CF Montréal
CF Montréal is a Canadian professional soccer club based in Montreal that competes in Major League Soccer (MLS) as a member of the Eastern Conference. Founded in 1992 as the Montreal Impact, the club began playing in MLS in 2012 as the league's nineteenth franchise and third Canadian club. The team plays its home matches at Saputo Stadium and is currently managed by Marco Donadel. The club has won the Voyageurs Cup eleven times and reached the CONCACAF Champions League final in 2015, becoming the first Canadian club to achieve this feat.
History
Overview
General information about the club
CF Montréal and its predecessor clubs have established themselves as one of Canada's most successful professional soccer organizations. The club competes in Major League Soccer's Eastern Conference and participates in various competitions including the Leagues Cup and the Canadian Championship. The team has undergone significant branding changes throughout its history, most notably rebranding from Montreal Impact to Club de Foot Montréal in 2021, before settling on the current CF Montréal name in 2023.
Most recent season and achievements
The club has experienced varying degrees of success in recent seasons, with notable achievements including setting multiple club records in 2022 when they finished second in the Eastern Conference. CF Montréal has continued to develop young talent and maintain competitive performances while navigating coaching changes and organizational restructuring.
History
Early years
Montreal Impact were founded in December 1992 when the Saputo family acquired a new franchise in the American Professional Soccer League (APSL). According to club owner Joey Saputo, the franchise was branded Impact because he wanted the team to make an impact on the sport in Montréal, in Québec and in Canada at large. The word is also identical in English and French, which eased marketing in the city's bilingual environment.
In 1994, the Impact defeated the Colorado Foxes 1–0 at Centre Claude Robillard in Montréal, marking the first championship for a professional soccer club from the city. The Impact were regular season champions for three consecutive seasons from 1995 to 1997 across different league formats. In 2004, they won the A-League championship by defeating the Seattle Sounders 2–0 at Centre Claude Robillard.
Successful period
The Impact's most successful pre-MLS period came in the mid-2000s when they dominated the USL First Division. They started the 2005 season with a 15-game undefeated streak and finished 10 points clear of second place to win the Commissioner's Cup. The club repeated as Commissioner's Cup winners in 2006 and won their first USL playoff championship in 2009 after defeating the Vancouver Whitecaps 6–3 on aggregate.
The Impact won the first seven editions of the Voyageurs Cup from 2002 to 2007, and captured the first Canadian Championship in 2008, which qualified them for the inaugural CONCACAF Champions League. They advanced to the quarterfinals before being defeated 5–4 on aggregate by Mexican club Santos Laguna.
Crisis and recovery
The club faced uncertainty during the late 2000s and early 2010s as they navigated league changes and pursued MLS membership. After announcing plans to join the North American Soccer League (NASL), legal disputes with the USL forced them to join the temporary USSF Division 2 Professional League for one season in 2010. The team ultimately played in the NASL for one season before being replaced by their MLS incarnation.
During this transition period, the club maintained strong attendance figures and continued developing their infrastructure, including the construction of Saputo Stadium, which opened on May 19, 2008.
Current period
CF Montréal's MLS era began in 2012, with their inaugural season featuring notable signings like Marco Di Vaio, who became their first Designated Player. The club's most remarkable achievement came during the 2014-15 CONCACAF Champions League, where they became the first Canadian club to reach the final, ultimately losing to Club América.
Recent years have seen significant changes, including the controversial rebranding to Club de Foot Montréal in 2021 and subsequent adjustment to CF Montréal in 2023. The club achieved their best MLS regular season finish in 2022 under coach Wilfried Nancy, finishing second in the Eastern Conference and setting multiple club records.
Achievements and Honors
Domestic competitions
CF Montréal has won the Canadian Championship five times (2008, 2013, 2014, 2019, 2021) and finished as runners-up three times (2015, 2017, 2023). The club has also won the Voyageurs Cup eleven times total, including the first seven editions from 2002 to 2007. In friendly competitions, they captured the Walt Disney World Pro Soccer Classic in 2013 and the CapCity Cup in 2018.
Continental and global competitions
The club's most significant continental achievement was reaching the CONCACAF Champions Cup final in 2014-15, where they finished as runners-up after losing to Club América. This historic run made them the first Canadian club and only the second MLS club to advance to the Champions League final.
