Canadian Crossing

Vancouver Whitecaps FC eliminated from 2021 MLS playoffs

The 2021 Vancouver Whitecaps FC season is now done after some much needed MLS playoff experience. Cristian Dajome scored on a penalty kick in the 39th minute, the lone goal for the Whitecaps. Sporting Kansas City advanced with a 3-1 win over Vancouver.

The Canadian teams were at a significant disadvantage from the other MLS teams in 2021, starting the season in the United States. All 3 teams either started with a new coach (Montréal) or switched coaches in the middle of the season (Toronto, Vancouver).

Ryan Gauld and Brian White led the way, especially in the much improved second half of the season for Vancouver. Vanni Sartini went on a really nice run as the newest Whitecaps coach.

Sporting Kansas City outshot Vancouver 12-6.

Chins up#VWFC | @Bell pic.twitter.com/MAdcT2MaFi

— Vancouver Whitecaps FC (@WhitecapsFC) November 21, 2021

This was the best season for Vancouver since 2017, the only MLS season with a playoff win.

The Whitecaps made the MLS playoffs in a season where both Los Angeles teams were on the sidelines. The challenge will be tougher in 2022; having half of their games in Vancouver for the first time since 2019 will help out a lot.

Consider the surprise element of making the MLS playoffs for the first since 2017 (Vancouver) versus a team in the playoffs for the 10th time in 11 seasons (Sporting Kansas City).

.@WhitecapsFC finally end up on U.S. television thanks to @MLS playoffs. That was only helpful if your Spanish is muy bueno. @TUDNUSA normally has SAP in motion but not for the playoffs???

— Chad Rubel (@canadian_xing) November 21, 2021

Update on this: Univision isn’t doing an SAP feed for its playoff games this weekend because there are English-language broadcasts in the participating teams’ local markets.

I assume (I’ll find out) that the free live stream on MLS’ website has an English feed. https://t.co/mCv7jmBdQc

— Jonathan Tannenwald (@thegoalkeeper) November 18, 2021

MLS and its U.S. TV partners have worked together to eliminate Canadian teams from its national broadcasts during the regular season. Making the playoffs means access to U.S. television, though Vancouver drew a day where ESPN and Fox Sports 1 were not being used (as your humble narrator predicted).

The playoff game ran on Univision (Spanish) with an expected English language feed on TUDN. Except TUDN didn't have an English language feed for either playoff game. MLS points out that there was an English language feed on its Web site and app.

That doesn't help you if you were watching on TV or had a life and would watch the game at a later time. MLS handled this extremely poorly after getting things correct in previous seasons.

MLS allowed local feeds for the games on Univision and TUDN, but those were only for the local markets. The games specifically are on television, that is not on ESPN+. U.S. viewers outside of Seattle could see the final regular season game for the Whitecaps with the TSN feed. Access to the playoffs was considerably more difficult despite the game being on U.S. television.

The money saved by not having an English language feed is offset by the nasty taste of a public relations cluster[bleep].

Canadians could watch the game in English on TSN.

Even with a playoff appearance, the U.S. outlets almost certainly won't have Vancouver (or Montréal or Toronto) on TV in 2022. The only question will be whether those playoff appearances will have an English language feed.

2021 MLS playoffs preview: Vancouver Whitecaps FC as the #6 seed

Toronto FC, CF Montreal get to cross back into Canada

Romell Quioto had the lone goal in the 72nd minute to give CF Montréal the Voyageurs Cup as winners of the 2021 Canadian Championship. The win came at the expense of its primary MLS rival Toronto FC at Stade Saputo in Montréal.

Jordan Perruzza hit the goalpost for the Reds in the 90th minute, the closest Toronto FC came to a goal.

Quioto had 6 of CF Montréal's 23 shots compared to 4 for Toronto FC.

CF Montréal gets bragging rights and a 2022 Concacaf Champions League spot along with the New England Revolution, Colorado Rapids, Seattle Sounders, and the MLS Cup winner.

These teams met for the 2019 Voyageurs Cup as the then Montréal Impact won on a penalty shootout. The 2020 tournament came down to Toronto and Forge FC (Hamilton) that hasn't been scheduled.

