Seven noteworthy games on Toronto FC's 2025 schedule

A new season kicks off for Toronto FC this weekend when it plays the first of 34 matches on its match itinerary.

Twenty-eight of those contests are against familiar Eastern Conference opponents, while the Reds will also face the newest expansion club in MLS for the very first time.

In addition to going up against CF Montreal, there's also a Canadian derby against the Vancouver Whitecaps on Toronto's schedule.

Here are seven games to circle on your calendars:

TFC Republic Weekly: February 17-23

After a lengthy winter, Toronto FC kicks off its 2025 MLS regular season on Saturday away to D.C. United.

TFC REPUBLICJohn Molinaro

February 22 – away to D.C. United

It all starts this weekend when Toronto FC pays a visit to Audi Field to tangle with D.C. United. The Reds haven't had much luck in the U.S. capital over the years – they boast an overall record of 4-8-8 on the road vs. D.C. with their last victory there coming in 2016 when D.C. was still playing its home games at RFK Stadium. Troy Lesesne's side took four out of a possible six points against Toronto in 2024, including a smash-and-grab win at BMO Field last August courtesy of two very late goals. Toronto would love nothing more than to exact a measure of revenge and start the new campaign on the right foot by registering its first victory in nine years in the American capital.

March 29 – at home to Vancouver Whitecaps

It's not very often the Whitecaps travel east to take on Toronto as their previous visit to BMO Field came in a 2-1 win during the 2023 MLS season. Since then, the Whitecaps have held the advantage over their rivals, earning a 4-0 home win in MLS last year, followed by a shootout victory in the 2024 Canadian Championship final, also at BC Place. The Whitecaps vs. TFC rivalry doesn't have the same intensity or any of the hate of TFC vs. CF Montreal. But there's always some feistiness whenever they butt heads.

May 17 – away to CF Montreal

The first of three matches between these bitter Canadian rivals – they'll also meet at BMO Field in the first round of the Canadian Championship – sees TFC travel to Stade Saputo during the spring. Toronto earned a 1-0 win in Quebec last summer, but things have changed since then, including former Reds Jahkeele Marshall-Rutty and Prince Owusu (the club's top scorer in 2024) joining Montreal. Owusu will have a point to prove against his former team, who decided to let him go after failing to come to terms on a new contract. Toronto will be eager to show it was right to move on from the German.

April 26 – at home to New York City FC

This will be the first meeting between Toronto and New York since last season's pair of contentious contests that saw several on-field scuffles erupt between the two sides, an accusation that former NYCFC coach Nick Cushing punched Jahkeele Marshall-Rutty in the face, and multiple suspensions handed out by MLS, including one to former TFC bench boss John Herdman. Some of the main principles involved are still with their respective teams, so there's bound to be some bad blood and hard feelings still lingering, with TFC looking for revenge after being swept in the season series.

July 16 – away to San Diego FC

Toronto FC was the new kid on the block in MLS during the 2007 season when it made its league debut away to Chivas USA. Back then, MLS consisted of just 13 teams. The 2025 season, the league's 30th campaign, boasts 30 teams, including the newest expansion club, San Diego FC. Featuring Mexican forward Hirving Lozano, formerly of Napoli and PSV Eindhoven, San Diego will host TFC at Snapdragon Stadium during a very busy time for the Reds – it'll be the third of five games they'll play in July. The last time Toronto faced an expansion club, they dropped a 1-0 decision at home to St. Louis City during the 2023 season.

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September 27 – at home to Inter Miami

Lionel Messi touches down in Toronto for a rendezvous with the Reds in late fall, marking his return to BMO Field for the first time since last October. Messi was subbed on in the 61st minute of that match, and even though the World Cup winner didn't score, he captured the imagination of the sellout crowd with every touch of the ball. The contest was essentially a home game for Inter Miami, with large swaths of fans in the stands decked out in the club's famous pink jersey and chanting Messi's name, even when he was on the bench. Leonardo Campana's injury time winner for the visitors drew a big response from the crowd, who celebrated as though the home side had won. Will this year be any different?

October 18 – at home to Orlando City

Toronto FC's 2024 regular season wrapped up early, depriving it of the chance to play on the final day of the campaign, otherwise known as "Decision Day." The Reds lost their season finale and were eliminated from playoff contention on that same day, so in the end it didn't matter. TFC hopes to be in the thick of the playoff race this time around when it'll be in action on Decision Day as they welcome Orlando City to BMO Field. With any luck, the Reds will be playing for playoff positioning or looking to clinch a post-season berth. Worst case scenario is they'll be already out of playoff contention, giving the TFC faithful one last chance to let MLSE know what they think at the end of the season.

(Top photo courtesy of Lucas Kschischang/Toronto FC)

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