Symbols and Colors
Current logo and logo history
The club has undergone several logo changes throughout its history. The original Impact logo featured a shield in blue, black, white and silver containing a stylized fleur-de-lis and four silver stars, overlaid with the Impact wordmark. The fleur-de-lis reflected Québécois culture and French heritage, while the four stars represented the four founding communities of Montreal.
In January 2021, the club rebranded as Club de Foot Montréal with a new badge featuring four letter M's and eight arrows pointing to its center, resembling a stylized snowflake. This rebranding was poorly received by supporters, leading to protests and vandalism. In May 2022, responding to fan pressure, the club unveiled a new badge for the 2023 season featuring a return to traditional colors with blue being predominant and centered around a stylized fleur-de-lis.
Traditional home and away kits colors
The club's traditional colors have evolved over time. Originally, the team used blue, black, white and silver. During the 2021 rebranding, the official colors were marketed as "Impact Black", "Ice Grey", and "Sacré Bleu". With the 2023 logo revision, the club returned to its traditional colors with blue being predominant.
Traditional club anthem
The team's original motto was "Tous Pour Gagner" (French for "all for victory"), which was inscribed at the top of their shield logo. In 2020, the Impact unveiled a new slogan: "Passion. Fierté. Authenticité." (Passion. Pride. Authenticity.)
Traditional Rivals
Toronto FC
CF Montréal's biggest rival is Toronto FC, arguably the fiercest rivalry in MLS. Professional soccer clubs from Canada's two largest cities have competed against each other for over 40 years across various leagues. The rivalry has intensified since both teams joined MLS, culminating in the 2016 MLS Eastern Conference finals. The first leg at Stade Olympique in Montréal holds the record for the largest attendance for a match featuring two Canadian soccer teams with 61,004 fans. The matches have become known as the Canadian Classique or the 401 Derby.
Vancouver Whitecaps FC
CF Montréal shares a minor rivalry with Vancouver Whitecaps FC, stemming from their pre-MLS clubs, most notably the USL-1 2009 finals when the Impact defeated the Whitecaps 3–1 in Montréal to win the league championship. The rivalry continued in MLS and has been sustained mainly through the Canadian Championship, including notable finals in 2013 (won by Montréal) and 2015 (won by Vancouver).
Club Traditions and Behind the Scenes
Sponsors
In June 2011, the Montreal Impact announced a five-year agreement with the Bank of Montreal to become their lead sponsor and jersey sponsor in MLS. As of the 2023 season, all CF Montreal matches are carried by MLS Season Pass on Apple TV, with selected matches airing on RDS in French and TSN in English.
Nicknames
The club has been known by several names throughout its history, including Montreal Impact (1992-2021), Club de Foot Montréal (2021-2022), and CF Montréal (2023-present). The original "Impact" name was chosen because owner Joey Saputo wanted the team to make an impact on soccer in Montreal, Quebec, and Canada.
Ownership and finances
The MLS franchise is privately owned by the Saputo family, with Joey Saputo serving as owner. The club has achieved notable success in player sales, setting new club records for income earned from transfers including Djordje Mihailovic to AZ Alkmaar, Alistair Johnston to Celtic FC, and Ismaël Koné to Watford FC.
Traditions and culture
The club's supporter culture has been significantly impacted by organizational changes. "Ultras Montréal" (UM02), founded in 2002, was the club's largest supporters group until being banned in September 2021 following conflicts with management over the rebranding. The group was known for 90-minute chants, smoke grenades, large tifos, and organizing away trips. Other groups included "127 Montréal" and "1642 MTL," with the "Collectif Impact Montréal" currently maintaining an active supporters section.
The "North Star" bell, acquired by the 1642 MTL supporters group, serves as a goal and victory celebration. The 1,576-pound bell has been rung by numerous personalities and represents a nod to Montreal's religious heritage as "The City of a Hundred Steeples."
Stadium
CF Montréal plays its home matches at Saputo Stadium, a soccer-specific stadium with natural grass built in 2008 with a capacity of 20,801. The stadium was designed with expansion in mind, anticipating the club's move to MLS. For special events requiring larger capacity, the club also uses Olympic Stadium (capacity 61,004). The Quebec government provided $23 million in funding for stadium expansion and additional training facilities.