Football Ground Map
Football Ground Map
Toronto FC were founded in 2005 and became the first Canadian team to join US-based Major League Soccer in 2007.
Part of their deal to join MLS included a 3-year exclusivity agreement, preventing any other Canadian team from joining the league until 2010. After the agreement expired, TFC were joined by Vancouver Whitecaps and Toronto's now arch rivals, Montreal Impact.
After being given an MLS licence, fans were asked to vote on the club's name. Options included Toronto Northmen, Inter Toronto, Toronto Reds and Toronto FC. The options were put to a public vote with more than 40% choosing the simple Toronto FC.
Toronto's fans are known to be very loyal and very loud, and very boisterous, making BMO Field an intimidating place to visit. They're probably the type of fans who use sites such as www.rivernilecasino.com to hit the jackpot!
This loyal fanbase set an MLS away attendance record in 2013 when 3,200 fans made the 670 mile round trip to Montreal. This eclipsed their earlier record of 2.400 supporters who made the 850 mile round trip to Columbus Crew in the team's debut season. Whilst fans in England might not think 3,200 is a lot of fans, at more than 10% of their average attendance, it's the equivalent of Manchester United taking 7,500 fans to a league match in Brussels. These long trips are something which TFC fans are used to and have some great ways to pass the time including jeux de casino (casino games) on supporters flights and busses.
After a steady start, Toronto FC claimed the domestic treble in 2017, winning the MLS Cup, Supporters' Shield and Canadian Championship. They followed this up by finishing CONCACAF Champions League runners up in 2018.
The late 2010s proved to be a good time for TFC with the club finishing MLS Cup runners up in 2016 and 2019 - beaten both times by Seattle Sounders. The 2016 defeat was particularly hard to take for the fans, losing 5-4 on penalties with home field advantage. At present, the club has the highest payroll in US Soccer.
TFC play their home games at the 30,000 capacity stadium BMO Field. The stadium is the largest soccer specific ground in Canada at an original cost of $62.5m. A further $120m was spent on the ground in 2016 which took the capacity up to its current level.
The club have played a handful of matches at the Rogers Center. This 50,000 capacity stadium is home to the Toronto Blue Jays baseball team. Matches played there include a CONCACAF Champions League match and a friendly against Premier League outfit Liverpool.
TFC have had a number of famous players on their books including English Striker Jermain Defoe, American forward Joze Altidore, American national team captain Michael Bradley and Italian forward Sebastian Giovinco.
US sporting legend Michael Bradley has played more than 150 games for his country and 170 (and counting) for TFC. Giovinco was much loved by Toronto's loyal supporters, scoring 68 goals in 114 appearances before leaving to join the Suadi Arabian Premier League in 2019.
Older fans in the UK may also remember former QPR striker Danny Dichio, who scored Tornoto's first ever MLS goal back in 2007.
My daughter's first ever football match - Orlando City v Atlanta United, August 2019. Written for Izzy to read when she gets old enough. Vamos Orlando
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