Toronto FC facts for kids
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| Full name | Toronto Football Club | |||
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| Nickname(s) | The Reds | |||
| Short name | TFC | |||
| Founded | October 27, 2005 | |||
| Stadium | BMO Field Toronto, Ontario |
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| Stadium capacity |
30,000 | |||
| Investor-operator | Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment | |||
| President | Vacant | |||
| General Manager | Jason Hernandez | |||
| Coach | John Herdman | |||
| League | Major League Soccer | |||
| 2024 | Eastern Conference: 11th Overall: 22nd Playoffs: Did not qualify |
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Toronto Football Club (often called Toronto FC or TFC) is a Canadian professional soccer team. It is based in Toronto, Ontario. The club plays in Major League Soccer (MLS). They are part of the Eastern Conference. The team plays its home games at BMO Field. This stadium is located at Exhibition Place in Toronto. Toronto FC joined MLS in 2007. They were the first Canadian team in the league.
The main team is run by Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE). MLSE also runs other major sports teams in Toronto. These include the Toronto Maple Leafs (hockey) and Toronto Raptors (basketball). They also operate Toronto FC II, a team that helps younger players develop.
In 2017, Toronto FC had an amazing year. They won three major titles: the MLS Cup, the Supporters' Shield, and the Canadian Championship. This made them the only MLS team to ever win all three in one season. They have won the Canadian Championship eight times. They also finished second in the 2018 CONCACAF Champions League and the MLS Cup in 2016 and 2019.
As of 2023, the club is worth about US$690 million. This makes them one of the most valuable clubs in Major League Soccer.
Contents
Club History
Starting the Team
MLS gave Toronto a team in 2005. Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE) paid US$10 million for the team. The team's name was announced on May 11, 2006.
MLSE asked the public to vote on the name online. Options included "Toronto Northmen" and "Toronto Reds." "Toronto FC" was chosen because over 40 percent of people voted for it. Also, MLSE hoped fans would create their own nickname for the team. Fans and media often call the team "TFC" or "the Reds." "FC" stands for "Football Club." This is a common name for soccer teams in Europe. It helps MLS teams feel more like traditional soccer clubs.
Early Years (2007–2010)
Toronto FC quickly gained many fans. Even though they had a tough start, fans showed great support. The club's first win was on May 12, 2007, at BMO Field. Danny Dichio scored the team's first goal. They won 3–1 against the Chicago Fire. TFC finished last in MLS that year. But they built a strong base as the first Canadian team in the league.
In their second season (2008), Toronto hosted the 2008 MLS All-Star Game. They finished last in their conference again. Still, fans continued to fill BMO Field. Toronto FC also played in the first 2008 Canadian Championship in 2008. This competition decides which Canadian team plays in the CONCACAF Champions League. The Montreal Impact won that year.
In 2009, TFC missed the playoffs by just one point. They struggled to keep a consistent team. Dwayne De Rosario became a great scorer. Amado Guevara was a strong playmaker. But the team often gave up goals late in games.
In the 2009 Canadian Championship, Toronto FC needed to win by four goals. They were playing the Montreal Impact. TFC won 6–1, with De Rosario scoring three goals. This amazing win was called the "Miracle in Montreal." Toronto FC then played in the 2009–10 CONCACAF Champions League. They lost in the first round.
After missing the playoffs in 2009, MLSE wanted a playoff spot in 2010. They hired Preki as coach. They also changed many players. TFC started well, going undefeated for seven games. But they struggled after the World Cup break. MLSE changed coaches and managers again. The team improved but still missed the playoffs.
Toronto FC played in the 2010–11 CONCACAF Champions League. They won their preliminary round games. They also won their first group stage match against Mexican team Cruz Azul. However, they did not make it to the next round.
Cup Wins and League Struggles (2011–2014)
In 2011, MLSE hired Jürgen Klinsmann to help the team. He recommended Aron Winter as head coach. Paul Mariner became the director of soccer. They wanted to bring a new playing style to Toronto FC. Many players were traded. They signed two well-known European players: Torsten Frings and Danny Koevermans.
