*Article updated on December 15 after the Round One (first leg) venue change
Yesterday, Orlando City SC were drawn against Canadian opponents Cavalry FC in the two-legged Round One stage of the 2024 CONCACAF Champions Cup, formerly known as the CONCACAF Champions League.
With City participating in the competition for the second successive season, Oscar Pareja‘s side are joining North America’s elite by virtue of being the next-best club in the 2023 MLS Supporters’ Shield behind winners FC Cincinnati.
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝗲𝘁. #ConcacafChampionsCup | #RideWithUs | #CavsFC pic.twitter.com/7SRbgujwCL
— Cavalry FC (@CPLCavalryFC) December 14, 2023
See you soon, @CPLCavalryFC 👋 pic.twitter.com/Fw0isHiOA4
— Orlando City SC (@OrlandoCitySC) December 14, 2023
After entering the 2023 CONCACAF Champions League in the Round of 16 stage by virtue of winning the 2022 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, Orlando City SC are entering the competition a round earlier this year.
The Lions were placed in Pot 1 having accumulated 1,200 points in the CONCACAF Club Ranking Index
This is one level below the top three pre-seeded teams, all hailing from Mexico. These are Club América (number one seed), Monterrey (number two seed), and Tigres UANL (number three seed).
Significantly, the winner of Orlando City SC vs Cavalry FC will face Tigres UANL or Vancouver Whitecaps in the Round of 16.
This potentially sets up the same Round of 16 matchup as City experienced last year.
Whilst they are not in the same section, Inter Miami and Lionel Messi are on the same side of the bracket as Orlando City SC.
This means the Lions could potentially meet The Herons at the semi-final stage.
Both legs of Round One are set to be contested in February 2024.
However, specific details regarding gameday dates and kick-off times are yet to be disclosed.
That said, what we do know is the rough scheduling for every stage of the tournament.
2024 CONCACAF Champions Cup scheduling
Round One:
February 6-8 (Week 1), 13-15 (Week 2), 20-22 (Week 3) and 27-29 (Week 4)
Round of 16:
March 5-7 (First Legs) and 12-14 (Second Legs)
Quarter-Finals:
April 2-4 (First Legs) and 9-11 (Second Legs)
Semi-Finals:
April 23-25 (First Legs) and April 30 – May 2 (Second Legs)
Final:
June 2 (Single Leg)
Compared to previous years under the CONCACAF Champions League moniker, the 2024 CONCACAF Champions Cup Final is now significantly a single, not a two-legged fixture.
To familiarise yourself with our Round One opponents Cavalry FC, Orlando City UK listed five things you need to know about our Canadian Premier League opposition.
1. Cavalry FC are based in Calgary, Alberta
Founded as recently as May 2018, Cavalry FC hail from Calgary, Alberta.
They are one of the eight teams making up the Canadian Premier League that is only five seasons old.
The fourth biggest city in Canada with a population of 1,305,550, Calgary is based in the Canadian Prairies with the province of Alberta being nicknamed “Wild Rose Country”.
If you’ve never visited Calgary before, Alberta is essentially the ‘wild west’ of Canada.
The Calgary Stampede, the internationally acclaimed annual rodeo, takes over the city each July with thousands of cowboy hat wearing revellers filling the streets.
Cavalry FC is an intriguing draw for several reasons, but something that stands out is the Canadian winter weather!
When the draw was first made, City supporters would’ve hurriedly been Googling ‘thick winter coats’ and ‘gloves’ online.
After all, the city of Calgary experiences sub-zero average temperatures between -1°C and -11°C in February.
The polar opposite of the heat and humidity of Central Florida (no pun intended), City supporters have since been spared these brutal sub-zero conditions, however.
On December 15, the match was switched from ATCO Field in Calgary, Alberta to Starlight Stadium in Langford, British Columbia.
This was due to understandable pitch concerns.
For travelling Lions visiting the Vancouver Island venue, they can expect warmer average temperatures between 2°C and 7°C in February – albeit still cold!