CF Montréal had the edge over Toronto FC in the 2021 MLS regular season with 2 wins and a draw.

2021 MLS preview

CanadianCrossing.com soccer coverage

The biggest soccer news in Canada might have been the fact that Canada is now at the top of the CONCACAF World Cup men's soccer group after a 2-1 win over Mexico 2-1 last Tuesday. Cyle Larin scored both goals with the snow at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton.

Canada (4-0-4) with 6 more matches to play. The men haven't played in the World Cup since 1986. Canada is ahead of the United States by a point; 2 points over Mexico and Panama. The top 3 countries qualify for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

Canada, the United States, and Mexico are hosting the 2026 World Cup.

'Caps #MLSCupPlayoff merch is here! 🎉#VWFC #BringItHome

— Vancouver Whitecaps FC (@WhitecapsFC) November 13, 2021

MLS Canadian teams playoffs results

Year	Date	Teams	Winner	Score
2021	November 20	Vancouver @ Sporting Kansas City	Kansas City	3-1
2020	November 24	Nashville @ Toronto	Nashville	1-0 (ET)
2020	November 20	Montréal @ New England	New England	2-1
2019	November 10	Toronto @ Seattle	Seattle	3-1
2019	October 30	Toronto @ Atlanta	Toronto	2-1
2019	October 23	Toronto @ New York City FC	Toronto	2-1
2019	October 19	D.C. United @ Toronto	Toronto	5-1 (ET)
2017	December 9	Seattle @ Toronto	Toronto	2-0
2017	November 29	Columbus @ Toronto	Toronto	1-0
2017	November 21	Toronto @ Columbus	Tie	0-0
2017	November 5	New York Red Bulls @ Toronto	NY Red Bulls	1-0
2017	November 2	Vancouver @ Seattle	Seattle	2-0
2017	October 30	Toronto @ New York Red Bulls	Toronto	2-1
2017	October 29	Seattle @ Vancouver	Tie	0-0
2017	October 25	San Jose @ Vancouver	Vancouver	5-0
2016	December 10	Seattle @ Toronto FC	Seattle	0-0 (5-4 PK)
2016	November 30	Montréal @ Toronto FC	Toronto FC	5-2 (ET)
2016	November 22	Toronto FC @ Montréal	Montréal	3-2
2016	November 6	Montréal @ New York Red Bulls	Montréal	2-1
2016	November 6	Toronto FC @ NYCFC	Toronto FC	5-0
2016	October 30	NYCFC @ Toronto FC	Toronto FC	2-0
2016	October 30	New York Red Bulls @ Montréal	Montréal	1-0
2016	October 27	Montréal @ D.C. United	Montréal	4-2
2016	October 26	Philadelphia @ Toronto FC	Toronto FC	3-1
2015	November 8	Portland @ Vancouver	Portland	2-0
2015	November 8	Montréal @ Columbus	Columbus	3-1 (ET)
2015	November 1	Vancouver @ Portland	Tie	0-0
2015	November 1	Columbus @ Montréal	Montréal	2-1
2015	October 29	Toronto FC @ Montréal	Montréal	3-0
2014	October 29	Vancouver @ Dallas	Dallas	2-1
2013	October 31	Montréal @ Houston	Houston	3-0
2012	November 1	Vancouver @ LA Galaxy	LA Galaxy	2-1

photo credit: MLS
Twitter captures: @WhitecapsFC; @canadian_xing; @thegoalkeeper; @WhitecapsFC
video credit: YouTube/OneSoccer

2021 MLS playoffs preview: Vancouver Whitecaps FC as the #6 seed

Editor's note: This article has been updated to give the date and time of the Vancouver Whitecaps FC playoff game at Sporting Kansas City.

Vancouver Whitecaps FC spent longer in the United States than their Canadian counterparts, Toronto FC and CF Montréal, in 2021. Like Toronto FC, the Whitecaps had a coaching change. Unlike the Reds, the change brought a dramatic comeback and Vancouver will be the lone Canadian representative in the 2021 MLS playoffs.