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Toronto FC used many players in 2011. They finished the season strong but missed the playoffs again. However, they did well in the 2011–12 CONCACAF Champions League. They beat LA Galaxy to reach the semi-finals. This was a first for a Canadian team. They lost to Mexican team Santos Laguna in the semi-finals.
Aron Winter resigned in June 2012. The team had a very bad start to the season. Paul Mariner took over as coach. But TFC still struggled. They finished last in the league. They also failed to advance in the CONCACAF Champions League.
Kevin Payne became the new general manager in November 2012. Ryan Nelsen became the head coach in January 2013. Payne signed Matías Laba, a young designated player. Payne was later fired in September. Tim Leiweke, the MLSE president, wanted to make big changes. He wanted to sign more famous players. Tim Bezbatchenko became the new general manager.
Under Bezbatchenko, Toronto FC made some big player moves. They signed U.S. international Michael Bradley. They also brought back Dwayne De Rosario, a top scorer. On January 10, 2014, they signed England international Jermain Defoe. He was one of the highest-paid players in MLS. These moves meant they had to trade Matias Laba.
The team started 2014 with high hopes. But they struggled after the World Cup. Nelsen was fired in August. Greg Vanney became the new head coach. The team won the most games in its history that year. But they still missed the playoffs for the eighth year in a row. Defoe left the team in January 2015. Toronto received American player Jozy Altidore in return. A few days later, they signed Italian star Sebastian Giovinco.
Becoming Champions (2015–2017)
Michael Bradley became team captain in 2015. He would become the longest-serving captain. On September 26, 2015, Giovinco broke a league record for points. He scored 22 goals and had 16 assists. This made him the first TFC player to win the MLS Golden Boot (most goals). He also won MLS MVP and MLS Newcomer of the Year Award. Toronto FC made the playoffs for the first time ever on October 14. They lost to rivals Montreal Impact in the first round.
On June 29, 2016, Toronto FC won their fifth Canadian Championship. Giovinco became Toronto FC's all-time top scorer in July 2016. In October 2016, TFC made the playoffs again. They won their first-ever playoff game. They beat New York City FC to reach the Eastern Conference finals. They faced Montreal Impact again. Toronto beat Montreal 5–2 in extra time. This sent them to their first MLS Cup Final. On December 10, Toronto lost the final at home to Seattle Sounders FC in a penalty shootout.
On June 27, 2017, Toronto FC won their sixth Canadian Championship. This earned them a spot in the 2018 CONCACAF Champions League. On September 30, Toronto FC won their first Supporters' Shield. This means they finished with the most points in the league. They also set a new MLS regular season points record with 69 points. On November 29, 2017, Toronto FC won the Eastern Conference finals again. They reached the MLS Cup Final for the second time in a row. On December 9, 2017, Toronto FC beat Seattle 2–0 in the MLS Cup. Toronto FC became the first MLS team to win the "domestic treble." This means they won the MLS Cup, Supporters' Shield, and Canadian Championship in one year. They were also the first Canadian team to win the MLS Cup.
After the MLS Cup Win (2018–Present)
Toronto FC started the 2018 season well in the 2018 CONCACAF Champions League. They beat the Colorado Rapids and Tigres UANL. They reached the semi-finals for the second time. They then beat Club América to reach the finals for the first time. In the final, they lost to Guadalajara in a penalty shootout. Later that year, they lost the 2018 Campeones Cup to Tigres UANL. They failed to make the playoffs in 2018.
In January 2019, Ali Curtis became the new general manager. On January 30, 2019, Toronto FC sold star player Sebastian Giovinco. He moved to a club in Saudi Arabia.
On March 4, 2019, Spanish player Alejandro Pozuelo joined Toronto FC. He helped fill the gap left by Giovinco. On June 26, 2019, Tsubasa Endoh scored the fastest goal in TFC history. It was just 29 seconds into the game. Toronto FC made the playoffs in 2019. They reached the final again. They faced the Seattle Sounders for the third time in four finals. Toronto FC lost 3–1 in Seattle.
