TFC Republic Weekly: June 16-22
Toronto FC has been idle since May 31 and will have been off for 25 days before it returns to action later this month.
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...
Tough times ahead for Toronto FC
Toronto FC has been idle since a 2-0 home loss to Charlotte FC on May 31 and will have been off for 25 days before it returns to action later this month.
The Reds entered this break riding a three-game losing streak and having lost seven times in their previous nine league games. What will be interesting to see is how TFC respond after a laboured start to the MLS season that saw them go 3-10-4 while currently sitting in 14th place in the Eastern Conference, five spots and 12 points out of a playoff spot.
"We have some work to do and we're going to do some work in this break, and I would like to think that we'll be a different group when you see us again," coach Robin Fraser said before his team's sabbatical.
One would hope that's the case because the iteration of the team we've seen so far this year hasn't been good enough.
The hole that Toronto has to dig itself out of is a big one. In 2024, Atlanta United had to win 10 games and earn 40 points to secure the final playoff berth in the East. In 2023, Charlotte won 10 games and collected 43 points to lock down ninth place.
Based on an average of 41.5 points over the past two years that the ninth team in the East needed to qualify for the playoffs, TFC would have to earn at least 29 points from now until October to book a spot in the post-season.
Twenty-nine points out of a possible 51 points during the second half of the 2025 campaign would require TFC to average 1.71 points per game the rest of the way - they're averaging 0.76 points per match so far this year.
John Molinaro
Another bye week for TFC
Toronto FC was originally scheduled to be off until playing Los Angeles FC on Friday, June 13.
But MLS announced on June 6 that TFC's visit to California has been rescheduled for Wednesday, October 8 at 10:30 p.m. ET. The new date is due to LAFC’s qualification to the FIFA Club World Cup, which kicked off this past weekend.
Due to the postponement, Toronto FC now returns to action on Wednesday, June 25 when it welcomes the New York Red Bulls to BMO Field (7:30 p.m./TSN & Apple TV).
John Molinaro
Ex-TFC captain Michael Bradley gets head coaching job
Former Toronto FC captain Michael Bradley was unveiled as the new coach of New York Red Bulls II last Thursday.
Red Bull II is Bradley's first head coaching job. His first match at the helm of the club will be on June 21 when they visit Carolina Core FC.
Bradley, 37, began his coaching career in October 2023, shortly after retiring as a player, when he became an assistant coach under his father Bob Bradley at Norwegian side Stabæk. Earlier this month, he was part of Jesse Marsch's staff while the Canadian men's team held a training camp in Halifax.
"I’m really excited. It’s the perfect next step for me," Bradley wrote in an email to TFC Republic.
After playing in Europe for several years, Bradley signed with Toronto FC on January 13, 2014. In 10 seasons with the Reds, Bradley made 308 appearances in all competitions, scoring 19 goals and tallying 23 assists.
He was a key figure in helping turn TFC around – they never made the playoffs prior to his arrival – helping them win four Canadian Championships (2016, 2017, 2018, 2020), an MLS Cup and the Supporters’ Shield (both in 2017).
Was a coaching job at TFC not in the cards for Bradley? I discussed that topic in the latest edition of the reader mailbag.
John Molinaro
CanMNT kicks off Gold Cup vs. Honduras
Fresh of winning the inaugural Canadian Shield tournament last week, the Canadian men's team turns its attention to the Concacaf Gold Cup, which runs from June 14 to July 6 in 13 cities across the United States and Canada.
Canada opens its Gold Cup campaign against Honduras on June 17 in Vancouver before concluding its group stage with games vs. Curaçao (June 21) and El Salvador (June 24) in Houston. Canada is No. 30 in the current FIFA world rankings, well ahead of Honduras (No. 75), El Salvador (No. 81) and Curaçao (No. 90).
Included in coach Jesse Marsch's 26-man roster are Toronto FC captain Jonathan Osorio and teammate Richie Laryea. Absent due to injuries are captain Alphonso Davies, defenders Moïse Bombito and Sam Adekugbe, and forward Liam Millar.
Those are all big losses, but Canada has more than enough depth and quality in its roster that it should be considered a serious threat to win the competition.
“The games will be different in the Gold Cup [than the Canadian Shield]. But I think we'll be able to say, 'Look, that was a big experience. We came out on top. We won the trophy.’ It's another step in our overall progress, and now we're ready for the next biggest challenge. And we want to win that trophy," Marsch said last week.
Canada has won seven of 28 games (with 12 losses) against Honduras dating back to 1980. Canada is 6-2-3 on home soil vs. Honduras, including a 4-1 win in Toronto on March 28, 2023, in their previous meeting.
Note: I will be at BC Place in Vancouver to cover Tuesday's game, so be sure to visit TFC Republic in order to check out our special on-site coverage.
RELATED READING: Newsletter || Features || Match reports || Opinion || Q&As || Videos || News || Transactions || TFC 2 ||
Stories to look out for at TFC Republic
Julian Altobelli is enjoying his moment in the sun in the CPL. After a breakout campaign with TFC 2 in MLS NEXT Pro last year, the 22-year-old attacker signed with York United in January. Altobelli has responded by scoring eight goals and tallying one assist in 11 games in all competitions for York, establishing himself as one of the CPL's top newcomers. I recently chatted one-on-one with Altobelli about his hot streak in the CPL, leaving MLS NEXT Pro, and not getting a chance with Toronto FC. Look for my feature story in the coming days
Other stories that will be published later this week include:
- A feature story on TFC defender Zane Monlouis.
- A new TFC Random Thoughts column.
- My column on the current state of affairs at Toronto FC.
- A new TFC Talk interview with beat reporter James Grossi.
- Regular "TFC Tidbits" stories throughout the week.
- The reader mailbag.
- In-depth pre- and post-game coverage of the Canadian men's team's match vs. Honduras.
- In-depth pre- and post-game coverage of the Canadian men's team's match vs. Curaçao.
- 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.
(Top photo by Casey Telford)
TFC Republic has a comments section! At the very bottom of every story, there is a feature where you can post your comments, so be sure to share your thoughts and views.
TFC Republic subscribers can get up to a 20% discount on ticket prices for Toronto FC home games during the 2025 MLS regular season and the 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).