The 1-1 tie with Seattle at BC Place earlier today gave the Whitecaps just enough points for a Western Conference playoff spot. This is the first playoff appearance for Vancouver since 2017, the season where the team earned its only playoff win as a MLS team.

Vancouver Whitecaps FC finished the regular season 12-9-13 for 49 points. The team went 10-4-3 in "home" games, 7-1-1 in Vancouver, and 2-5-10 on the road.

Head coach Marc Dos Santos had been the dean of Canadian team coaches (not saying much) until he and assistant coach Phillip Dos Santos were dismissed on August 27. Vanni Sartini (above) has been the interim head coach. The Whitecaps are 7-2-5 under Sartini.

While Toronto FC and CF Montréal got to return to Canada in mid-July, Vancouver didn't start up in Canada at BC Place until August 21. The Whitecaps played at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, Utah, outside Salt Lake City, Utah until July 31.

Thank you for standing by us 💙#VWFC pic.twitter.com/4pTFgGV8Er

— Vancouver Whitecaps FC (@WhitecapsFC) November 8, 2021

The Whitecaps (#6 seed) will travel to Sporting Kansas City (#3 seed). Sporting Kansas City went 9-3-5 at home. Each team won a game at home in the regular season: Sporting KC won 3-0 on May 16 while Vancouver won 2-1 on October 17.

The game will indeed be on November 20 at 5 pm Eastern from the state of Kansas. Univision and TUDN in the United States; TSN and TVA Sports in Canada will have the game. If you activate the SAP feed for TUDN, the game will feature audio in English, though the halftime and commercials will be en Espanol.

You can almost pencil in the Whitecaps for November 20 since those games will be on Univision and TUDN in the United States. The November 21 games will be on ABC and ESPN and the November 23 games will be on Fox Sports 1.

If the Whitecaps advance, Vancouver will face the winner of the Seattle Sounders vs. Real Salt Lake.

Kansas, we're coming 🌊

Our first 2021 MLS Cup Playoff matchup has been announced ⬇️

🗓️ Saturday, November 20
🕑 2pm PT
🆚 @SportingKC
📍 Kansas City, KS
🏟️ Children's Mercy Park
📺 TSN
📻 AM730#VWFC

— Vancouver Whitecaps FC (@WhitecapsFC) November 9, 2021

Toronto FC, CF Montreal get to cross back into Canada

2021 MLS preview

CF Montréal was still alive on Decision Day, needing a win over Orlando SC at Stade Saputo. The team was shut out in the final game.

CF Montréal started the season in Florida at Inter Miami CF's DRV PNK Stadium. The team lost a pair of home games in early July due to CONCACAF Gold Cup qualification. CF Montréal played "home" games (July 3) in its 2020 home in Harrison, NJ and in Orlando on July 7. CF Montréal returned to Stade Spauto on July 17.

CF Montréal finished 12-12-10 for 46 points, 10th in the Eastern Conference. The team finished 1-2-3 in the last 6 games. The lone win over Houston kept CF Montréal alive on Decision Day. The team went 9-4-4 in "home" games, 6-3-2 in Montréal, and 3-8-6 on the road.

Wilfried Nancy coached the team through the whole 2021 season.

Canadian MLS teams start an extended U.S. road trip

Toronto FC spent 3 months (April 17-July 16) in Orlando at Exploria Stadium. The Reds got to play home matches on July 17 and July 21 before getting clearance to host at BMO Field. Toronto FC changed coaches in mid-season: Chris Armas was the new coach until July 4, then Javier Pérez served as the interim coach. Former coach Greg Vanney led the LA Galaxy, a team that narrowly missed the playoffs.

Toronto FC finished 6-18-10 for 28 points, 13th in the Eastern Conference. The team went 4-6-7 in "home" games, 3-4-6 in Toronto, and 2-12-3 on the road.

2020 MLS regular season returns with all-Canadian games

What sports will look like on Canadian soil in 2020

Watching Canadian teams in MLS action required ESPN+ on the U.S. side. Even having Canadian teams on U.S. soil could not draw any of the English and Spanish outlets to carry any Canadian team.