On February 7, 2020, Toronto FC signed Argentine player Pablo Piatti. Michael Bradley signed a new contract and stayed as captain.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, soccer was paused. Toronto FC played in the MLS is Back Tournament. They reached the round of 16 but lost to New York City FC. Because of travel rules, Toronto FC played their home games in the U.S. in 2020 and 2021. They played in Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field in Connecticut. They also played in Exploria Stadium in Florida.
On December 1, 2020, Greg Vanney stepped down as head coach. He was the team's longest-serving and most successful coach. Chris Armas became the new coach in January 2021. After a very poor start to the 2021 season, Armas was fired. Javier Pérez took over as interim coach. Toronto played their first game back at BMO Field on July 17, 2021. They finished second-last that season. In November 2021, Bob Bradley (Michael Bradley's father) became the new head coach and sporting director.
New Italian Players (2022)
In 2022, Toronto FC signed several Italian international players. On January 8, Lorenzo Insigne joined as a winger. On June 29, Domenico Criscito signed. On July 15, Federico Bernardeschi also joined. Insigne and Bernardeschi signed as "designated players." This means they are key, high-paid players. Canadian players Doneil Henry, Mark-Anthony Kaye, and Richie Laryea also joined.
The team continued to change players in 2022–2023. They added American Matt Hedges and Norwegian Adama Diomande. Victor Vazquez also returned. Jason Hernandez became the general manager.
Challenges and Changes (2023)
The 2023 season was tough for Toronto FC. Despite having Insigne and Bernardeschi, the team struggled. They had many injuries. They finished near the bottom of the MLS Eastern Conference.
Because of the team's poor performance, Bob Bradley was fired in June 2023. He had only won one game out of eleven. Terry Dunfield became the interim head coach. Later, John Herdman was named the new head coach. The club focused on building a stronger team. Young players like Kobe Franklin and Deandre Kerr started playing regularly.
Rebuilding with Herdman (2024–Present)
For the 2024 season, Jonathan Osorio was named club captain. Insigne and Bernardeschi stayed with the team. Key new signings included Richie Laryea and Kevin Long. Honduran player Deybi Flores, Matty Longstaff, and Nicksoen Gomis also joined.
The team started the season with a 0–0 draw against FC Cincinnati. Goalkeeper Sean Johnson had his 100th MLS shutout.
Home Stadium
Before the 2007 Major League Soccer season, a new stadium was built in Toronto. It cost $62.5 million. On September 20, 2006, BMO Financial Group bought the naming rights. The stadium is now called BMO Field. It is the biggest soccer-specific stadium in Canada. The City of Toronto owns it. MLSE, the team's owner, runs it.
At first, BMO Field had artificial turf. This caused problems. MLSE agreed to replace it with natural grass for the 2010 MLS Season. A heating and drainage system was also installed.
Sometimes, Toronto FC plays games at the Rogers Centre. This is a much larger stadium. It is home to the Major League Baseball's Toronto Blue Jays. In March 2012, TFC played an important game there. They hosted the LA Galaxy in the 2011–12 CONCACAF Champions League quarter-finals. Over 47,000 fans attended.
Stadium Expansion
The stadium was expanded in 2010. This added 1,249 seats. A $120 million renovation was announced in 2014. This added a second level of seating. It increased the stadium's capacity to 30,991. New suites, washrooms, and a roof were also added. The project finished in May 2016. The expansion also made the stadium suitable for Canadian football. The Toronto Argonauts (CFL team) moved to BMO Field in 2016.
Stadiums During the COVID-19 Pandemic
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During the COVID-19 pandemic, Toronto FC could not play home games in Canada. This was due to travel restrictions. In 2020, they played their home matches at Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field in Connecticut. In 2021, they played some home games at Exploria Stadium in Orlando, Florida. This stadium is also home to Orlando City SC.
Club Culture
Supporters
Toronto FC fans set a high standard for MLS fan support. They sold out the first three seasons. The team was praised for its strong fan culture. However, when the team struggled, fans became frustrated. They even protested against the team's owners. In response, MLSE lowered ticket prices in 2013.
