EDITORIAL – Toronto FC (Toronto Football Club or TFC) had their MLS season schedule released last month. Their first MLS game will be against the San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday, February 29, 2019. Their last game in the MLS season will be against New York City FC at BMO Field.
Toronto FC’s 2020 MLS Schedule
They will also talk about TFC’s Canadian Championship schedule, which was realigned through geographical lines. An exception to this is Forge FC based in Hamilton, who have been put on the western side of the bracket.
TFC will not be in the CONCACAF Champions League despite finishing as runner-up of the MLS Cup Playoffs. This was because of their two-legged defeat to the Montreal Impact in the Canadian Championship Final. This article will look at all the games involving TFC that might be interesting to watch.
2020 Most Notable MLS Season Games
Toronto FC and the Seattle Sounders FC – Two Best Teams in MLS
The two best MLS teams in the last four years will be facing each other again in the MLS season. Toronto FC will look to avenge their 3-1 MLS Cup Final loss against the Seattle Sounders FC. They will be playing each other only once this season at BMO Field on Saturday, July 18.
TFC and Seattle have faced each other in 2016, 2017, and 2019 MLS Cup Final. Toronto FC won one MLS Cup while Seattle won two MLS Cups. TFC also made it to the CONCACAF Champions League final last year showing to the rest of the league that these two teams are the class of MLS. TFC also has a score to settle with the Montreal Impact, who defeated them in the Canadian Championship Cup final.
Toronto FC and the Montreal Impact – the 401 Derby
The Montreal Impact have not made it to the MLS Playoffs since their dramatic MLS Eastern Conference Finals match-up with Toronto FC in 2016. They hope to make a splash this year though with the hiring of new Impact manager Thierry Henry.
However, TFC will not be underestimating the Montreal Impact. They will host the Impact at BMO Field on Saturday, June 13. Then the Montreal Impact will host Toronto FC at Stade Saputo on Saturday, August 22.
Also, expect these teams to face each other in the semi-finals in July as both teams will face either the Canadian Premier League or Canadian division. Another long-time Eastern Conference rival is Columbus Crew SC.
Toronto FC and Columbus Crew SC – The Trillium Cup Derby
The last time TFC and Columbus Crew SC faced each other in the playoffs was in the MLS Eastern Conference Finals in 2017. There, a famous goal scored by an injured Jozy Altidore inspired TFC to the MLS Cup Final.
The Columbus Crew SC leads with seven Trillium Cups compared to Toronto FC’s five. However, TFC has won four of the last six Trillium Cups including last year.
Toronto FC will continue their Trillium Cup derby with Columbus Crew SC. They will be facing each other in Columbus, Ohio in MAPFRE Stadium on Saturday, April 4. They will also play in Toronto, Ontario at BMO Field on Saturday, August 8. Another opponent TFC has faced in the playoffs is the New York City Football Club (NYCFC). Toronto FC has defeated NYCFC two times in the playoffs including last year.
New York City FC
Toronto FC’s first-ever MLS home game will be against NYCFC on Saturday, March 7 at BMO Field. They will then travel to New York City against NYCFC at Yankee Stadium. NYCFC does not have fun experiences in the playoffs against TFC. In 2016, NYCFC lost by an aggregate of 7-0 including a 5-0 loss at Yankee Stadium.
Then last year, the heavily favoured NYCFC made two critical mistakes against TFC. This information is sourced from Alicia Rodriguez of MLSsoccer.com. NYCFC’s Maxime Chanot produced an opportunity for Alejandro Pozuelo. He would take advantage and get easily past NYCFC goalkeeper Sean Johnson with ease.
They tied it with an Ismael Tajouri-Shradi one-timer of a looping cross. However, they lost the game when Ronald Matarrita brought down Canadian Ritchie Laryea in NYCFC’s box. TFC would end the game with a Pozuelo penalty Panenka to end the game.
They will be looking to avenge their loss against TFC in the last post-season. This goes the same with Atlanta United FC. They were defending MLS Cup Champs at the time and were heavy favourites against TFC in the 2019 MLS Cup Eastern Conference Finals.
