TFC Republic Weekly: June 1-6
Toronto FC's Richie Laryea and Jonathan Osorio will both likely play for Canada in its final tune-up games before the FIFA World Cup.
Welcome to the latest edition of TFC Republic Weekly, an email newsletter that will land in the inbox of both paid subscribers and free members of TFC Republic every Monday.
This newsletter will look at what's in store over the next seven days for Toronto FC, and also get a glimpse of what to expect at TFC Republic in the coming days.
So, without further ado...
John Molinaro
An important note about TFC Republic during World Cup
With Toronto FC on an extended break until mid-July (more on that later), TFC Republic will turn its attention to the Canadian men's team and the 2026 FIFA World Cup that is being co-hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States.
TFC Republic's main focus for the this month will be on Canada, who will play its opening World Cup match at BMO Field before closing out the group stage with a pair of games at BC Place. I will be covering all of Canada's group stage contests on site – I'll be in Toronto until June 14 and then will be in Vancouver from June 15-26.
Readers can expect in-depth coverage of the Canadian men's team for the full duration of its run in the World Cup, so be sure to check out the website for regular daily content.
As a result, we will be providing minimal coverage of Toronto FC during the month of June. That's not to say we're going to ignore TFC, but we won't be doing the regular daily coverage of the team you have come to expect from us. Instead, there'll likely be only one to three pieces of content on Toronto FC per week during the World Cup. Of course, if there is major news that breaks about the MLS club, we will provide in-depth coverage.
Regular service will resume at TFC Republic early next month with daily content about Toronto FC leading up to its first game back after the break, away to CF Montreal on July 16.
John Molinaro
MLS on an extended break; Toronto FC off until July 16
MLS has been on hiatus since May 24 and won't resume action until mid-July.
Toronto FC headed into this break on a negative note with three straight losses in MLS and without a win in nine games across all competitions – its last victory came on April 4.
TFC are off until July 16 when they face CF Montreal at Stade Saputo, which means they have plenty of time to rest and get several injured players fully fit by the time they travel to Quebec.
GM Jason Hernandez also has to use this time to make a decision about José Cifuentes, while also taking a very hard look at his roster and figuring out what moves he must make during the summer transfer window in order to strengthen his squad in hopes that it can make a concerted push for a playoff spot.
John Molinaro
TFC pair named to Canada's World Cup roster
It's shaping up to be a very special birthday for Toronto FC captain Jonathan Osorio.
The veteran midfielder was officially named to Canada's roster for the 2026 FIFA World Cup last Friday, giving the veteran midfielder a chance to play for his country on his 34th birthday when Canada meets Bosnia and Herzegovina at BMO Field on June 12 in its opening group stage match of the tournament.
TFC teammate Richie Laryea was also included in coach Jesse Marsch's 26-man squad that will face Qatar on June 18 and Switzerland on June 25 at BC Place in Vancouver in Group B action after taking on Bosnia.
Osorio has nine goals and eight assists in 89 games (57 starts) for Canada since making his international debut in 2013. He played in 17 of the first 21 games that Marsch oversaw since his appointment in May 2024, including appearances in all six matches at the 2024 Copa América. The TFC captain ranks second in all-time caps for the men's team, tied with Julian de Guzman (89 caps), and just ahead of Cyle Larin (88), while only behind Atiba Hutchinson (104).
Osorio has played every minute of all 14 MLS games this season with Toronto, collecting three assists along the way but has yet to score a goal. He’s highly-rated by Marsch, but it’ll be interesting to see how he’s deployed at the World Cup – one would think that he’ll be used off the bench given that fellow central midfielders Eustáquio and Koné have a virtual lock on starting roles.
Laryea, 31, has one goal and seven assists in 73 caps (60 starts) for Canada since his national team debut in 2019. Marsch thinks a lot of Laryea, too, and the expectation is that he will have a big role to play for Canada at the World Cup, possibly as a starter, provided he is fully fit.
The TFC fullback suffered a thigh injury in an April 22 home game against the Philadelphia Union and has been sidelined ever since, sitting out all five of the club’s subsequent games — four in MLS and one in the Canadian Championship. Laryea has two goals and a pair of assists in nine MLS appearances for Toronto this season.
"Both guys have been amazing and are a big part of the success we've had, and they will be a big part of the success we have in the tournament as well," Marsch said.
John Molinaro
CanMNT vs Uzbekistan and Republic of Ireland
Canada is the home stretch of its preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
After Jesse Marsch announced his 26-man roster last Friday, the Canadian men's team now turns its attention to its last two tune-up matches before the World Cup. Les Rouges will face Uzbekistan on June 1 in Edmonton before facing the Republic of Ireland on June 5 in Montreal.
Canada is No. 30 in the current FIFA world rankings, well ahead of Uzbekistan (No. 50) and Ireland (No. 59). Uzbekistan will compete at this summer's World Cup while Ireland failed to qualify.
"I've been calling this the people's team, and to do that, we really need to be in every market that we can possibly be in," coach Jesse Marsch said.
Canada opens its World Cup campaign in Group B on June 12 when it faces Bosnia and Herzegovina at BMO Field before the scene switches to Vancouver where it will meet Qatar on June 18 and Switzerland on June 25 at BC Place.
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Stories to look out for at TFC Republic
I'll be in Montreal to cover the Canadian men's team's final World Cup tune-up match as Jesse Marsch's men face the Republic of Ireland at Stade Saputo on Friday, June 5. Be sure to check the website on a daily basis for my regular updates from Montreal.
Other stories that will be published this week include:
- Regular "TFC Tidbits" news stories throughout the week.
- A new TFC Talk interview with beat reporter James Grossi.
- The reader mailbag.
- The weekly Random Thoughts column.
- The weekly TFC 2 report.
- In-depth pre- and post-game coverage of Canada's match vs. Uzbekistan.
- In-depth pre- and post-game coverage of Toronto's match vs. Ireland.
- And much more!
TFC Republic mailbag
TFC Republic will feature a regular reader mailbag column where I answer questions from subscribers about Toronto FC and Canadian soccer in general.
I'll answer the best questions submitted to me by TFC Republic readers, so feel free to drop me an email at jmo1897@gmail.com. You can also reach out to me via Twitter.
TFC Republic subscribers can get up to a 25% discount on ticket prices for Toronto FC home games during the 2026 MLS regular season and the 2026 Canadian Championship. To receive the special promo code, email me at jmo1897@gmail.com
(Please don't share promo code with non-TFC Republic subscribers).