The only time, other than local outlets, they appeared on U.S. TV was Fox Sports 2's coverage of the Canadian Championship. The outlet didn't cover all the games. CF Montréal was on twice: CF Montréal handled the HFX Wanderers 3-1 in the quarterfinal on September 22 in Halifax. The other contest was the semifinal 0-0 (8-7) with Forge FC in Hamilton on October 27.

Toronto FC and CF Montréal will play for the Canadian Championship at a date to be determined.

CanadianCrossing.com soccer coverage

Vancouver Whitecaps FC have only made the playoffs 4 times since 2011. The Whitecaps were eliminated in 2012 (LA Galaxy) and 2014 (Dallas) by 2-1 scores. Vancouver suffered a tie and a loss to Portland, going scoreless in the 2015 MLS playoffs. The 2017 postseason produced a home win (San Jose 5-0) before a tie and loss to Seattle, going scoreless in that round.

MLS Canadian teams playoffs results

Year	Date	Teams	Winner	Score
2021	November 20	Vancouver @ Sporting Kansas City	TBD	TBD
2020	November 24	Nashville @ Toronto	Nashville	1-0 (ET)
2020	November 20	Montréal @ New England	New England	2-1
2019	November 10	Toronto @ Seattle	Seattle	3-1
2019	October 30	Toronto @ Atlanta	Toronto	2-1
2019	October 23	Toronto @ New York City FC	Toronto	2-1
2019	October 19	D.C. United @ Toronto	Toronto	5-1 (ET)
2017	December 9	Seattle @ Toronto	Toronto	2-0
2017	November 29	Columbus @ Toronto	Toronto	1-0
2017	November 21	Toronto @ Columbus	Tie	0-0
2017	November 5	New York Red Bulls @ Toronto	NY Red Bulls	1-0
2017	November 2	Vancouver @ Seattle	Seattle	2-0
2017	October 30	Toronto @ New York Red Bulls	Toronto	2-1
2017	October 29	Seattle @ Vancouver	Tie	0-0
2017	October 25	San Jose @ Vancouver	Vancouver	5-0
2016	December 10	Seattle @ Toronto FC	Seattle	0-0 (5-4 PK)
2016	November 30	Montréal @ Toronto FC	Toronto FC	5-2 (ET)
2016	November 22	Toronto FC @ Montréal	Montréal	3-2
2016	November 6	Montréal @ New York Red Bulls	Montréal	2-1
2016	November 6	Toronto FC @ NYCFC	Toronto FC	5-0
2016	October 30	NYCFC @ Toronto FC	Toronto FC	2-0
2016	October 30	New York Red Bulls @ Montréal	Montréal	1-0
2016	October 27	Montréal @ D.C. United	Montréal	4-2
2016	October 26	Philadelphia @ Toronto FC	Toronto FC	3-1
2015	November 8	Portland @ Vancouver	Portland	2-0
2015	November 8	Montréal @ Columbus	Columbus	3-1 (ET)
2015	November 1	Vancouver @ Portland	Tie	0-0
2015	November 1	Columbus @ Montréal	Montréal	2-1
2015	October 29	Toronto FC @ Montréal	Montréal	3-0
2014	October 29	Vancouver @ Dallas	Dallas	2-1
2013	October 31	Montréal @ Houston	Houston	3-0
2012	November 1	Vancouver @ LA Galaxy	LA Galaxy	2-1

photo credit and Twitter captures: @WhitecapsFC

Toronto FC, CF Montreal get to cross back into Canada

Nothing is set other than there will be 3 MLS games on Canadian soil within the next week. Toronto FC hosts Orlando City on Saturday and the New York Red Bulls on Wednesday at BMO Field. CF Montréal welcomes FC Cincinnati at Saputo Stadium on Saturday.

The Vancouver Whitecaps are at "home" at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, Utah on Saturday (LA Galaxy) and Tuesday (Houston Dynamo). This may be about Ontario and Quebec more than British Columbia.

