TFC Republic Weekly: March 30-April 5
After a two-week sabbatical, Toronto FC returns to action this week vs. the Colorado Rapids as it continues its nine-game homestand.
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...
Toronto FC set to return from international break
After a two-week sabbatical due to the international break, Toronto FC returns to action this week against the Colorado Rapids in the third match of its nine-game homestand.
TFC (2-2-1) are unbeaten in three games after beginning their 2026 MLS campaign with back-to-back road losses. A come-from-behind 2-1 win against the Columbus Crew at BMO Field in their previous contest allowed the Reds to go into the break with a bit of momentum. Now they have to build on it.
"I like the timing of [the break] because I think we've taken some steps forward and in a week without a game, it'll allow us to maybe focus on some detailed things that aren't so much about the upcoming opponent, and you don't really get those opportunities too often," Robin Fraser said.
"I feel like this is a week where we can really work on some principle-based things as opposed to working to prepare for an opponent."
The time off also allowed players who are carrying injuries or knocks extra time to get fit and gave new DP Josh Sargent to further embed himself within the club.
John Molinaro
TFC trades Kosi Thompson to Colorado
Toronto FC acquired up to $400,000 in general allocation money (GAM) from Colorado Rapids in exchange for Kosi Thompson. As part of last week's trade, TFC will receive a guaranteed $200,000 in 2026 GAM and up to an additional $200,000 in conditional GAM if certain performance-based metrics are met. TFC may retain a sell-on percentage in the event of a future permanent transfer of the midfielder.
Thompson, a 23-year-old from Toronto, showed a lot of maturity and growth last season, his fourth at TFC while registering career highs in starts (23) and minutes (2,121). Thompson was still error-prone from time to time, but that didn't stop Toronto from picking up its 2026 contract on him.
His start to this season was less than ideal, though. Thompson looked far from his best while playing in the back line in each of the Reds' first two games (135 total minutes) when they suffered back-to-back losses, conceding six goals along the way. Since then, he was an unused substitute in TFC's three matches.
This trade marks the end of a road at Toronto for a player who at one time was thought to be a bright prospect, but who never fully broke out and lived up to his full potential or performed at a consistent level.
John Molinaro
Reds loan Adam Pearlman to Cavalry FC
Toronto FC made a roster move last week when it sent defender Adam Pearlman on loan to Cavalry FC of the CPL for the remainder of the 2026 season.
Pearlman, still only 20, spent pre-season training camp with Toronto FC but didn't see a single minute of action through the first five games of the team's MLS campaign.
Robin Fraser has previously gone on record as saying you don't see many young defenders in the starting 11 at top clubs from around the world due to their age and lack of experience. That line of thinking, combined with the off-season arrivals of Benjamin Kuscevic and Walker Zimmerman, suggests that Pearlman wasn't going to get many first team opportunities this year.
Rather than send Pearlman to TFC 2 in MLS NEXT Pro, the club made the right call in loaning him to CPL outfit Cavalry FC where he'll be expected to log a lot of minutes while playing against a higher calibre of players and in a more competitive league under coach Tommy Wheeldon Jr.
Pearlman, a Canadian youth international, enjoyed a bit of a breakout campaign in 2025 while on season-long loan with the Halifax Wanderers in the CPL, scoring two goals and tallying a pair of assists in 28 appearances in all competitions.
John Molinaro
TFC vs. Colorado Rapids on Saturday
Toronto FC continues its nine-game homestand when it hosts the Colorado Rapids on Saturday (1:00 p.m. ET/Apple TV).
After losing its season opener, Colorado (3-2-0) has won three of its last four matches, including a 4-1 road decision over Sporting Kansas City in its previous outing.
The Rapids made two big moves before the MLS primary transfer window closed last week, acquiring Spanish defender Loïc Williams via transfer from Granada CF, and Burkina Faso winger Georgi Minoungou in a trade with the Seattle Sounders.
Toronto leads the all-time series against Colorado with nine wins and three draws in 20 meetings. TFC is 8-1-1 at home against the Rapids – their lone loss to Colorado at BMO Field came in 2024.
This weekend's match is the only meeting of the regular season between the clubs.
John Molinaro
CanMNT vs. Tunisia on Tuesday
Canada wraps up its March international window when its hosts Tunisia on Tuesday at BMO Field (7:30 p.m./TSN & OneSoccer).
The Canadians came from behind to earn a 2-2 draw against Iceland on Saturday at BMO Field courtesy of Jonathan David's pair of goals from the penalty spot in the second half.
Tajon Buchanan was red carded against Iceland which means he'll miss Tuesday's contest.
Jesse Marsch hinted after the Iceland match that he would make four or five changes against Tunisia and later confirmed that goalkeeper Maxime Crépeau and midfielder Ismaël Koné will start. Koné was suspended for the Iceland match.
The only previous meeting between Canada and Tunisia saw the Africans earn a 2-0 home win on Oct. 21, 1984.
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Stories to look out for at TFC Republic
It's a very big year for Derrick Etienne Jr. He's in line to represent Haiti at this summer's FIFA World Cup. He's also anxious to come good for Toronto FC after he was re-signed by the club in the off-season. I recently chatted one-on-one with Etienne Jr about this and a variety of other topics. We'll have a special feature story on the Haitian international in the coming days.
Other stories that will be published later this week include:
- A feature story on Reds centre back Walker Zimmerman.
- A new TFC Talk interview with beat reporter James Grossi.
- A piece on the four stories to watch for this week.
- In-depth pre- and post-game coverage of Toronto's match vs. the Colorado Rapids.
- An audio interview piece with with Braidon Nourse of the Denver Post ahead of Saturday's home game vs. the Crew.
- The weekly Random Thoughts column.
- The reader mailbag.
- Regular "TFC Tidbits" stories throughout the week.
- In-depth pre- and post-game coverage of Canada's friendly vs. Tunisia at BMO Field on Tuesday.
- 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).
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.
