The launch of the Ontario Premier League (formerly League1 Ontario) is an exciting moment for the soccer community across the province, as the regional competitions of Premier Soccer Leagues Canada (formerly League1 Canada) become closer aligned within the Canadian pathway system.

Included in the announcement, however, are also new names for each of the competitions within the OPL structure. The format of each men’s and women’s competition remains the same as in 2025, but naming conventions have changed slightly.

At the top, what was previously known as the League1 Ontario Premier Division is now Ontario Premier League 1. Like last year, it will be a regular season, single-table format, where the top side in both the men’s and women’s divisions will be crowned champions.

The team finishing last in the OPL 1 will be relegated to the OPL 2 (previously League1 Ontario Championship) for 2027. The second-last team will enter the promotion/relegation playoff match against the second-best team from this year’s OPL 2 season, the winner of which plays in the top flight for 2027 and the loser of which will play in OPL 2.

The OPL 2 is, likewise, a single-table format; the first-placed team will be promoted to OPL 1, second place enters the pro/rel playoff, and the last-placed team will be relegated to the third tier – now known as OPL 3, previously League2 Ontario.

OPL 3 will continue to be divided into three regional conferences (Northeast, Central, Southwest) for both the men’s and women’s competitions. Each team will play a 14-game regular season, after which the winner of each conference advances to the playoffs. The best second-placed team by points from the three conferences also qualifies for the playoffs, which will consist of a semifinal round and a final.

As in other years, the champion of OPL 3 will have the option to accept promotion to OPL 2. If they reject promotion, then a promotion playoff will be held between the top two ‘A’ teams in OPL 3 by total points (regardless of conference). Each club’s main first team in the OPL structure is to be considered an ‘A’ team, with many ‘B’ teams also playing in OPL 3.

Here’s another look at the senior structure:

At the youth level, what was previously known as League1 Ontario U-20 is now the Ontario Premier League U-20. Much like the OPL 3, teams are divided into three regional conferences, with the same playoff structure as OPL 3 (but no promotion or relegation).

Finally, the League Cup tournament will continue in the same format as played in 2025, featuring 28 teams in the men’s tournament and 26 in the women’s competition.