Atlanta United FC
Atlanta United Football Club had TFC on the ropes in their last playoff encounter as sourced by Alicia Rodriguez of MLSsoccer.com Julien Gressel scored the easy tap-in. Then in the 10th minute Pity Martinez drew a penalty by Michael Bradley. However, in what was Quentin Westberg’s best game as a TFC goalkeeper he stopped Josef Martinez’s spot-kick.
Two incredible goals by both Nicolas Benezet and Nick DeLeon led TFC to their third MLS Cup Final in four years. Atlanta will be looking to get revenge at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlantia, Georgia on Wednesday, May 27. TFC will then host on Saturday, September 12 against TFC. In this article, three of TFC’s four MLS playoff opponents from last year as been covered. The only one not covered is DC United.
D.C. United
The D.C. United-Toronto FC playoff game at BMO Field was one of the weirdest MLS Playoff games last year. TFC dominated the game with 17 shots in the game. However, in the first half, they were only up 1-0 with a Marky Delgado goal. Lucas Rodriguez tied the game late in the second half to send the game in extra time.
Then TFC destroyed D.C. United, scoring four goals from Canadians Laryea and Jonathan Osorio, and former D.C. United player Nick DeLeon. TFC won the game 5-1. TFC will face D.C. United at Audi Field on Wednesday, April 15. They will face each other again at BMO Field on Saturday, July 25. D.C. United star striker Wayne Rooney left this offseason.
Unlike the previous teams in this list, Colorado Rapids FC does not have a history with Toronto FC. However, fan favourite as left TFC and joined the Colorado Rapids FC.
Colorado Rapids FC
Drew Moor has left TFC this off-season to join the Colorado Rapids FC. The Rapids failed to make it to the MLS playoffs last year and have plans to make it to the playoffs this year.
Fan favourite Drew Moor has played in many big TFC games including three MLS Cup Finals and a CONCACAF Champions League final. TFC and the Rapids will play each other only once. This game will be at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Colorado on Saturday, June 20.
The last notable team to mention will be the Vancouver Whitecaps FC. Both TFC and the Vancouver Whitecaps FC’s rivalry stems from the Canadian Championship and being the first two MLS teams in Canada.
Vancouver Whitecaps FC
Canada’s second MLS team, the Vancouver Whitecaps Football Club has not found success as of yet. Last year, there was a lot of drama off the pitch of an 11-year-old abuse scandal with the Vancouver Whitecaps women’s team (sourced from Laura Sciarpelliti of CBC News). They were also the only MLS team to lose to a Canadian Premier League (CPL) side. The Whitecaps lost 2-1 in aggregate in the Canadian Championship to CPL Finalist Cavalry FC.
They finished second from the bottom last year and will be looking to rebound and make the playoffs this year. In the MLS season, TFC will only face the Vancouver Whitecaps FC once at BMO Field on Saturday, May 2nd.
They could also face each other in the Canadian Championship final in September if everything falls into place. This includes TFC defeating either York 9 FC or Master’s Football Academy.
York 9 Football Club or Master’s Football Academy
TFC will be facing either York 9 Football Club (York 9 FC) or Master’s Football Academy (Master’s FC) as their first Canadian Championship opponent. Master’s FC based in Scarborough, Ontario won the third-tier League 1 Ontario championship. They will be looking to upset York 9 FC and possibly have a Greater Toronto Area showdown with TFC.
York 9 FC finished third in the Canadian Premier League and almost knocked out the Montreal Impact in last year’s edition of the Canadian Championship. Both teams are linked by Ryan Telfer. Telfer, who last played for York 9 FC on loan from TFC scored the Canadian Premier League’s first goal against Forge FC at Tim Hortons Field.
If York 9 FC met Toronto FC in the Canadian Championship, it would be the first time two first-tier teams from the GTA faced each other since the 1990s. This was back when Canada had another pro soccer league called the Canadian Soccer League with the North York Rockets and the Toronto Blizzard. There are a lot of exciting games coming up for TFC. However, there is also a problem in regards to the MLS season games as the new CBA agreement has not been signed.
Toronto FC the and the CBA Agreement
There are a lot of exciting games coming up for TFC against rivals in MLS and the Canadian Championship. However, one thing to note before TFC fans buy tickets for MLS season games as the CBA has not been signed. If the CBA is not signed the season may not start in time delaying or cancelling some dates from Toronto FC’s schedule.
