Toronto
Toronto FC is a Canadian professional soccer club based in Toronto, founded in 2007 as Major League Soccer's first Canadian franchise. The team competes in MLS as a member of the Eastern Conference and plays home matches at BMO Field at Exhibition Place. Operated by Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, the club achieved historic success in 2017 by winning a domestic treble with the MLS Cup, Supporters' Shield and Canadian Championship, becoming the first and only MLS club to accomplish this feat. They are eight-time winners of the Canadian Championship and were runners-up in the 2018 CONCACAF Champions League and the MLS Cup in 2016 and 2019.
History
Overview
General information about the club
Toronto FC joined Major League Soccer in 2007 as the league's first Canadian franchise, with Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment paying US$10 million for the franchise rights. The club is operated by MLSE, which also manages other professional sports franchises in Toronto including the Toronto Maple Leafs of the NHL, Toronto Raptors of the NBA, and Toronto Argonauts of the CFL. As of 2023, the club has an estimated value of US$690 million, making them the sixth most valuable club in MLS, and maintains the highest player payroll in Major League Soccer.
Most recent season and achievements
The 2024 season marked a period of rebuilding under new head coach John Herdman, with Jonathan Osorio appointed as club captain and notable signings including the return of Richie Laryea from Nottingham Forest. Despite a positive start that saw the team equal their entire 2023 points total by late May, Toronto FC collapsed in the second half of the season, winning just 15 of a possible 54 points and missing the playoffs by three points.
History
Early years
MLS awarded Toronto a team in 2005, with the name announced on May 11, 2006, following an online consultation where "Toronto FC" received over 40 percent of the vote. The club's first win came on May 12, 2007, at BMO Field as Danny Dichio scored the team's first goal in a 3–1 home win over the Chicago Fire. Despite finishing last in their inaugural season with a 6–17–7 record, the team built a strong foundation with enthusiastic fan support that consistently filled BMO Field to capacity.
In 2008, Toronto hosted the MLS All-Star Game and participated in the inaugural Canadian Championship, though they lost to the Montreal Impact. The 2009 season saw the club miss the playoffs by one point despite bringing in high-profile talent like Dwayne De Rosario and Amado Guevara. However, Toronto FC achieved the "Miracle in Montreal" by defeating Montreal 6–1 to win the 2009 Canadian Championship, with De Rosario scoring a hat-trick.
Successful period
The period from 2015-2017 marked Toronto FC's most successful era. In 2015, Sebastian Giovinco broke the MLS single-season points record with 38 points (22 goals, 16 assists), becoming the first TFC player to win the MLS Golden Boot, MVP, and Newcomer of the Year awards. The club clinched their first-ever playoff berth on October 14, 2015.
In 2016, Toronto FC reached their first MLS Cup Final, losing to Seattle Sounders FC in a penalty shootout. The historic 2017 season saw the club win the Supporters' Shield with a record 69 points, followed by their first MLS Cup victory, defeating Seattle 2–0 at home on December 9, 2017. This achievement completed the first domestic treble in MLS history.
Crisis and recovery
The post-MLS Cup period brought challenges, with the club failing to qualify for playoffs in 2018 despite reaching the CONCACAF Champions League final, where they lost to Guadalajara on penalties. Key departures included Sebastian Giovinco to Al Hilal in January 2019, though the club signed Alejandro Pozuelo as his replacement.
The 2021 season was particularly difficult, with the team playing home games in Connecticut and Florida due to COVID-19 restrictions. Coach Chris Armas was fired after a poor start, and the club finished second-last in the standings.
Current period
The 2022 season brought an influx of Italian talent with the signings of Lorenzo Insigne, Federico Bernardeschi, and Domenico Criscito. However, the 2023 season proved challenging, leading to the dismissal of Bob Bradley in June after managing only one win in eleven games. John Herdman was appointed as the new head coach near the end of the season, beginning a rebuilding phase that continues into the present.
