Atlético Ottawa, winners of the Canadian Premier League in 2025, are playing in their first Champions Cup.
The club were only formed in January 2020 when they were awarded an expansion team slot in the CPL. Majority owned by Spanish LaLiga club Atlético Madrid, and with local businessman Jeff Hunt who owns the Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group (hockey and American football teams), the team began play the same year.
After playing the 2020 season and start of the 2021 season at neutral-site venues due to the Covid 19 pandemic, in August 21 they moved to their TD Place, 12,000 capacity stadium that they share with women’s team Ottawa Rapid and American football team Ottawa Redblacks.
Under Mexican head coach Diego Meija, appointed in January 2025, Atlético Ottawa had their best season to date going undefeated at home for the first time, and winning their first playoff trophy. They also set a new CPL record for most goals in a season with 56.
A former Mexican player and FC Juárez manager, Mejía brought in a possession-based, front-footed style designed to make his team “protagonists with the ball” – the aim being to dominate possession, winning the ball back quickly, with high pressure, and creating multiple scoring opportunities rather than relying solely on defensive stability.
Key players are led by central midfielder Manny Aparicio who is the engine of the team. But Meija will be without the club’s all-time leading goalscorer Sam Salter (37 goals) who moved to Sweden after an outstanding 2025 season.
A lot of the goals scoring responsibility will now fall to winger Ballou Tabla, known for his speed, and who scored 11 league goals in 2025. Jean-Aniel Assi is a dangerous attacker at speed on the right.
Meija sees midfield as where games will be won and lost and in Gabriel Antinoro has a young, highly-regarded playmaker who signed a new three-year contract after a standout 2025 season. Veteran Mexican midfielder Juan Castro will bring experience to a young team.
Defensively Ottawa are young but already accomplished. Noah Abatneh earned nominations for Defender of the Year and Best Canadian U-21 Player in 2025, attracting interest from MLS, while Loïc Cloutier is a reliable, and developing young centre-back who played a significant role in 2025.