Indeed, Orlando City SC supporters will still have to pack their thermals for this super unique away day.
It’s one that is completely different from last year’s visit to Monterrey, Mexico when taking on Tigres UANL.
As for Calgary itself, the city is located approximately an hour-and-a-half east of the Banff National Park and its spectacular natural beauty.
If travelling Orlando City SC supporters are still intent on visiting Calgary en route to Langford, there are several must-visit tourist attractions in February.
These include the Banff Gondola, a cable-car serviced year-round, the resort town of Banff itself, and its iconic Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel.
Unfortunately, the jaw-dropping Lake Louise and Moraine Lake are likely to be frozen over in February.
The spectacularly turquoise waters and dramatically steep peaks of these glacial lakes are often featured on tourism commercials promoting Canada, such is their natural beauty.
Having visited Calgary and Banff myself back in 2019, a lesser known gem off the beaten track is Two Jack Lake.
This lake is based around 15 minutes north of the town of Banff and promises simply breathtaking vistas too.
Back in the city of Calgary itself, the Calgary Tower, a 190.8-metre (626 ft) free standing observation tower, promises uninterrupted panoramic views over the downtown core, the prairies to the east, and the Rocky Mountains to the west.
🕰 #TBT | #ThrowbackThursday 🕰
📍 Banff National Park 🇨🇦
🗓 July 2019#OrlandoCityUK 🦁🇬🇧 pic.twitter.com/WSIXJm8Nm0— Orlando City UK (@Orlando_CityUK) April 22, 2021
2. Cavalry FC usually play their home games at ATCO Field, Spruce Meadows
As mentioned previously, December 15 saw Cavalry FC announce that their Round One first leg against Orlando City SC will take place at Starlight Stadium in Langford, British Columbia rather than their usual ATCO Field home.
A passage from their club statement read: “As the northernmost club in CONCACAF, we are acutely aware of the possible risks that playing in February on natural grass may pose.”
For those travelling to Starlight Stadium – home of CPL club Pacific FC – the venue holds a capacity of 6,000 spectators.
Losing their own home advantage, it’s a shame Cavalry FC won’t host the first leg at ATCO Field.
Especially for Cavalry FC supporters who now face a 13-hour road (plus ferry) trip west to watch game one in-person.
Or more conveniently, flights as part of Cavalry FC’s travel package for home supporters.
However, this does provide City supporters a wonderful one-off opportunity to experience Vancouver Island firsthand.
As for Cavalry FC’s proper home – ATCO Field – this stadium is located at the Spruce Meadows complex in Foothills County.
This has been Cavalry FC’s home since their Canadian Premier League debut back in 2019.
Also holding a capacity of 6,000 spectators, the venue hosts several equestrian events spanning two to four weeks per year.
A super unique venue, I have firsthand experience of the complex when visiting back in July 2019.
Upon entry to Spruce Meadows, you’d be forgiven for thinking that there is no soccer stadium based on-site.
After all, the complex is primarily geared to equestrian show jumping.
Nevertheless, ATCO Field is tucked around the corner of the main entrance.
During my July 2019 visit, the Spruce Meadows staff were kind enough to open up the pop-up Cavalry FC merchandise store to me.
This was despite it being closed on the day I visited.
Telling them how far I’d travelled, and that I was visiting from the UK on an International Experience Canada (IEC) visa, I experienced that famous and internationally acclaimed Canadian hospitality and kindness firsthand.
— Cavalry FC (@CPLCavalryFC) December 14, 2023
3. Cavalry FC have won the CPL Shield twice
First revealed in 2023, the CPL Shield is awarded to the Canadian Premier League team that earns the most points during the regular season.
In other words, like the Supporters’ Shield in MLS.
Tallying 55 points this year, Cavalry FC were winners of the 2023 CPL Shield.
Cavalry FC also achieved the best regular season record back in their inaugural 2019 season.