After signing big players like Jermain Defoe and Michael Bradley, interest grew again. The team limited season tickets to 17,000 for the 2014 season.
Toronto FC has several recognized fan groups. These include the Red Patch Boys, U-Sector, Kings in the North, Tribal Rhythm Nation, and Original 109.
Mascot
Bitchy the Hawk is a female Harris's hawk. She is employed by BMO Field staff. Her job is to sit on the field and scare away seagulls. She was first brought in 2007 to stop seagulls from bothering fans. She has become a popular part of BMO Field. Fans and media consider her the team's unofficial mascot.
Rivalries
Toronto FC has rivalries with several other MLS clubs. These include the Columbus Crew and CF Montréal. They also have a rivalry with the other Canadian team, the Vancouver Whitecaps FC. These three Canadian teams compete for the Canadian Championship.
CF Montréal
CF Montréal (formerly Montreal Impact) is Toronto FC's biggest rival. They joined MLS in 2012. Before that, they had fierce matches in the Canadian Championship. The two cities are close. Also, Toronto and Montreal have a long rivalry in hockey. This makes their soccer games very intense. The rivalry is known as the 401 Derby or the Canadian Classique.
On March 16, 2013, Toronto FC fans set an MLS record. About 3,200 away fans traveled to Montreal for a game.
The 2016 MLS Cup Eastern Conference finals were part of this rivalry. Toronto FC won the series.
Columbus Crew
Columbus Crew and Toronto FC compete for the Trillium Cup. This started in 2008. The rivalry is named after the white trillium flower. This flower is the official flower of both Ontario and Ohio. The games between them have become very competitive. In 2009, about 1,700 Toronto FC fans traveled to Columbus. Some problems happened between fan groups after the game.
The 2017 MLS Cup Eastern Conference finals were also part of the Trillium Cup. Toronto FC won that series.
Colours and Sponsorship
Toronto FC's main colour is red. Black, grey, dark grey, and white are secondary colours.
The team's main uniform is red. It has lighter and darker red stripes. The sleeves are black with red trim. The secondary uniform is usually white. It has red and blue stripes. All MLS uniforms are made by Adidas.
Since 2007, the team has been sponsored by the Bank of Montreal (BMO). This sponsorship is very valuable to the club. In 2016, BMO extended its sponsorship for another ten years.
Club Ownership
Toronto FC is run by Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE). MLSE also owns other major sports teams in Toronto. These include the Toronto Maple Leafs (NHL) and Toronto Raptors (NBA). They also own the Toronto Argonauts (CFL) and Toronto FC II (MLS Next Pro). MLSE also owns sports media channels.
The company is also involved in real estate. They own the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto. The main owners of MLSE are Larry Tanenbaum, Rogers Communications, and Bell Media. Rogers and Bell own Canada's main English sports TV channels. Rogers announced in 2024 that it plans to buy Bell's share in MLSE.
Players and Staff
Current Roster
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Out on Loan
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Current Staff
| Executive | |
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| President | Vacant |
| General manager | Jason Hernandez |
| Technical director | Sean Rubio |
| Coaching Staff | |
| Head coach | John Herdman |
| Assistant coach | Eric Tenllado |
| Assistant coach | Terry Dunfield |
| Assistant coach | Jason De Vos |
| Goalkeeper coach | Simon Eaddy |
| Performance & Wellness coach | Robyn Gayle |
| Scouting & Analytics coach | Alex Dodgshon |
| Director of Performance | Cesar Meylan |
| Performance Analyst | Peter Galindo |
Head Coaches
Toronto FC has had several head coaches since 2006. Some notable coaches include Greg Vanney, who led the team to its historic treble win in 2017. The current head coach is John Herdman.
General Managers
The general manager helps build the team and makes big decisions about players. Some past general managers include Mo Johnston, Kevin Payne, and Tim Bezbatchenko. The current general manager is Jason Hernandez.
