Toronto FC announced today that the club has acquired centre-back Benjamín Kuscevic from Brazilian club Fortaleza Esporte Clube (Second Division) on loan for the duration of the 2026 Major League Soccer (MLS) season, with an option to purchase. Kuscevic will occupy an International Roster Slot, and he will be added to the roster pending the receipt of his medicals and the International Transfer Certificate (ITC).
“We are happy to welcome Benjamín to Toronto FC,” said Toronto FC General Manager Jason Hernandez. “Benjamín has established himself as a strong defender and steady presence in prominent leagues in South America and in international competition. We look forward to his quick integration with the group and our work together during the 2026 campaign.”
Kuscevic, 29, joins Toronto FC after spending the past three seasons (2024, 2025, 2026) with Fortaleza, where he made a combined 79 appearances and tallied four goals across all competitions (Campeonato Cearense, Série A, Copa Libertadores, Copa Do Nordeste, Copa Do Brasil, Copa Sudamericana). The Santiago, Chile native played for Fortaleza, while the club was competing in Brazil’s First Division during the 2024 and 2025 seasons, accounting for 77 of his 79 appearances across all competitions.
Prior to his time with Fortaleza, Kuscvic spent time with Brazilian top-flight clubs Coritiba Foot Ball Club (2023) and Sociedade Esportiva Palmeiras (2020, 2021, 2022, 2023), where the defender made a combined 77 appearances for both clubs.
During his time with Palmeiras, Kuscevic enjoyed one of the most successful spells in his career, as he won eight titles with the Verdão from 2020 to 2023 including: Copa Libertadores (2020, 2021), Copa do Brasil (2020), Recopa Sudamericana (2022), Campeonato Brasileiro (2022), Campeonato Paulista (2022) and Supercopa do Brasil (2023).
The defender began his professional career in his home country, Chile, with CD Universidad Católica, where he came through the youth ranks before signing his first professional contract with the club in 2013. At 18 years old, Kuscevic made his professional debut in a Copa Chile match against Curićo Unido on May 18, 2014. That same year, the defender was sent on a one-year loan to Real Madrid, where he featured for Real Madrid Castilla (reserve team), making five appearances in the UEFA Youth League. After returning to Católica, he scored six goals across 88 appearances in six seasons (2015-2020) for the club. During his time with Los Cruzados, he won two Supercopa de Chile (2016, 2019) and captured five Primera Division titles (2015-16, 2016-17, 2018, 2019, 2020).
Internationally, Kuscevic has earned 14 caps for the Chile Men’s National Team. The defender made his senior team debut during an international friendly against Honduras on November 21, 2018, and was part of the roster for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification in June 2025.
TRANSACTION: Toronto FC acquire defender Benjamín Kuscevic from Brazilian club Fortaleza Esporte Clube (Second Division) on loan for the duration of the 2026 Major League Soccer (MLS) season.
BENJAMÍN KUSCEVIC - #13
Position: Defender
Height: 6’1”
Weight: 163 lbs.
Birthdate: May 2, 1996 (Age – 29)
Hometown: Santiago, Chile
Nationality: Chilean
Pronunciation: ben-hah-meen ky-oo-sivich
Last Club: Fortaleza Esporte Clube