Back then, they tallied 38 points in a seven-team, 18-game Canadian Premier League regular season.
They just didn’t have the CPL Shield established at the time.
Ultimately, Cavalry FC have since been retroactively recognised as 2019 CPL Shield winners – despite not physically lifting the shield themselves.
When it comes to the Canadian Premier League championship – the North Star Cup – this is a sore topic of conversation for Cavalry FC.
Indeed, Cavalry FC have unfortunately ran into the Canadian juggernaut that is Forge FC of Hamilton, Ontario on two separate occasions.
With Forge FC defeating Calvary FC in the North Star Cup both in 2019 (two legs) and 2023 (one leg), this title frustratingly continues to elude Cavalry FC – despite them ironically being regular season specialists over the last five years.
A game (or games) that are no respecter of outstanding regular seasons, Forge FC’s home of Tim Hortons Field is the graveyard of Cavalry FC’s best efforts thus far.
As for Forge FC themselves, they are the outright most successful team in the Canadian Premier League’s embryonic history, winning four of five league titles so far.
Pacific FC of Greater Victoria, British Columbia are the only other CPL team to have won the title back in 2021.
4. Tommy Wheeldon Jr. is Cavalry FC head coach
44-year-old Englishman Tommy Wheeldon Jr. (pictured) is the current Cavalry FC head coach.
Wheeldon Jr. has held this position since the club’s inauguration back in May 2018.
To Cavalry FC what Adrian Heath was to Orlando City SC, Tommy Wheeldon Jr. hails from Liverpool and is a lifelong Everton supporter.
He enjoyed prior experiences as Canada Under-17 assistant coach and Cavalry Foothills FC head coach before joining Cavalry FC.
A compelling character, Tommy Wheeldon Jr. previously attended the University of Surrey.
Studying sports science and coaching, he has called Canada home for many, many years now.
As for Cavalry FC’s supporter groups, these are headed by The Foot Soldiers, located in section 200 at ATCO Field.
This group originally formed in 2015 to support USL League Two club Calgary Foothills FC.
In the lead-up to Cavalry FC’s first Canadian Premier League match, their numbers swelled.
The Foot Soldiers are also joined by the Mighty 109/108 Battalion and the Front Line Ultras too.
Nicely done. Look forward to seeing you soon.
— Tommy Wheeldon Jr (@tommywheeldonjr) December 14, 2023
5. Their star man is Myer Bevan
Roster-wise, Cavalry FC’s star man is probably 26-year-old New Zealand international striker Myer Bevan.
Scoring 11 goals in 2023, Bevan was the joint top goalscorer in the Canadian Premier League this past season.
Previously on Vancouver Whitecaps’ roster back in 2017, the Kiwi didn’t make any first team appearances for Caps however.
Other notable members of Cavalry FC’s current squad include goalkeeper Marco Carducci and number 10 Sergio Camargo.
Both experienced players, the pair have been with the club since their inaugural CPL season in 2019.
Elsewhere, British football fans may be familiar with former Brentford full back Tom Field and the versatile Fraser Aird.
Aird is a former Canadian international who made 62 league appearances for Glasgow giants Rangers between 2012 and 2017.
Central midfielder Shamit Shome is another who boasts experience of playing at a higher level.
Indeed, the twice-capped Canadian international of Bangladeshi heritage previously made 45 MLS regular season appearances for Montreal Impact (CF Montréal).
As for former Cavalry FC players, these notably include Mohamed Farsi.
A recent 2023 MLS Cup winner with Columbus Crew, Farsi was instrumental in eliminating Orlando City SC en route.
There’s also former Canadian international Nik Ledgerwood, Joel Waterman – now with CF Montréal – and Joe Mason.
The latter has played for Plymouth Argyle, Cardiff City, Wolverhampton Wanderers, and Colorado Rapids among others during his career.
Not forgetting Ross County’s Victor Loturi and Luton Town’s Aribim Pepple who is currently on loan with Bromley.
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