Achievements and Honors
Domestic competitions
Toronto FC has won the MLS Cup once (2017), the Supporters' Shield once (2017), and the Canadian Championship eight times. The club holds the MLS regular season points record with 69 points set in 2017, and achieved the historic distinction of being the first and only MLS team to complete a domestic treble in 2017.
Continental and global competitions
The club reached the CONCACAF Champions League final in 2018, losing to Guadalajara on penalties after a 4–4 aggregate draw. Toronto FC has qualified for the CONCACAF Champions League seven times and reached the semi-finals twice (2012 and 2018). They were also runners-up in the inaugural Campeones Cup in 2018, losing 3–1 to Tigres UANL.
Symbols and Colors
Current logo and logo history
The club has maintained its distinctive "TFC" branding since inception, with the simple "Toronto FC" name chosen to allow fans to develop organic nicknames rather than having one imposed. The team is commonly referred to as "TFC" and "the Reds" by media, team, and fans.
Traditional home and away kits colors
The official team colors include red as the primary color, with black, grey, dark grey, and white as secondary colors. The primary uniform features red with alternating lighter and darker horizontal bands, black sleeves with red trim, and a vertical black band below each sleeve. The secondary uniform includes white jerseys with red and blue bands across the chest. All uniforms are produced by Adidas.
Traditional club anthem
The source material does not contain information about a traditional club anthem.
Traditional Rivals
CF Montréal
Toronto FC's biggest rival is CF Montréal (formerly Montreal Impact), who joined MLS in 2012. The rivalry intensified during Canadian Championship competitions and is nicknamed the 401 Derby after Ontario Highway 401 or the Canadian Classique. The proximity of the cities and existing Toronto-Montreal rivalries in other sports contribute to the combative nature of these matches. Toronto FC fans set an MLS record for traveling support with 3,200 away fans in Montreal in 2013.
Columbus Crew
Columbus Crew and Toronto FC have competed for the Trillium Cup since 2008. Although considered a manufactured rivalry, it's linked by the fact that the white trillium is the official flower of both Ontario and Ohio. The rivalry gained intensity after incidents in 2009 when Toronto FC supporters lit flares and committed vandalism at Columbus Crew Stadium, leading to arrests and restrictions on visiting supporters.
Vancouver Whitecaps FC
Toronto FC maintains a rivalry with Vancouver Whitecaps FC as fellow Canadian clubs competing in the Canadian Championship. The rivalry stems from their shared status as Canadian teams in MLS and their regular competition for domestic honors.
Club Traditions and Behind the Scenes
Sponsors
Since the team's formation in 2007, Toronto FC has been sponsored by the Bank of Montreal (BMO). The initial sponsorship was worth $1–1.5 million per season, but in 2010, a new five-year deal worth $4 million per season was signed. In February 2016, BMO extended its sponsorship agreement by another ten years.
Nicknames
The team is commonly called "TFC" and "the Reds" by the media, team, and fans. The club's mascot is Bitchy the Hawk, a female Harris's hawk employed by BMO Field falconry staff to ward off seagulls, who has become a fixture at the stadium since 2007.
Ownership and finances
Toronto FC is operated by Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE), which also operates multiple other professional sports teams in Toronto. The partners of MLSE are Larry Tanenbaum and rival media outlets Rogers Communications and Bell Media. In late 2024, Rogers announced an agreement to buy out Bell's share in MLSE, with closing expected by mid-2025.
Traditions and culture
Toronto FC's initial seasons set the standard for MLS fan support, with the team selling out its first three seasons. The recognized supporters' groups include the Red Patch Boys, U-Sector, Kings in the North, Tribal Rhythm Nation, and Original 109. The club was credited for starting "MLS 2.0" for their embrace of supporters' culture.
Stadium
BMO Field was completed before the 2007 season at a cost of $62.5 million at Exhibition Place in Toronto. It is the largest soccer-specific stadium in Canada with a current capacity of 30,991 after expansions. The stadium is owned by the City of Toronto while MLSE operates it. A major $120 million renovation was completed in 2016, adding a second tier of seating and accommodating the Toronto Argonauts when they moved to the venue.