Forge FC hosts Cruz Azul at Tim Hortons Field to open the CONCACAF Champions League

Forge FC will make history Wednesday night as the first-ever Canadian premier league team to ever play in the CONCACAF champions league, the highest level of club soccer in North America.

Kyle Bekker, Forge’s captain, can’t believe it himself. Bekker says, “champions league is the best it’s what you get excited for it’s there’s a different buzz kind of coming into the stadium”

The Hammers have been creating a buzz at Tim Hortons Field and throughout the CPL since the league kicked off in 2019. Forge has won two out of the last three league championships. The President of Canada Soccer, Nick Bontis says the key to Forge’s success is continuity between the players and head coach Bobby Smyrniotis. Bontis explains, “when you have a critical mass of players that know each other and understand the tactics you know can read each other’s minds you don’t have to verbally communicate with one another and that puts you a step ahead.”

While Forge have continuity, their opponents Cruz Azul have history. They are a giant club in the Mexican league. While Forge is entering their 4th year, Cruz is entering its 95th! They’ve won 6 CONCACAF titles to Forge’s zero, they have 12 players representing their countries to Hamilton’s 2 and their roster is worth approximately $67-million. Forge is hovering around $4-million. But, Forge coaches and players say they’ve been counted out before and they aren’t phased.

It’s a two-game series for Forge FC, the next game against Cruz Azul will be February 24th at their home stadium in Mexico, the Stadio Azteca, which houses over 80-thousand rabid fans.