MLS Regular Season | Match #20Toronto FC at New York City FC
Thursday, June 28 | 7:30 p.m. ET
Yankee Stadium | Bronx, New York City
TV: MLS Season Pass on Apple TV
English (Apple TV): Neil Sika (Play-by-Play) and Lloyd Sam (Analyst)
Spanish (Apple TV): Jose Bauz (Play-by-Play) and Ivan Kasanzew (Analyst)
Toronto FC (4-10-5, 17 points) travel to the Bronx to face New York City FC (8-7-4, 28 points) at Yankee Stadium on Thursday evening. The Matchday 22 clash in New York City kicks off at 7:30 p.m. ET and will be broadcast globally in English and Spanish on MLS Season Pass on the Apple TV app.
TFC will look to build on their positive momentum following the FIFA Club World Cup and Concacaf Gold Cup break, having recorded a draw and a win against the New York Red Bulls and Portland Timbers respectively. Historically, Toronto hold a 6W-10L-7T record through 23 regular season meetings with NYCFC and will be aiming for their first road victory against the Boys in Blue since September 2020.
BEHIND ENEMY LINESToronto FC continue their 2025 Major League Soccer campaign on Thursday evening with their third match in nine nights, facing New York City FC at Yankee Stadium. The Reds, currently unbeaten in their last three road outings with wins over Real Salt Lake and CF Montréal and a draw against Inter Miami CF, hold a 56W-168L-74T all-time record (242 points) in MLS regular season road matches.
AN ODE TO THE PAST
TFC hit the road to face 2015 MLS expansion side New York City FC in the 24th regular season meeting between the two clubs. Historically, TFC hold a 6W-10L-7T record through their first 23 regular season encounters with the Boys in Blue, while remaining unbeaten in postseason play with three MLS Cup Playoffs victories over NYCFC. The Reds will be searching for their first-ever win at the iconic Yankee Stadium and will aim to replicate their last road triumph over NYCFC – a 1-0 win on September 23, 2020, sealed by an Alejandro Pozuelo penalty.
STEP BY STEP
Toronto FC enter Thursday’s matchup in the Bronx on the back of consecutive home results against the New York Red Bulls and Portland Timbers. On Saturday, the Reds earned an emphatic 3-0 victory over Portland, with Alonso Coello opening the scoring with a direct free-kick. Tyrese Spicer doubled the advantage with an acrobatic finish before a third was added late on when tidy footwork from substitute Derrick Etienne Jr. forced Portland’s Ian Smith into an own goal. Goalkeeper Sean Johnson recorded his 20th clean sheet for Toronto FC and the club’s fifth clean sheet of the 2025 MLS season. The Matchday 21 contest also featured a club debut for TFC II midfielder and captain Michael Sullivan, who came on as an 85th minute substitute to become the eighth player to debut for the Reds this season.
Three nights earlier, the Reds marked their return from the FIFA Club World Cup and Concacaf Gold Cup break with a hard-fought 1-1 draw against the New York Red Bulls at BMO Field on June 25. Mohammed Sofo’s first-half goal was cancelled out by Theo Corbeanu’s 51st minute header, as the teams shared the spoils on the night. The Matchday 20 contest also featured Canadian forward Deandre Kerr’s return from injury and first appearance since March along with a club debut for Toronto FC II midfielder Malik Henry who entered as an 87th minute substitute.
