Challenge Trophy

The Challenge Trophy (Trophée Challenge) is the trophy presented to Canada's men's amateur soccer champions as part of Canada Soccer's annual National Championships. The men's competition was created with the inauguration of the Dominion of Canada Football Association in 1912 and the first club winners were presented the Connaught Cup in 1913. The first Challenge Trophy, donated by The Football Association, was presented to the Dominion of Canada Football Championship winners for the first time in 1926 (although at the time the competition was still known as the Connaught Series). The new Challenge Trophy was presented to the men's amateur champions for the first time in 2004.

As part of the same National Championships, the Jubilee Trophy is presented annually to the women's amateur soccer champions. The Jubilee Trophy was first presented in 1982. Other amateur divisions in the National Championships are: Boys U-17 Cup; Girls U-17 Cup; Boys U-15 Cup; Girls U-15 Cup.

The National Championships initially featured a round-robin format in 1913 and 1914, then featured a knockout format with a two-leg Final from 1915 to 1927. From there, the Final featured a best-of-three format from 1928 to 1955 and a single-match format from 1956 to present.

More than 20 clubs have won the National Championships men's competition two or more times. Westminster Royals FC are the most successful club with nine Challenge Trophy titles to their credit (1928, 1930, 1931, 1936, 1953, 1955, 1958, 1960, 1973). Since 1963, only amateur clubs have participated in the competition, with notably Montréal Concordia FC the last professional side to win the Challenge Trophy back in 1961.

Amateur eligibility
As Canada Soccer's premier amateur competition, only Canadian citizens, permanent residents or protected persons may compete in the National Championships. Only amateur players (including reinstated amateurs) may compete in the competition and they must be assigned to their respective clubs by 31 August of that year (or an earlier date if stipulated by the province or territory).

Format and hosts
Since 1973, the Challenge Trophy competition has featured a host venue for the final weekend or final week of matches. Regional interprovincial playoffs (before the final matches) continued up until 1998 after which clubs from all Canadian provinces and territories have been eligible to qualify directly into the final week of the competition. Each year, Canada Soccer's provincial and territorial soccer associations determine how clubs from their region qualify for the National Championships. Since 1999, anywhere from eight to 12 clubs have competed in the final week of the competition. While there have sometimes been Quarterfinals and/or Semifinals since 1985, the National Championships format for the final week has generally started with the group phase and ended with the final ranking/standings day which includes a single-match Final for Gold Medals and the Challenge Trophy.

Canadian communities have the opportunity to bid on hosting the National Championships. As explained by Canada Soccer, "events will be organized and executed by Canada Soccer in collaboration with the Local Organizing Committee." Bidders are evaluated across nine different categories: Background; Support and partnerships; Facilities; Competition; Finance; Communication, hosting services & activities; Operation Organization; Legacy; and Overall Bid Presentation.

Once a Host City is selected, the hosts set up a Local Organizing Committee that stages the competition. Canada Soccer remains the "rights holder and has the overall responsibility for these events."

History
An unofficial Dominion championship for a trophy donated by The People newspaper of London, named the Peoples Shield, was contested from 1906–1912. Teams from all provinces did not enter the competition in each year, and it was contested by Western Canada in its last years.

On May 24, 1912, the Amateur Athletic Union met in Toronto to determine a competition to crown a Canadian national champion. That year, the executive of the Dominion of Canada Football Association invited the Duke of Connaught to become the Patron of the Association. The Duke donated the Connaught Cup to the FA, which became the championship of Canadian soccer. In 1926, the English FA donated a new trophy to replace it as the national championship named the Challenge Trophy.

The inaugural competition in 1913 and the 1914 edition both featured four teams in a league format; both were won by Manitoba side Norwood Wanderers.

In 1927, the previously amateur-only tournament opened to professional teams. Prior to 1940, fifteen finals were played at Carruthers Park in Winnipeg (1923–1939), (roughly halfway across the country) five in Toronto and one each in Vancouver and Montreal.

From 1954 to 1961, the trophy was replaced by the Carling Cup. The original Challenge Trophy is now retired and on display at Canada Soccer House in Ottawa, Ontario.

The tournament acted as a men's national championship at the highest level in Canadian soccer in its early years, however, professional and semi-professional tournaments have taken on more importance in recent decades, including the Canadian Championship.

Qualifying competitions
As outlined in the tournament regulations, "Provincial and Territorial Associations must advise Canada Soccer of its qualified teams" for the National Championships.

Medals and trophy
The top-three teams at the National Championships Challenge Trophy competition are presented medals while the remaining teams are presented participation banners. Along with their medals, the winning team is presented the Challenge Trophy, although the trophy remains in Canada Soccer's possession.

Winners from 1973 to 2024
Since 1973, Canada Soccer's annual amateur championship has featured one venue for the final week of matches.

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