LEG 2 PREVIEW: Who's got the edge in Telus Canadian Championship semifinals? 🏆

A spot in the 2026 TELUS Canadian Championship final is on the line as Forge FC and FC Supra du Québec clash in Hamilton on Tuesday night. 

After battling to a 1-1 draw in leg one, with no away goals rule, it all comes down to the second leg. If 90 minutes can't break the tie, extra time comes next, followed by penalties. 

The victor at the final whistle will become just the second CPL side to reach the Canadian Championship final in a full tournament after Vancouver FC's historic run last year.

Forge have been to a CanChamp final before, albeit in a different format, losing in the pandemic-delayed 2020 final (played in 2022) to Toronto FC on penalties. They'd love nothing more than another crack at the one trophy that continues to elude them. 

For CPL, and tournament, newcomers FC Supra, this could be the defining match of their inaugural year. Eight points out of the CPL playoffs, they know this is their best, and potentially only, shot at silverware this season. Without a doubt, it has already been an incredible run for the Québec side, but they aren't satisfied with simply a semifinal appearance. 

"It's the match of the season now," said FC Supra du Québec coach Nick Razzaghi. "We all know it, whether we admit it or not, the whole season comes down to this.

"It's great to be in the semifinal with 90 minutes left to play, but this is the big one."

Not that it ever is at this stage in the competition, but getting a positive result in Hamilton will be no easy feat for the Québec club. Forge have never lost a Canadian Championship match in regulation at home, including memorable victories over Toronto FC and CF Montréal in the past two tournaments. 

"I think a lot of times it's the urgency; it's the understanding of what these games mean," said Forge FC head coach Bobby Smyrniotis on the team's success at home. "You know what's at stake with them over the years. We've played some very, very tough opponents in these matches.

"It's always a great place for us to play. Allows us to get into a good rhythm and use the energy of the crowd." 

One player on the Supra side with an intimate knowledge of what that has looked like over the years is David Choinière. The veteran attacker was wearing Forge orange in each of their previous seven Canadian Championship runs before becoming Supra's inaugural signing in the offseason. He's scored six goals in the competition, tied for fourth all-time. 

Now he looks to write a new story at the stadium, one. that would break the hearts of its home fans, but capture the imagination of supporters in his home province of Québec. 

"This match could save our season," said Choinière. "And we're going to leave it all on the field." 

Tuesday's winner will earn one final 90 minutes, in Vancouver or Montréal on Oct. 21, to face either CF Montréal or the Vancouver Whitecaps for the opportunity to write their names in the history books as the first Canadian Champions from the Canadian Premier League. 

"It's the games you want to play in, that's for sure," said Smyrniotis. "When you start the season, you want to give yourself an opportunity to compete for trophies...we have the ability Tuesday night at our home, where we play some very good football against a good opponent. It's 90 minutes of football to get yourself to the final match."