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Starting in Forge FC’s 2026 season opener, the 2025 OPL MVP makes an immediate impact

Just two months after making his professional debut in the Concacaf Champions Cup with Forge FC, Anthony Aromatario’s trajectory has already shifted from promise to presence.

This past Saturday, as the 2026 Canadian Premier League season kicked off in Hamilton, the 22-year-old midfielder didn’t just feature for Forge FC — he was named to the starting XI for both the club’s opener and the league’s first match of the season. He went the full 90 minutes and was named Performance of the Match, presented by Gatorade, in his CPL debut, helping Forge to a 2-0 win over Atlético Ottawa.

For those who followed his development through the Ontario Premier League, this moment felt like a natural next step.

It’s no surprise that Aromatario is already making an impact at the CPL level. Slotting seamlessly into Forge FC’s midfield on opening day, he looked right at home, delivering a composed and confident performance that turned heads. His influence across the pitch earned him Performance of the Match honours — a major statement in his first CPL start.

Aromatario’s rise has been built through Canada’s domestic pathway. After earning MVP honours with Woodbridge Strikers SC in 2025, leading the club to a championship while appearing in all 20 matches, he carried that form into both the university game and the professional level.

His initial opportunity with Forge came earlier this year under a Short-Term Replacement Contract during the Concacaf Champions Cup, where he made his debut against Tigres UANL and showed he could handle the level. What followed was a rapid series of steps forward.

A CPL-U SPORTS contract in early March allowed him to continue training and competing with Forge while maintaining eligibility, before the club made the move permanent just days before kickoff — signing him to a multi-year Standard Player Contract.

By opening day, he was no longer easing into the environment — he was trusted from the start.

Deployed in midfield, Aromatario brought the same qualities that defined his time in the OPL — composure, physicality and an ability to read the game. Against Atlético Ottawa, those traits translated seamlessly as he helped set the tone in Forge’s season-opening win.

His Performance of the Match recognition reflected more than just a strong debut. It was confirmation of a player who looks ready at this level.

From North Toronto Nitros to Woodbridge Strikers, to U SPORTS champion with York University and now a professional contract, Aromatario’s path highlights the strength of the OPL to CPL pathway.

While his Concacaf debut introduced him to the stage, his CPL debut made one thing clear: he belongs.