Attendance will be limited in Canada. The Reds get 7,000 fans for Saturday and 15,000 for Wednesday. CF Montréal will have 5,000 fans, an increase of 1,500 fans from what the Montréal Canadiens could have at the Bell Centre during the Stanley Cup final. This is about outdoors vs. indoors.

The Canadian teams are having a terrible 2021 season being away from home: CF Montréal (5-3-4) is having a decent season while Toronto FC (2-8-2) is last among the 27 MLS teams. The Whitecaps (2-7-3) are #25 in the league.

The Major League Soccer announcement only covers those dates. Assumptions are just that. Might this help the Toronto Blue Jays get to Rogers Centre faster? Speculation. Hopefully.

2021 MLS preview

Canadian MLS teams start an extended U.S. road trip

2020 MLS regular season returns with all-Canadian games

What sports will look like on Canadian soil in 2020

The Canadian teams did get to play each other on Canadian soil from August 18-September 16 last season: 3 home and 3 road games.

Toronto FC has been in Orlando in 2021 after spending 2020 in East Hartford, CT. CF Montréal has been in Fort Lauderdale in 2021 and Harrison, NJ in 2020. Vancouver has been in Sandy, Utah in 2021 and Portland, OR in 2020.

Like the Beach Boys version of Sloop John B says, "well I feel so broke up, I wanna go home."

These will be the first American MLS teams on Canadian soil since the COVID-19 pandemic started.

CanadianCrossing.com soccer coverage

The MLS games are available on TSN and TVA Sports in Canada and ESPN+ in the United States. As for U.S. national television, English and Spanish television say "no" and "no."

logo credits: CF Montréal; Toronto FC; Vancouver Whitecaps FC/MLS

2021 MLS preview

The 2020 Major League Soccer (MLS) season had the Canadian teams start out "normal" before the COVID-19 pandemic. Each Canadian MLS team had a home game before the shutdown and then 3 home games on Canadian soil in September. Otherwise, they were wandering nomads in the U.S. desert.

Vancouver even had to play Portland in a "home game" in Portland.

2021 still has the Canadian teams in the United States. Toronto FC will start the 2021 season playing home matches in Orlando.

The Reds were in East Hartford, Connecticut as their U.S. base following the brief trip on Canadian soil. Like the Toronto Blue Jays, the logic of playing in Florida in the spring makes a lot of sense. The team might be back in East Hartford, Connecticut later in the season if not BMO Field in Toronto.

CF Montréal is playing at the Inter Miami CF stadium in Fort Lauderdale after playing in Harrison, NJ last season. Montréal got a home game at Olympic Stadium before the pandemic and 3 at Stade Saputo in the late summer.

Vancouver will establish a base at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, Utah outside Salt Lake City as a base until the team can get back to BC Place.

The Montréal Impact have rebranded as Club de Foot Montréal, or CF Montréal. CF Montréal has a new logo as well as part of the rebranding.

Wilfried Nancy, an assistant coach with the team since 2016, takes over for Thierry Henry, who left after a single season. Henry was mentioned in the rumour mills to leave to coach Bournemouth.

While that team decided to retain its interim manager, Henry then left CF Montréal for family reasons.

Henry's single season for Montréal led to a 8-13-2 record and a playoff game, the first for the team since 2016.

Toronto FC, Montreal Impact gone from 2020 MLS Playoffs

Chris Armas is the new Toronto FC coach. Armas replaces Greg Vanney, who resigned. Vanney is now the coach for the Los Angeles Galaxy.

Armas was the New York Red Bulls head coach for slightly over 2 years from 2018-2020.

Vanney took over Toronto FC in August 2014, the team's 9th coach in 8 years. He provided a much needed stability and brought success to the team. Vanney finished his Toronto career with a regular-season record of 87-68-48. The team went to 3 MLS Cups in his tenure: 2016, 2017, and 2019 winning the title in 2017.

The Reds qualified for the playoffs under Vanney in all but one of his 6 full seasons.

2017 was a stellar year for Vanney: MLS Cup, Supporters’ Shield, and the Canadian Championship.

