Oh Canada! Toronto FC, CF Montreal returning home (for now)
Canada is a home for MLS again, Wednesday’s announcement heralding the return of Toronto FC and CF Montreal north of the border.
The select run of matches – Toronto FC and CF Montreal were included in these three games but the Vancouver Whitecaps were not – sees these two MLS sides play their home games in Canada for the first time since last year. Due to COVID-19 travel protocols, all three Canadian teams were based in the United States.
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The three matches played in Canada, per a release emailed from MLS:
· Toronto FC vs. Orlando City SC (July 17)
· CF Montreal vs. FC Cincinnati (July 17)
· Toronto FC vs. New York Red Bulls (July 21)
The league highlighted that attendance (both fans and the media) will be in accordance to “local and regional guidelines.”
In addition, the statement from MLS included that “clubs and match officials traveling to Canada will be subject to public health protocols required of all individuals entering the country, and only fully vaccinated players and staff are excluded from Canadian quarantine requirements. These protocols include, but are not limited to, molecular COVID-19 testing prior to travel and upon arrival in Canada.”
Moving forward for Toronto FC, CF Montreal and Vancouver Whitecaps
It is unclear if, after these matches, Toronto FC (Orlando), CF Montreal (Miami) and Vancouver Whitecaps (Real Salt Lake) will continue to use locations within the United States moving forward or will permanently return home.
Specifically to the Vancouver Whitecaps, the release noted that the Western Conference club “will host their home matches on July 17 and July 20 at Rio Tinto Stadium as conversations continue with the Canadian government regarding the three Canadian teams hosting future home matches in Canada.”
Wednesday’s announcement should be welcome news for Canadian clubs, especially since their ‘home’ form in these foreign cities has been especially poor.
Out of the three Canadian sides in MLS, only CF Montreal has a winning record in their temporary home (3-1-2). It shouldn’t be a surprise that they are the only Canadian side currently above the red playoff line.
The Vancouver Whitecaps have the worst record in the Western Conference and are 2-3-0 at Rio Tinto Stadium, home of Real Salt Lake. Toronto FC has the worst record in all of MLS and are 1-2-1 playing in Orlando.
Follow Kristian Dyer of ‘MLS Multiplex‘ on Twitter @KristianRDyer