MLS Regular Season | Match #18

Toronto FC at New York City FC

Friday, July 31 | 7:30 p.m. ET

Yankee Stadium | Bronx, New York City

TV: Apple TV

English Talent: Chris Wittyngham (Play-by-Play) and Calen Carr (Analyst)       

Spanish Talent: Diego Pessolano (Play-by-Play) and Daniel Chapela (Analyst)  

Toronto FC (3W-7L-7T, 16 points) head to the Bronx to face New York City FC (7W-6L-4T, 25 points) at Yankee Stadium on Friday evening. The Matchday 19 encounter in the Bronx, New York kicks off at 7:30 p.m. ET and will be available globally in English and Spanish on Apple TV.

The Reds will look to wrap up their four-match road trip on a winning note after recording a pair of goalless draws against CF Montréal and New England Revolution and a defeat to D.C. United since their return to MLS action. Historically, Toronto hold a 6W-11L-7T record through 24 MLS regular season meetings with the Boys in Blue and will be aiming for their first road victory over New York City FC since September 2020.

BEHIND ENEMY LINES

Toronto FC head to the Bronx to conclude their four-match road trip against New York City FC in MLS action on Friday evening. The Reds currently hold a 58W-177L-81T all-time record (255 points) in MLS regular season road matches to date.

THROUGH THE YEARS

TFC take on 2015 MLS expansion club New York City FC in the 25^th regular season meeting between the sides. Historically, Toronto hold a 6W-11L-7T record through 24 regular season encounters with the Boys in Blue and have won all three of their MLS Cup Playoffs clashes against NYCFC. On Friday evening, the Reds will aim to secure their first MLS regular season victory at the iconic Yankee Stadium and record their first road win over New York City since Alejandro Pozuelo’s late penalty sealed a 1-0 triumph on September 23, 2020.

STEP BY STEP

The Reds enter Matchday 19 looking to bounce back after recording two draws and one defeat since returning from the FIFA World Cup 2026™ break. Toronto FC first earned a hard-fought scoreless draw against rivals CF Montréal at Stade Saputo on July 16, with winger Theo Corbeanu making his first start since the club's 2025 season finale after returning from injury, while midfielder Djordje Mihailovic made his first appearance since March. Six days later, the Reds followed with another 0-0 result on the road against the New England Revolution at Gillette Stadium, where goalkeeper Luka Gavran turned in another standout performance, making several key stops to record back-to-back clean sheets and his third shutout of the 2026 MLS season.

Most recently, Toronto suffered a dramatic 2-1 defeat to D.C. United at Audi Field on July 25. The hosts took a late first-half lead through a Kobe Franklin own goal before the Reds found their breakthrough in the 76^th minute, as Theo Corbeanu volleyed home his first goal of the 2026 campaign to draw the visitors level. Both Gavran and former Toronto FC goalkeeper Sean Johnson were kept busy throughout, each making six saves on the night. With both sides pushing for a late winner, D.C. United was awarded a penalty deep into stoppage time, with Tai Baribo converting from the spot in the 100^th minute to seal all three points for the hosts.

WILLKOMMEN, NIKLAS 

On Tuesday, Toronto FC strengthened their midfield with the signing of German midfielder Niklas Dorsch from 1. FC Heidenheim 1846 of Germany's 2. Bundesliga. The 28-year-old joins the Reds through the 2030-31 Major League Soccer (MLS) season and will occupy an international roster slot. 

Dorsch arrives in Toronto following an accomplished career across Germany and Belgium, where he made 243 senior appearances while recording 12 goals and 15 assists for Bayern Munich, 1. FC Heidenheim, KAA Gent and FC Augsburg. The Lichtenfels, Germany native enjoyed two spells with Heidenheim, logging five goals and 10 assists in 133 appearances across all competitions. He also registered four goals and four assists in 43 matches with Belgian side KAA Gent and scored twice in 66 appearances for Bundesliga club FC Augsburg. A product of the Bayern Munich Academy, Dorsch progressed through the club's youth ranks before making his Bundesliga debut for the First Team against Eintracht Frankfurt on April 28, 2018, where he scored his first professional goal in his lone appearance for Bayern. Internationally, Dorsch has earned 37 caps for Germany across the country's youth national teams from U-15 to U-21, including four appearances at the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Chile.

ONCE A RED

A pair of goalkeepers on New York City FC's active roster previously represented Toronto FC during their respective MLS careers. Tomás Romero joined the Reds on November 17, 2022, and made his club debut against St. Louis City SC on July 8, 2023. The El Salvador international made six appearances during the 2023 campaign, recording 23 saves before joining New York City FC in February 2024. Fellow goalkeeper Greg Ranjitsingh signed with Toronto FC on January 22, 2022, and made his club debut against FC Cincinnati on June 21, 2023. The Scarborough, Ontario native made four appearances across three seasons (2022-24), registering 14 saves before signing with the Boys in Blue in January 2025.

Toronto FC General Manager Jason Hernandez also has ties to Friday’s opponent, New York City FC. After a 10-year MLS playing career with the MetroStars, Chivas USA and San Jose Earthquakes, Hernandez was selected by NYCFC with the sixth pick in the 2014 MLS Expansion Draft. He made 59 appearances over the club's inaugural two seasons (2015-16), including starting in New York City’s first-ever MLS match against Orlando City SC on March 8, 2015. The New York native joined Toronto FC in March 2017, where he spent two seasons before retiring following a 14-year MLS career. Hernandez transitioned into the Toronto FC’s Front Office following his retirement and has served as the Reds’ General Manager since June 2023.