This makes Marc Dos Santos the longest running coach of a Canadian MLS team. Santos has been in charge of the Vancouver Whitecaps since November 7, 2018. The Whitecaps haven't made the MLS playoffs since 2017.

2020 MLS playoffs preview

Toronto, Montreal make 2020 MLS playoffs

2020 MLS preview

Montréal "hosts" Toronto to start the MLS season on Saturday in Fort Lauderdale. Vancouver hosts Portland in Utah on Sunday. The Toronto "home" opener in Orlando will be next Saturday against the Vancouver Whitecaps.

CanadianCrossing.com soccer coverage

The only U.S. TV appearances for the Canadian MLS teams in 2020 came as a result of the Orlando tournament. The COVID-19 pandemic took out the spring TV schedule for CTV in 2020.

None of the English and Spanish channels in the U.S. have any telecasts with Canadian teams, again. Ugh.

TSN will carry Toronto FC and Vancouver FC matches as well as select CF Montréal contests. RDS will carry all CF Montréal matches en Francaise.;

CTV will simulcast the TSN feed on Saturday telecasts this spring:

April 17 Toronto FC @ CF Montréal, 2 pm
April 24 Vancouver FC @ Toronto, 3 pm
May 1 Columbus @ CF Montréal, 3 pm
May 8 CF Montréal @ Vancouver FC, 3 pm
May 15 Toronto FC @ New York City FC, 1 pm
May 22 Cincinnati @ CF Montréal, 1 pm
May 29 Toronto FC @ Columbus, 3 pm

All games are available on ESPN+. Once (if) the CFL resumes, ESPN+ is a better acquisition for your humble narrator.

MLS Canadian teams playoffs results

Year	Date	Teams	Winner	Score
2020	November 24	Nashville @ Toronto	Nashville	1-0 (ET)
2020	November 20	Montréal @ New England	New England	2-1
2019	November 10	Toronto @ Seattle	Seattle	3-1
2019	October 30	Toronto @ Atlanta	Toronto	2-1
2019	October 23	Toronto @ New York City FC	Toronto	2-1
2019	October 19	D.C. United @ Toronto	Toronto	5-1 (ET)
2017	December 9	Seattle @ Toronto	Toronto	2-0
2017	November 29	Columbus @ Toronto	Toronto	1-0
2017	November 21	Toronto @ Columbus	Tie	0-0
2017	November 5	New York Red Bulls @ Toronto	NY Red Bulls	1-0
2017	November 2	Vancouver @ Seattle	Seattle	2-0
2017	October 30	Toronto @ New York Red Bulls	Toronto	2-1
2017	October 29	Seattle @ Vancouver	Tie	0-0
2017	October 25	San Jose @ Vancouver	Vancouver	5-0
2016	December 10	Seattle @ Toronto FC	Seattle	0-0 (5-4 PK)
2016	November 30	Montréal @ Toronto FC	Toronto FC	5-2 (ET)
2016	November 22	Toronto FC @ Montréal	Montréal	3-2
2016	November 6	Montréal @ New York Red Bulls	Montréal	2-1
2016	November 6	Toronto FC @ NYCFC	Toronto FC	5-0
2016	October 30	NYCFC @ Toronto FC	Toronto FC	2-0
2016	October 30	New York Red Bulls @ Montréal	Montréal	1-0
2016	October 27	Montréal @ D.C. United	Montréal	4-2
2016	October 26	Philadelphia @ Toronto FC	Toronto FC	3-1
2015	November 8	Portland @ Vancouver	Portland	2-0
2015	November 8	Montréal @ Columbus	Columbus	3-1 (ET)
2015	November 1	Vancouver @ Portland	Tie	0-0
2015	November 1	Columbus @ Montréal	Montréal	2-1
2015	October 29	Toronto FC @ Montréal	Montréal	3-0
2014	October 29	Vancouver @ Dallas	Dallas	2-1
2013	October 31	Montréal @ Houston	Houston	3-0
2012	November 1	Vancouver @ LA Galaxy	LA Galaxy	2-1

logo credits: MLS

When will Canadians be able to watch their favourite team in person

The Toronto Raptors have had fans at "home" games in Tampa, FL. The Toronto Blue Jays have had fans at their Grapefruit League games in Dunedin, FL.

