Toronto FC looking to the future as Major League Soccer season winds down

By Canadian Press on September 12, 2025.

TORONTO — Elimination from playoff contention is on the line again Saturday as Toronto FC visits the New England Revolution after the international break.

But Toronto (5-13-10) is already looking to the future, using the remaining six games of the regular season to decide who will be coming back next year. New England (8-14-7), which could also see its slim playoff hopes extinguished, is very much in the same boat.

Toronto, which dodged the bullet last time out, will be eliminated from playoff contention if it loses or draws at New England or Chicago wins or draws at New York City FC or the New York Red Bulls win at Portland.

A Toronto victory coupled with a Chicago win over NYCFC, meanwhile, eliminates the Revs from playoff contention.

New England goes into weekend play in 11th place in the Eastern Conference, two places and six points ahead of Toronto. The Revs are coning off back-to-back losses to Chicago and Charlotte.

TFC last made the playoffs in 2020 — after finishing second in the East at 23-5-13 — when it fell at the first hurdle, losing 1-0 after extra time to expansion Nashville.

Since then, Toronto has gone 35-88-41 in regular-season play, finishing 26th, 27th, 29th and 22nd in the Supporters’ Shield Standings. TFC currently stands 26th overall.

Coming off a 1-1 draw with visiting Montreal on Aug. 30, Toronto is unbeaten in its last four outings (0-0-4). And with 15 players on expiring contracts, albeit with club options, most on the roster are playing for their jobs.

Coach Robin Fraser says there are two ways of handling that pressure.

“One is you can let the stress of the uncertainty affect you. Or you let the stress of the uncertainty fuel you,” he said. “And if you know that you are in the likely position that you have to play for a job, then the desired response would be make it so that we have to keep you.”

Fraser, a former two-time MLS Defender of the year whose playing career stretched from 1998 to 2005, knows that from experience.

“When you play until you’re 39, as I did, you only get one-year deals,” he noted.

Kobe Franklin, one of the TFC players on an expiring contract, says he is trying to stay in the moment.

“(I’m) just focusing day to day, making sure that I’m doing everything I can as a professional,” said the 22-year-old defender. “And I think everyone in the locker room has the same mentality. We’re still trying to fight for the (club) badge and win games. And then all the other stuff will pan out how it will.”

Richie Laryea is back with Toronto after impressing with Canada in games in Romania and Wales. Fraser said the fullback/wingback is available, although for how long remains to be seen given his recent international travels.

Defender Mamadou Fofana (Mali) and Leo Campana (Ecuador) have rejoined New England, meanwhile.

Forward Dor Turgeman, New England’s newly signed Israeli international, is unavailable Saturday because he has yet to receive his visa.

New England coach Caleb Porter says his mindset is simple.

“I’m going to keep moving this club forward,” he told his pre-game availability. “That means, in the short term, win the next game at home. We have three home games left. For me those home games are very important, getting results in all three starting with Toronto.

“Leaving our fans with a good feeling, we haven’t done that this year enough. So that’s short-term, win the next game. And then long-term, keep building for the future with the players that are going to be here.”

Toronto is 12-17-13 all-time against the Revs, including a 5-11-6 record in Foxborough, but has had success in recent trips there with a 3-1-2 record in its last six visits dating back to August 2019. Toronto won 1-0 win in its last game at Gillette Stadium in March 2024.

New England won 2-0 when the teams met May 3 at BMO Field with Carles Gil and Campana both scoring. That victory was part of a nine-game unbeaten run (5-0-4) in league play from April 12 to June 14, a stretch that followed a poor 1-4-1 start to the season.

New England has gone a dismal 2-10-2 since the unbeaten run.

Gil, the team captain, leads the Revs with 10 goals and 11 assists.

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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 12, 2025.

Neil Davidson, The Canadian Press