.
  9. ^ "Forge FC Announce Extension and Expanded Role For Bobby Smyrniotis" (Press release). Forge FC. May 1, 2023. Retrieved May 1, 2023.
  10. ^ Milton, Steve (May 1, 2023). "Forge FC locks in coach Bobby Smyrniotis for four more years". The Hamilton Spectator. Retrieved May 1, 2023.
  11. ^ "Leading scorer Martinez a free agent after CF Montreal declines option". The Hamilton Spectator. The Canadian Press. November 21, 2024. Archived from the original on November 22, 2024. Retrieved November 27, 2024.
  12. ^ a b c "Forge FC announce end-of-season roster updates". Canadian Premier League. December 9, 2024. Archived from the original on December 9, 2024. Retrieved December 9, 2024.
  13. ^ a b Jacques, John (December 16, 2024). "Forge Original Dominic Samuel Departs". Northern Tribune. Archived from the original on December 16, 2024. Retrieved December 16, 2024.
  14. ^ Jacques, John (December 24, 2024). "Forge Triggers Badibanga Option". Northern Tribune. Archived from the original on December 24, 2024. Retrieved December 27, 2024.
  15. ^ a b c "Forge FC Exercises 2025 Option on Goalkeeper Christopher Kalongo". Forge FC. January 2, 2025. Archived from the original on January 2, 2025. Retrieved January 2, 2025.
  16. ^ Jacques, John (December 27, 2024). "Forge Triggers Koleilat Option For 2025". Northern Tribune. Archived from the original on December 27, 2024. Retrieved December 28, 2024.
  17. ^ Jacques, John (December 20, 2024). "Forge Triggers Owolabi-Belewu Option". Northern Tribune. Archived from the original on December 21, 2024. Retrieved December 27, 2024.
  18. ^ "CPL Off-Season Roster Tracker: Who's in and who's out for 2025?". Canadian Premier League. January 2, 2025 [Originally published December 9, 2024]. Archived from the original on January 2, 2025. Retrieved January 2, 2025.
  19. ^ Jacques, John (December 6, 2024). "2025 CPL-U Sports Draft Roundup". Northern Tribune. Archived from the original on December 6, 2024. Retrieved December 6, 2024.
  20. ^ Hewitt, Thomas (December 6, 2024). "CPL-U Sports Draft: Valour takes Jevontae Layne first overall as exciting, young crop emerges". Canadian Soccer Daily. Archived from the original on December 6, 2024. Retrieved December 6, 2024.
  21. ^ "2025 Season Seats". Forge FC. Archived from the original on November 11, 2024. Retrieved November 11, 2024.
  22. ^ "2025 Telus Canadian Championship preliminary round matchups confirmed". Canadian Premier League. December 12, 2024. Archived from the original on December 13, 2024. Retrieved December 12, 2024.
  23. ^ Davidson, Neil (December 10, 2024). "Whitecaps to face Costa Rica's Saprissa in CONCACAF Champions Cup". TSN. The Canadian Press. Archived from the original on December 11, 2024. Retrieved December 13, 2024.
  24. ^ "2025 Concacaf Champions Cup Draw Reveals Round One matchups" (Press release). Miami, FL: CONCACAF. December 10, 2024. Archived from the original on December 11, 2024. Retrieved December 13, 2024.
  25. ^ "Concacaf announces schedule for 2025 Concacaf Champions Cup Round One and Round of 16 matches" (Press release). Miami, FL: CONCACAF. December 13, 2024. Archived from the original on December 13, 2024. Retrieved December 13, 2024.

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