Have you ever wondered how Toronto FC started out as a team people didn’t expect much from but has become one of the biggest names in Major League Soccer? Any true supporter of the club knows that their path to North American domination was a long time coming, but it's easy to forget that they’re still technically in their prime. Since joining Major League Soccer in 2007, Toronto FC has gone from struggling through early seasons to finally winning it all only a decade later. Whether you’re a supporter of the club or not, it's undeniable that Toronto FC has played a huge role in how the most beautiful game has grown in Canada over the years and is now seen as a part of the city’s identity. Let’s do a deep dive into the history of Toronto FC, from their humble beginnings to reaching MLS glory!

Overview

Founded in 2007 by Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE), the same group behind the Toronto Maple Leaf’s and Toronto Raptors, Toronto FC (Toronto Football Club) all started with an idea to bring professional soccer to Canada’s largest city. They became the third Canadian team to join the MLS (Major League Soccer) as part of the Eastern Conference and the first Canadian team to win the MLS Cup. This achievement along with winning the Supporters’ Shield and the Canadian Championship solidified their status as a powerhouse club in North American soccer. They’ve won the Canadian Championship a total of eight times so far and were also finalists in the 2018 CONCACAF Champions League and the MLS Cup in 2016 and 2019.The team plays its home games at BMO Field, which is located near Toronto's shoreline!

Early Beginnings

The passion Canadians have for soccer started generations before Toronto FC arrived. But it wasn’t until 2005 when MLS decided to give Toronto a team and Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment paid $10 million for the franchise that the journey to soccer glory truly began. The official team name was even chosen by the public! The voting options were "Toronto Northmen", "Inter Toronto FC", "Toronto Reds", and of course, "Toronto FC", which was supported by over 40% of voters. MLSE hoped that going with a more simple name would let fans create their own nicknames, and they went on to call the team “TFC” or “The Reds”. 

The early seasons of Toronto FC were rough, and they experienced a challenging start with a long scoreless streak. Despite their struggles, the unwavering support from fans at BMO field never faltered, proving that fans were super excited about Toronto entering the world of soccer. The club's first big win took place on May 12, 2007, at BMO Field when Danny Dichio scored the team's first goal in a 3-1 win against the Chicago Fire. Even though TFC finished last in MLS in 2007, their fan base continued to grow. In the club's second season in 2008, Toronto hosted the MLS All-Star Game where, despite finishing last, BMO field was always at full capacity with supporters. Toronto FC also played in the first 2008 Canadian Championship to decide Canada's team for the CONCACAF Champions League, but the Montreal Impact won that year. 

In 2009, TFC missed the playoffs by just one point. Players like Dwayne De Rosario, Amado Guevara and Rookie goalkeeper Stefan Frei quickly became fan favourites, however the team still struggled to score. In the 2009 Canadian Championship, Toronto FC needed to win by four goals against the Montreal Impact. They won 6-1, with De Rosario scoring three of them. This monumental moment was referred to by fans as the "Miracle in Montreal". TFC then went onto compete in the 2009 CONCACAF Champions League but didn’t make it past the first round.

A Historic Treble

Between 2014 and 2018, Toronto FC went through one of the most dramatic turnarounds in MLS, as well as one of the greatest moments in the history of the club. At the start, the team struggled with changes to coaches and missed playoffs, but when the club started to invest in big names like captain Michael Bradley, U.S. striker Jozy Altidore, and Italian superstar Sebastian Giovinco, fans started to believe in their potential again. In fact, little did these players know at the time, but their names would soon be considered legendary in Toronto just a few years later. On September 26, 2015, Giovinco broke the league record for most points in a season. He finished with 22 goals and 16 assists, winning the MLS Golden Boot and MLS MVP as the club’s first player to win these awards.

Toronto FC made its first ever appearance in the playoffs in 2015, and by 2016, reached their first MLS Cup Final, against the Seattle Sounders. Even though they lost, their performance was a true testament to how far they’d come as a team, and they were now on everyone's radar. The following year they came back even stronger and more confident, winning the MLS Cup, Supporters’ Shield and Canadian Championship. This monumental event in 2017 was also known as the historic treble and helped them achieve their reputation as one of the best MLS teams in history. Toronto FC made it to the MLS Cup Final for a consecutive time in 2018 but sadly lost to Atlanta. Despite this heartbreaking result, the club had already made a name for themselves and would go down in history of North American soccer.

Recent Years

Since their championship season, Toronto FC is still considered a force to be reckoned with in North American soccer. Continuing into 2019, Toronto FC made its third MLS Cup Final, going head-to-head with Seattle and losing 3-1. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, soccer across Canada was put on hold. When they made their big return, Toronto FC played in the ‘MLS Is Back’ Tournament where they reached the round of 16. Due to travel restrictions, Toronto FC played their home games in the US for the rest of the 2020 season.

The seasons that followed had a mix of successes and failures, including missing the playoffs in 2021 and 2022, and changes to the player roster. Despite all of these rebuilds and unknowns, The Reds continued to have a huge fan base and are a central part of Canadian soccer. To this day the club focuses on helping young players develop their skills through its youth academy, while also investing in international players to make the squad even stronger. They’re journey up until this point may not have been easy, but it’s shaped the way soccer is celebrated in Toronto and across Canada!

Fun Facts & Highlights

●      Toronto FC has one of the highest player payrolls in the league.

●      Toronto FC played some of its home games in American-based venues during the 2020 season and 2021 season to limit travel between Canada and the United States amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

●      BMO Field was built for $62.5 million before the 2007 Major League Soccer season. It’s the biggest soccer-specific stadium in Canada.

●      Toronto FC has several recognized fan groups including the Red Patch Boys, U-Sector, Kings in the North, Tribal Rhythm Nation, and Original 109.

●      Bitchy the Hawk is a female Harris's hawk that works at BMO Field. Her job is to keep seagulls away from the field. Fans and the media consider her the team's unofficial mascot.

●      Toronto FC has rivalries with several other MLS clubs including the Columbus Crew, CF Montréal and Vancouver Whitecaps.