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The OPL Cup has kicked off for 2026, and the first round offered some surprises in the men’s and women’s tournaments.

By Mitchell Tierney

They call it the magic of the cup for a reason. 

Single-elimination knockout competitions can be a great equalizer, and that was certainly the case in the opening round of this year’s Ontario Premier League Cup. 

This past weekend, in both the men’s and women’s competitions, there were some significant surprises, including one of the tournament favourites being eliminated from the men’s bracket. 

The 2024 Cup finalists, and 2025 semi-finalists, Simcoe County Rovers, fell at the first hurdle as they were defeated 3-2 by OPL 2 side Waterloo United on an 89th-minute winner by John Noubissi this past Friday in Waterloo. 

Waterloo now advance to take on the recently promoted Sudbury Cyclones in the round of 16, which will feature a battle of two brothers as Waterloo keeper Denver Mills and Sudbury midfielder Matthew Mills go head-to-head. 

Sigma FC were another surprise first round exit, as they fell 3-1 to OPL 2 side North Mississauga SC, while new OPL side International FC were eliminated by OPL 2 club Master’s FA.

In the women’s tournament, there were a couple of OPL 3 sides who pulled off shock results, with Sudbury Cyclones beating OPL 2’s Rush Canada SA, and expansion club Kingston Sentinels defeating Unionville Milliken SC. Kingston faces a far bigger giant in the round of 16, as they advance to take on the Inter-Provincial Champions themselves, the Simcoe County Rovers. 

Simcoe County are one of six OPL sides that received a bye through the first round of the women’s competition, while four were granted the same on the men’s side – all of whom will now join the competition in the round of 16. The dates and times for the round of 16 are still TBD.