TFC Republic Weekly: October 26-November 1

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...

Lights go out on Toronto FC with loss in Georgia

Make it six years in a row without a single playoff appearance for Toronto FC. 

Facing a must-win situation on Sunday, TFC put forth one of their most disappointing and lifeless performances of the year in a 3-1 defeat to Atlanta United FC at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.  

The loss officially eliminated TFC from contention with one match remaining in the MLS regular season, extending the club’s playoff drought which dates back to 2020. Toronto (9-12-12, 39 points) remains in 12th place in the Eastern Conference but is now four points below the playoff line with no hope of catching up.  

Mercedes-Benz Stadium was the site of one of the TFC’s greatest victories, a come-from-behind effort in the second leg of the 2019 Eastern Conference final to book a spot in their third MLS Cup in four years. But that was a very different Toronto FC side compared to the current version. Realistically, a repeat performance like the one seven years ago was never in the cards for this TFC, much to the chagrin of the club’s long-suffering supporters.   

Still, you’d have expected the Reds to have put up more of a fight considering they were fighting for their playoff lives. But they embarrassed themselves with this display in a game upon which so much was riding and against an opponent that was already eliminated and sits lower in the standings. 

Don't let substitute Lewis Morgan's goal or TFC's surge late in the game fool you. This match wasn't as close as the final score suggested. Atlanta could have inflicted more damage had it not been so wasteful in front of goal against a porous TFC defence that has now conceded 63 goals this season (fourth worst in the East).

Lights go out on Toronto FC with loss in Georgia

Facing a must-win game, TFC was eliminated from playoff contention in a humbling defeat to Atlanta United FC on Sunday.

TFC REPUBLICJohn Molinaro

Fraser, Osorio reflect on how the season got away

A sombre Robin Fraser couldn't hide his disappointment when speaking to reporters in the post-match press conference.

"Disappointment, because we certainly feel like throughout the season at various times we played well enough to be a playoff team. We've shown resiliency. We've shown character. I do think that the injuries in the first half of the season really hurt us. It's kind of like how we've been in games: If we give up goals early, it just feels so desperate late in games. That's kind of how the season felt after the way we started," Fraser stated.

"It felt like everything has been a must-win for the last probably 15 games, even more. ... I think we are better than what we showed at times. I just think too many [poor] first halves got us this year."

Captain Jonathan Osorio felt he and his teammates gave it their all down the final stretch of the season before coming up short in Atlanta.

"Very disappointed that we weren't able to make the playoffs this year with the team that we have. It's a real shame. When you look back at the season, there could be many things that happened in the year that led us to this position. But just speaking about today, [it’s] very disappointing to go out like this," Osorio said.

"We wanted more [from] ourselves. We expected more, and we unfortunately let ourselves down and we let the fans down."

No playoffs for Toronto FC after digging itself too deep of a hole

Toronto FC showed some life down the season stretch, but an injury-marred first half of the campaign helped do them in.

TFC REPUBLICJohn Molinaro

Reds kick off 2027 Sprint Season vs. Atlanta United

Toronto FC will open its 2027 MLS Sprint Season on the road against Atlanta United on Feb. 20.

Last week, the league unveiled the full schedule for the shortened campaign that kicks off on Feb. 19 when Inter Miami hosts FC Cincinnati.

After the Atlanta match, Toronto hosts CF Montreal on Feb. 27 at BMO Field in its home opener. Toronto closes out its Sprint Season against Inter Miami CF at BMO Field on May 8 on the final day of the campaign. To check out TFC's full schedule, CLICK HERE.

The 2027 Sprint Season will see each of the league's 30 teams play 14 games from February to May with no inter-conference matches. Instead, clubs will face each of their 14 conference opponents once – seven matches at home and seven on the road. This means Toronto FC will play all of its 14 games against Eastern Conference teams.

The top eight sides in each conference qualify for the playoffs which will be conducted in a single-elimination bracket format. The two conference champions will meet in the 2027 MLS Cup final in May.

After the Sprint Season, the 2027-28 MLS regular season begins in July 2027 and wraps up with the MLS Cup final in May 2028. MLS will have a midwinter break from mid-December through early February, with no league matches scheduled in January.

Random thoughts on TFC: The Josh Sargent edition

Toronto FC needs its DP forward to continue his fine form over the next two games if it's going to qualify for the MLS playoffs.

TFC REPUBLICJohn Molinaro

TFC vs. Philadelphia Union on Saturday

Toronto FC closes out the 2026 MLS regular season with a road game vs. the Philadelphia Union on Saturday (4:00 p.m. ET/TSN & Apple TV).

Philadelphia (13-12-8) sits sixth in the Eastern Conference, six spots and eight points above Toronto in the table. The Union are winless in their last three games, including a 1-0 road loss to FC Cincinnati on the weekend.

Coached by former TFC defender Ryan Richter, the Union boast a potent attack led by forward Milan Iloski who has 19 goals, good enough for fourth place in the Golden Boot Race. Midfielder Cavan Sullivan, 17, is having a breakout year for Philadelphia with seven goals and a team-high 14 assists.

Toronto and Philadelphia previously played to a 3-3 draw at BMO Field on April 25.

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Stories to look out for at TFC Republic        

Toronto FC has nothing left to play for but pride following its playoff elimination this past weekend in Atlanta. This Saturday's match in Philadelphia allows TFC coach Robin Fraser to juggle his lineup and give opportunities to members of the squad who have struggled for minutes this year. Who deserves a chance to play? Look for my feature story in the coming days.

Other stories that will be published this week include:                               

• A new TFC Talk interview with beat reporter James Grossi.    
• A piece on the four stories to watch for this week.  
• A TFC notebook column after one of this week's training sessions.
• In-depth pre- and post-game coverage of Toronto's match vs. the Philadelphia Union.  
• An audio interview piece with Joe Tansey of the Union Soccer Blog ahead of Saturday's road game.   
• The latest Random Thoughts column.  
• The reader mailbag.
• Regular "TFC Tidbits" news stories throughout the week. 
• A news story on the latest Canadian men's team roster (it should be announced this week)
• 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.