Defeat in the CanChamp Final, on the cusp of MLS elimination, is this rock bottom for CF Montreal?

CF Montreal suffered a penalty shootout defeat to Canadian Premier League side Forge FC in the 2026 Canadian Championship final following a 120-minute draw. Prince Owusu missed a penalty kick during regulation time and again in the shootout, while Brayan Vera received a red card for simulation. Dani Pereira scored Montreal's goal during the match, but the team ultimately fell short after playing down a man for roughly 70 minutes.

Following the cup final heartbreak, Montreal faces potential mathematical elimination from the MLS Cup Playoffs this weekend if they fail to defeat league leaders Nashville SC at Stade Saputo. Despite facing scrutiny over whether the club has hit rock bottom, head coach Philippe Eullaffroy and defender Luca Petrasso maintained that the team must move forward, regroup, and finish their remaining four MLS regular-season matches strongly.