TEAM OF THE MATCHDAY
Toronto FC midfielder Alonso Coello was named to the MLS Team of the Matchday for Matchday 21, as a substitute, after a commanding performance in the club’s 3-0 win over Portland Timbers. Coello was instrumental in the middle of the park, delivering a high-impact, tempo-setting performance that proved crucial to the Reds’ victory. The Spaniard gave his side the lead with a low, powerful free-kick that curled past an outstretched James Pantemis. The 11th minute set-piece marked the former TFC II captain’s first goal of the 2025 season and the first direct free-kick goal of his Toronto FC career. He was also involved in the build-up for the Reds’ second and third goals during the second half on Saturday. The midfielder was honoured with the Man of the Match trophy following a tempo-dictating performance that featured a team-leading 43 passes, nine corner kicks, four key passes and three crosses, capped off by an emphatic direct-free kick goal, the club’s first in MLS play since October 2021. The honour marks Coello’s second MLS Team of the Matchday selection since joining Toronto FC in April 2023. In total, TFC have now earned nine MLS Team of the Matchday selections during the 2025 MLS regular season – Sean Johnson (3), Federico Bernardeschi (2), Ola Brynhildsen (1), Theo Corbeanu (1), Alonso Coello (1) and Lorenzo Insigne (1).
FIFTY UP
On Saturday, Irishman Kevin Long made his 50th appearance across all competitions for Toronto FC since joining the club in February 2024. The defender became the 14th active player to reach the 50-match mark for the Reds, following in the footsteps of teammates Jonathan Osorio, Richie Laryea, Federico Bernardeschi, Kosi Thompson, Deandre Kerr, Lorenzo Insigne, Raoul Petretta, Sean Johnson, Alonso Coello, Sigurd Rosted, Kobe Franklin, Deybi Flores and Matty Longstaff.
ROSTER UPDATE
On Tuesday, Toronto FC announced that the Club have mutually agreed to terminate the Major League Soccer contracts of Designated Players Federico Bernardeschi and Lorenzo Insigne, utilizing its two guaranteed contract buyouts. Bernardeschi, 31, recorded 26 goals and 22 assists through 99 combined appearances across all competitions since joining TFC in July 2022. During the 2025 season, the Italian winger registered four goals and four assists through 15 matches and was twice named to the MLS Team of the Matchday. In 2024, the Italian was selected by Head Coach Wilfried Nancy to participate in the 2024 MLS All-Star Game. Insigne, 34, joined the Reds as a Designated Player on January 8, 2022, and made his debut on July 23 against Charlotte FC. A native of Naples, Italy, the Italian winger played 76 matches (66 starts) for the Reds across all competitions, scoring 19 goals and registering 18 assists.
MILESTONE WATCH
Kosi Thompson has currently made 99 appearances for Toronto FC across all competitions (Major League Soccer, Canadian Championship and Leagues Cup) and his next outing will mark the 100th for his hometown club. The Homegrown product made his club debut against Columbus Crew on March 12, 2022, and has featured in 16 MLS matches during the 2025 season.
FLYING THE FLAG
Toronto FC will be without the services of Deybi Flores on Thursday, as the Honduran midfielder remains on international duty at the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup. Flores and Honduras will face Mexico in the tournament’s semi-final on Wednesday, July 2 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California (10:00 p.m. ET), after advancing past Panama in a penalty shootout on Saturday. Meanwhile, Canada and TFC’s Richie Laryea bowed out of the competition on Sunday evening following a penalty shootout loss to Guatemala at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
ONCE A RED
Thursday’s clash features a trio of goalkeepers with ties to both Toronto FC and New York City through the course of their respective MLS careers. Sean Johnson, currently in his third season with the Reds, previously spent six seasons with NYCFC (2017 – 2022), where he made 206 appearances and kept 60 clean sheets. An influential figure in the club’s history, the Lilburn, Georgia native led the Boys in Blue to their first-ever MLS Cup in 2021, earning MLS Cup Final MVP honours after saving two penalties in the shootout win against the Portland Timbers. Since joining TFC in January 2023, Johnson has recorded 20 clean sheets in 72 appearances, ranking third in club history.
Between the sticks on the other side, Tomás Romero recorded 23 saves in six appearances for TFC during the 2023 campaign. The Salvadoran international joined NYCFC in February 2024 and featured in his first two MLS matches for the club during their most recent fixtures in June. Fellow shot-stopper Greg Ranjitsingh spent three seasons with Toronto (2022 – 2024), registering 14 saves in four appearances before the Scarborough, Ontario native signed with the Boys in Blue in January 2025.
