[6] The intention of the alliance was to form regional divisions across the nation under the CPSL banner with each divisional champion competing in a playoff format for the championship.

[11][12] As the OSA failed to bring their project to fruition, they reached an agreement with the CNSL and formed an alliance to launch the Canadian Professional Soccer League (CPSL), beginning with an Ontario division in 1998.

The CPSL would serve as a link between the provincial senior leagues to the USL A-League/USISL clubs, and provide opportunities for the development of youth players and referees.

[7][13] The intention of the league was to form regional divisions under the CPSL banner, with each divisional champion competing in a playoff format for the championship.

Michael Di Biase, the CNSL president, would serve as the commissioner and OSA administrator Bill Spiers was named league chairman.

In the initial years of the CPSL, the on-field performance was dominated by Toronto Olympians and Ottawa Wizards, who had the financial support from corporations such as Coffee Time, and Oz Optics Ltd.[15] While St. Catharines, and Toronto Croatia – two well established former CNSL clubs – were the prominent challengers in the early years, a change occurred in 2000 within the administration field of the league with Vince Ursini being appointed the president.

[21][22][23] Meanwhile, the CPSL continued in its original mission of providing opportunities to players to a higher platform by striking an agreement with the Toronto Lynx of the USL A-League.

[29] After firmly establishing the league within the Ontario soccer structure, Ursini resigned from his position in order to fully delegate his time to his OSA obligations, and to seek election to the CSA board of directors.

Former CPSL management consultant Cary Kaplan with previous experience as president of the Hamilton Bulldogs in the American Hockey League was named his successor in the capacity of a commissioner.

A rebranding of the name was made to the Canadian Soccer League (CSL), with a new set of rules, regulations, and constitution established.

[citation needed] After 4+1⁄2 years as commissioner, Kaplan resigned following the 2009 season in order to devote more time to his sports marketing company with Domenic Di Gironimo hired as his replacement.

[37] In 2010, the CSL was granted full membership in the CSA as a Division 3 sanctioned professional league in the Canadian soccer structure.

Additional achievements under De Gironimo term was the sponsorship agreement made with Givova which granted the company the naming rights to the league, and to the CSL Championship.

Other major sponsorships included Days Inns – Canada, and a record broadcasting agreement with Rogers TV, which provided additional match coverage to the provinces of Ontario, New Brunswick, and Newfoundland and Labrador.

[40] Former CPSL president and CSA financial director Vince Ursini returned to the organization as the successor to De Gironimo in 2011.

[41] The report, which aired on the news program The National, revealed court documents showing that €15,000 ($18,000 CDN) in bribes were paid to several players on Toronto Croatia.

[46][47][48][49] The sport arbitrator forced them to reinstate sanctioning to the CSL until the next season in order for the CSA to fairly implement the Easton Report.

[52] After failing to specify which rule violations were made and without providing a formal hearing the CSL in response filed litigation against the CSA.

[54][55][56][57][58] Significant changes were made at the 2015 annual general meeting of team owners where restrictions on import players were lifted, and a working relationship was formed with the American Soccer League (ASL) in order to assist in areas of competition and business.

On February 2, 2016, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) announced investigations in the alleged match fixing in the CSL.

[71] The Open Canada Cup eventually expanded to include professional and amateur teams from Ontario, Quebec, and British Columbia.

Notable head coaches have included Rudolf Belin, Miroslav Buljan, Manuel Gomes, Rasim Kara, Ivan Markovic, Mladen Pralija, Dragoslav Šekularac, and Ihor Yavorskyi.

[77][78][79] While at the same time provide the opportunities to produce and develop head coaches as Bijan Azizi, Jason Bent, Jim Brennan, Nikola Budalic, Hubert Busby Jr., Rafael Carbajal, Danny Dichio, Marc Dos Santos, Philippe Eullaffroy, Dejan Gluščević, Carmine Isacco, Goran Miscevic, Darren Tilley, and Duncan Wilde, who have gone on to higher endeavors.

[80][81][82][83][84][85][86][87] The league's longest-serving head coach is Uroš Stamatović, who has been in charge of Serbian White Eagles originally in 2012 and returned in 2019.