Toronto FC (Orlando) and CF Montréal (Miami) will likely have fans at the start of the 2021 MLS season. Vancouver Whitecaps FC will establish a base at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, Utah outside Salt Lake City, uncertain of whether fans can attend.

Arizona, Dallas, Florida, Tampa Bay in the NHL have been aggressive early and often in the 2021 season. They have the highest capacity of fans and they were in the stands from the start.

A majority of NHL teams are allowing fans in the stands. A few teams have added fans in March. The general consensus is 10%-15% capacity with Detroit at 4%, St. Louis at 7.5%, and Dallas at 30%.

The number of NHL teams that haven't allowed fans is dwindling. Minnesota allows 250 people, including staff and families. Colorado doesn't allow fans right now but the plan is 22% capacity starting April 2.

There are 12 NHL teams that don't allow or haven't an agreement to have fans: California teams (Anaheim, Los Angeles, San Jose), Chicago and Washington, and all 7 Canadian teams.

Edmonton has been the loudest voice among the Canadian teams to get NHL fans back in the stands.

The argument can be that the U.S. teams — especially Arizona, Dallas, Florida, Tampa Bay — were too liberal in letting fans in arenas. The argument can be that the Canadian teams have been too conservative in letting in fans.

This isn't just about the Canadian NHL teams making some money from fans in the stands. They are at a financial disadvantage compared to the southern U.S. teams in revenue. This is also about where the NHL final four will play.

The Toronto and Edmonton NHL bubbles were stellar in the summer of 2020. The U.S. divisions have had multiple postponements due to COVID-19 in the 2021 season. The first all-Canadian game was postponed with Edmonton in Montréal on Monday night due to COVID-19 protocols.

Toronto Blue Jays won't play in Canada for 2020 regular season

What sports will look like on Canadian soil in 2020

CanadianCrossing.com NHL coverage

Putting the last four NHL teams in a bubble would be a wonderful financial windfall for Edmonton or Toronto or maybe even Vancouver. The federal Canadian government had no issue allowing this in 2020.

The provincial governments have been reluctant to allow fans. The alternative for the lone Canadian survivor of the NHL playoffs is to be assigned a U.S. arena while the other 3 U.S. teams get to play at home.

Gary Bettman doesn't like Canada but had no choice in 2020. U.S. teams are allowing fans. Gary Bettman can't and shouldn't ignore that issue. The NHL would be reluctant to come back to Canada without fans.

British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, and Quebec have influence over fans in the NHL. That list of provinces plus Saskatchewan have influence over fans in the stands for CFL games this summer and fall. CFL fans are also watching this trend since the consensus is that Canadian football won't happen without fans.

Dr. Bonnie Henry, provincial health officer for British Columbia, said Monday that indoor gatherings of "any size" remain a risk and only gather in small groups of up to 10 outside. "The areas where we know it spreads most quickly and most dangerously are the same as they were last year — but now there's even less a margin for error."

Vaccines could make a significant difference between now and June. The current influx of cases in Canada due to COVID-19 variants has to also come down.

750 fans of the then Montréal Impact MLS team got to watch their favourite team in person in 2020. Quebec allowed a maximum of 250 fans each for the 3 games in the summer of 2020 at Stade Saputo. Canada can start with small crowds, if and when there is a consensus from the medical community.

photo credit: Rogers Sportsnet/Blue Jays/MLB

Toronto FC, Montreal Impact gone from 2020 MLS Playoffs

When the 2020 MLS season started, and we told you that Toronto FC would lose to Nashville in the MLS playoffs, you would have a few thoughts. "Nashville has a team?" Yes, the team just started in 2020. "That means Toronto lost in the MLS Cup since Nashville is in the west." That was true when the 2020 MLS season began.

The long and interrupted 2020 MLS season ended for Toronto FC on an empty and cold night in East Hartford, CT by getting shut out by a team that didn't exist a year earlier.

