Signings and re-signings would continue over the course of the month with Toronto FC continuing to add to the roster. One move was made before the matches began with Raheem Edwards putting pen to paper on March 2.
The 2017 MLS season got underway for TFC on March 4 at Real Salt Lake, the first of three away dates. The match, which featured the same starting 11 as the 2016 MLS Cup Final, would end 0-0 after Sebastian Giovinco saw his penalty kick turned away by Nick Rimando.
A week later, on March 11, TFC would draw a second-straight on their travels, tying 2-2 with the Philadelphia Union. Jay Simpson opened the scoring for the Union, only for Jozy Altidore to win and convert a penalty kick in first half stoppage-time, the first goal of the season for Toronto. Justin Morrow would add a second in the 71st minute, but two minutes later CJ Sapong responded for Philadelphia to ensure an equal share of the points.
Hagglund, who earned the honour of the first yellow card of the season against Salt Lake, would sign a new contract on March 15 ahead of the third away match, the first against a Canadian opponent: Vancouver Whitecaps FC.
The match took a turn deep into the second half when Brek Shea was booked for a rash tackle. Within seconds, he had talked his way into another card and was sent off, reducing Vancouver to ten men. The injection of Edwards was the spark that Toronto needed to find the break through and it was his cross that led to Victor Vazquez's header in the 76th minute. Altidore, who cushioned Edwards' ball towards Vazquez, would add the second in 2-0 win, the club's first of the season, in the 80th minute with a neat turn-and-fire finish.
An early bye-week saw the side add two more players of note to the roster with Jason Hernandez signing on March 21 and draft pick Oyvind Alseth on March 22.
Ahead of the home opener, TFC would unveil the Wall of Honour at BMO Field on a frigid morning in Toronto.
TFC would welcome Sporting KC to BMO Field on March 31 for the first home game of the season. Though the unbeaten start to the campaign would continue, TFC could not find a way past an SKC defense that would turn out to be one of the best in the league, settling for a 0-0 draw.
Edwards made his first start for the club, skinning Graham Zusi in the process, while an injury to Clint Irwin saw Alex Bono step in between the posts, making several massive saves. A Giovinco free-kick would rattle the crossbar and Edwards would make his home debut with a game-saving goal-line clearance as the clock ticked down.
