Toronto FC

In October 2005, MLS awarded Toronto a franchise after an agreement to build a soccer stadium at Exhibition Place. Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE) operated the new club.⁠[1]

On May 11, 2006, Toronto FC unveiled its name and crest. Adopting red and white, it became the thirteenth MLS club and the first based outside the United States.⁠[2][1]

Toronto FC began MLS play in 2007, losing its first four matches without scoring. Its BMO Field home opener on April 28 ended in a 1–0 loss to the Kansas City WizardsSporting Kansas CitySporting Kansas City is an MLS professional soccer club with its regular home in Kansas City, Kansas.Open the full entry.⁠[3]

On May 12, 2007, Danny Dichio scored the club’s first goal against Chicago FireChicago Fire FCChicago Fire FC is a professional soccer club in Major League Soccer, with its regular home at Soldier Field in Chicago.Open the full entry, prompting supporters to throw promotional seat cushions onto the field. Toronto FC earned its first victory that day.⁠[3]

In 2009, Toronto FC beat the Montréal Impact 6–1 in its final Canadian Championship match to win its first Voyageurs Cup and qualify for the Concacaf Champions League.⁠[4]

In 2012, Toronto eliminated the LA GalaxyLA GalaxyLA Galaxy are a Major League Soccer club that began playing in 1996 and won their sixth MLS Cup in 2024. Their home is in Carson, California.Open the full entry to reach the Champions League semifinals, then drew 1–1 and lost 6–2 against Santos Laguna. Nine straight defeats opened its MLS season, and Paul Mariner replaced Aron Winter in June. Toronto nevertheless won a fourth consecutive Canadian Championship.⁠[5]

On January 13, 2014, Toronto FC acquired midfielder Michael Bradley as a Designated Player. He later captained the club and spent ten seasons with it.⁠[6]

On August 31, 2014, Greg Vanney became the club’s ninth head coach and its technical director.⁠[7]

Sebastian Giovinco joined Toronto FC from Juventus on January 19, 2015.⁠[8]

On October 14, 2015, Toronto FC clinched its first playoff berth against the New York Red BullsRed Bull New YorkRed Bull New York (RBNY) are a Major League Soccer club based at Sports Illustrated Stadium in Harrison, New Jersey. The club has competed in MLS since 1996, previously as the MetroStars, and is owned by Red Bull.Open the full entry. Giovinco finished the regular season with 22 goals and 16 assists, winning the Golden Boot, Newcomer of the Year and MVP awards.⁠[9]

On December 10, 2016, Toronto FC drew 0–0 with Seattle through extra time in the MLS Cup Final, then lost the shootout 5–4.⁠[10]

On December 9, 2017, Toronto FC beat Seattle SoundersSeattle Sounders FCSeattle Sounders FC is an MLS professional soccer club in Seattle, Washington, with Lumen Field as its regular home venue.Open the full entry 2–0 at BMO Field to win its first MLS Cup. Having already won the Canadian Championship and Supporters’ Shield, it became the first MLS club to complete that domestic treble.⁠[11]

On April 25, 2018, Toronto FC won the second leg of the Champions League Final 2–1 against Chivas to level the aggregate score at 3–3, but lost the shootout 4–2.⁠[12]

In January 2019, Giovinco moved to Saudi club Al-Hilal. Across four Toronto seasons, he made 142 appearances in all competitions, scoring 83 goals and adding 64 assists.⁠[8]

On November 10, 2019, Toronto FC played its third MLS Cup Final in four years, losing 3–1 away to Seattle Sounders.⁠[13]

After the pandemic interrupted the 2020 season, Toronto played in Florida’s MLS is Back Tournament and then operated mainly from East Hartford, Connecticut, apart from a short series of closed-door Canadian matches.⁠[14]

On December 1, 2020, Vanney stepped down as head coach and technical director after leading Toronto to three MLS Cup Finals and the 2017 treble.⁠[7]

For the opening months of 2021, Toronto based itself in Orlando, Florida, using Orlando City SCOrlando CityOrlando City SC is a Major League Soccer club based in Orlando, Florida. Awarded an expansion franchise in 2013, it began MLS play in 2015. Its home stadium is Inter.co Stadium.Open the full entry’s stadium for home matches before returning to Toronto with attendance restrictions.⁠[14]

On January 8, 2022, Toronto announced the signing of Designated Player Lorenzo Insigne, who made his debut against Charlotte FCCharlotte FCCharlotte FC, formally Charlotte Football Club, is an MLS professional soccer club based in Charlotte, North Carolina, playing at Bank of America Stadium.Open the full entry on July 23.⁠[15]

On July 15, 2022, Toronto signed Italy international Federico Bernardeschi as a Designated Player through 2026.⁠[16]

Toronto finished last in MLS in 2023 with only 22 regular-season points.⁠[17]

On August 28, 2023, Toronto FC appointed Canada men’s national team coach John Herdman, with his club duties to begin on October 1.⁠[18]

On October 17, 2023, captain Michael Bradley announced that he would retire at the end of the season. His Toronto captaincy included an MLS Cup, a Supporters’ Shield and four Canadian Championships.⁠[6]

On November 29, 2024, Herdman resigned as head coach with immediate effect, and the club began a search for his successor.⁠[19]

On January 10, 2025, Robin Fraser became the club’s fifteenth head coach on a contract through 2027, reporting to general manager Jason Hernandez. He had been a Toronto assistant from 2015 to 2019.⁠[20]

On July 1, 2025, the club announced mutual contract terminations with Insigne and Bernardeschi, using one guaranteed-contract buyout for each. Insigne’s departure freed Designated Player and international slots, and his wages no longer counted against the 2025 salary budget.⁠[15][21]

On August 7, 2025, Toronto FC acquired Djordje Mihailovic from Colorado RapidsColorado RapidsColorado Rapids is a Major League Soccer club whose home is DICK’S Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Colorado.Open the full entry for $8 million plus up to $1 million in conditional payments. The Designated Player signed through 2028 with a club option for 2029.⁠[22]

On February 27, 2026, Toronto announced Josh Sargent’s transfer from Norwich City as a Designated Player through 2030–31. It acquired St. Louis CITY SCSt. Louis CITY SCSt. Louis CITY SC is an MLS professional soccer club in St. Louis, Missouri. It began play in 2023 and plays its home matches at Energizer Park.Open the full entry’s right of first refusal for $500,000 in General Allocation Money plus up to $225,000 in conditional GAM. Registration remained subject to medical, work-permit and international-transfer clearance.⁠[23]

On March 9, 2026, the club announced programming for its twentieth MLS season, including a March 14 BMO Field home opener, an alumni-led supporters’ march and activities connected with Toronto hosting the World Cup.⁠[24]

On October 1, 2026, Rogers announced 100% ownership of MLSE, whose teams include Toronto FC.⁠[25]

On October 10, 2026, Fraser’s Toronto FC beat CF MontréalCF MontréalCF Montréal is a professional soccer club in Montreal, Canada, competing in MLS and playing at Stade Saputo.Open the full entry 2–1 at BMO Field through stoppage-time goals from Lewis Morgan and Mihailovic. Its regular-season record stood at seven wins, ten losses and eleven draws for 32 points.⁠[26]

Toronto FC: Official website: https://www.torontofc.ca/ (opens in a new window).⁠[27]