Youth Development
Toronto FC II
Toronto FC II is the club's "farm team." It was started in 2014. This team plays in USL League One, which is a lower division. It helps young players get ready for the main Toronto FC team. It acts as a bridge between the youth academy and the first team. Their home stadium is at the BMO Training Ground.
TFC Academy
The TFC Academy is the club's youth development system. It was started in 2008. The academy has many teams for different age groups. These range from U12 to U20. The oldest academy team (Toronto FC III) plays in the MLS Next league.
In June 2012, the TFC academy moved to a new practice facility. It is called the BMO Training Ground. This facility cost $21 million to build. It has seven soccer fields. Three are grass, and four are artificial turf. Two of the artificial fields can be covered for year-round use. The facility also has training areas, a gym, and offices for the main team.
TFC Juniors
The Toronto FC Juniors program is part of the youth academy. It holds soccer camps in different areas. These camps help find new talented players for the academy.
TFC Regional Partners
TFC Academy works with local youth clubs in other cities in Ontario. These clubs re-brand themselves under the TFC name. Examples include Windsor TFC, London TFC, and Ottawa TFC. This helps Toronto FC find and develop talent from across the province.
Broadcasting
Since 2023, all Toronto FC MLS games are available on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV. You can watch them with English, French, or Spanish commentary. Some games are also shown on TSN (English) and RDS (French). Canadian Championship games are broadcast by OneSoccer.
Before 2023, TSN was the main broadcaster for Toronto FC games. Radio broadcasts are on TSN 1050 and Sportsnet 590.
Honours and Awards
Toronto FC has won several important titles and awards.
National Competitions
- MLS Cup: 1 (2017)
- Supporters' Shield: 1 (2017)
- MLS Eastern Conference Championship: 3 (2016, 2017, 2019)
- Canadian Championship: 8 (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2020)
Individual Awards
Several Toronto FC players and coaches have won major individual awards:
- MLS MVP: Sebastian Giovinco (2015), Alejandro Pozuelo (2020)
- MLS Golden Boot (most goals): Sebastian Giovinco (2015)
- MLS Rookie of the Year: Maurice Edu (2007)
- MLS Newcomer of the Year: Sebastian Giovinco (2015)
- MLS Coach of the Year: Greg Vanney (2017)
- CONCACAF Coach of the Year: Greg Vanney (2017)
- MLS Cup MVP: Jozy Altidore (2017)
- CONCACAF Champions League Golden Ball: Sebastian Giovinco (2018)
- CONCACAF Champions League Golden Boot (most goals): Jonathan Osorio (2018)
Team Record
Year-by-Year Performance
Toronto FC has played in Major League Soccer since 2007. Here's a look at their recent seasons:
- 2020: Finished 2nd in the Eastern Conference and overall. Won the Canadian Championship.
- 2021: Finished 13th in the Eastern Conference.
- 2022: Finished 13th in the Eastern Conference. Was runner-up in the Canadian Championship.
- 2023: Finished 15th in the Eastern Conference.
- 2024: Finished 11th in the Eastern Conference. Was runner-up in the Canadian Championship.
International Competitions
Toronto FC has played in the CONCACAF Champions League seven times. They reached the final once, in 2018.
Attendance
Toronto FC has had strong fan support. In their early years, they often sold out their games. Attendance dipped in 2012 and 2013 when the team struggled. However, it bounced back after 2014 with the signing of big players.
The largest crowd at BMO Field for a Toronto FC game was 36,045 fans. This was for the 2016 MLS Cup Final against Seattle Sounders FC. The highest overall attendance for a home game was 47,658. This happened at the Rogers Centre in 2012 for a CONCACAF Champions League game against the Los Angeles Galaxy.
Images for kids
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Toronto FC Logo
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BMO Field pre-expansion in 2009
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BMO Field post-expansion in 2016
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Pratt & Whitney Stadium in East Hartford, Connecticut
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Exploria Stadium in Orlando, Florida
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A match between Toronto FC and Montreal Impact in Olympic Stadium in Montreal, March 2013.
See Also
In Spanish: Toronto Football Club para niños
- Canadian Championship
- Canada men's national soccer team
- Canadian Soccer Association