The long wait in between the regular season and playoff games. The injuries. The living in hotel rooms in Connecticut since September.

Nashville posted a 1-0 win in extra time last night, eliminating the second and final Canadian MLS team from the 2020 MLS playoffs. The Montréal Impact suffered a 2-1 loss to the New England Revolution in Foxborough, MA on Friday night.

Not the way we wanted this run to end. And although we couldn’t be together, we felt the support from each and every one of you. In a season full of unknowns and challenges, you all were the constant. #TFCLive

Can’t wait to see you all again by the lakeshore. pic.twitter.com/phkzabEwEc

— Toronto FC (@TorontoFC) November 25, 2020

Daniel Rios scored the only goal of the game in the 108th minute.

Toronto almost scored in extra time as Richie Lareya set up Ayo Akinola, but the latter couldn't catch up to the ball.

Nashville dominated the game, especially in the second half.

We can't overlook the moment in the 32nd minute when Toronto's Jonathan Osorio, after a skirmish with Alex Muyl, ended up kicking Muyl in a highly sensitive area. Somehow, Osorio avoided a red card.

2020 MLS playoffs preview

Toronto, Montreal make 2020 MLS playoffs

Nashville advanced to play Toronto after shutting out Inter Miami CF 3-0 in the franchise's first MLS playoff win. Both Nashville and Inter Miami CF are in their inaugural season. The Nashville franchise started the season in the Western Conference but was moved to the Eastern Conference for the Orlando tournament.

Toronto FC and Nashville didn't even meet in the regular season. You might remember that Nashville didn't play in the Orlando tournament since the team had too many COVID-19 cases.

Toronto was only the second higher seed team to lose in the first round, joining the Portland Timbers.

The Reds went back to Toronto with family before heading to Hartford. The U.S. teams could be with their families since the season resumed in August.

Canadian MLS teams start an extended U.S. road trip

2020 MLS regular season returns with all-Canadian games

The Montréal Impact might not have won in extra time but lost very late in regulation, giving up the winning goal in the 95fh minute. Romell Quioto evened the score at 1 with a header in the 61st minute. New England pulled out a 2-1 win.

The Impact goal came on a free kick from midfielder Amar Sejdic. Rudy Camacho bounced the ball off his head to Quioto.

Montréal was a bit shorthanded with Victor Wanyama not back from playing with the Kenyan national team. Midfielder Samuel Piette was suspended after a red card in the regular season finale.

This was the first MLS playoff game for Montréal since 2016. New England hadn't won a playoff game since 2014.

All 3 Canadian MLS teams advance to Round of 16 in Orlando

MLS 2020 Orlando tournament preview

This was the first Toronto FC game (outside the Orlando tournament) that was on U.S. television in all of 2020. The Reds had been to 3 of the last 4 MLS Cups and were left off of the U.S. television schedule in English and Spanish. A first-round loss will solidify that standing.

Toronto FC had a chance to be on ABC on Sunday with a win. The top-seed Philadelphia Union also lost last night.

NHL, MLB, MLS latest sports leagues to suspend their regular season

2020 MLS preview

CanadianCrossing.com soccer coverage

MLS Canadian teams playoffs results

Year	Date	Teams	Winner	Score
2020	November 24	Nashville @ Toronto	Nashville	1-0 (ET)
2020	November 20	Montréal @ New England	New England	2-1
2019	November 10	Toronto @ Seattle	Seattle	3-1
2019	October 30	Toronto @ Atlanta	Toronto	2-1
2019	October 23	Toronto @ New York City FC	Toronto	2-1
2019	October 19	D.C. United @ Toronto	Toronto	5-1 (ET)
2017	December 9	Seattle @ Toronto	Toronto	2-0
2017	November 29	Columbus @ Toronto	Toronto	1-0
2017	November 21	Toronto @ Columbus	Tie	0-0
2017	November 5	New York Red Bulls @ Toronto	NY Red Bulls	1-0
2017	November 2	Vancouver @ Seattle	Seattle	2-0
2017	October 30	Toronto @ New York Red Bulls	Toronto	2-1
2017	October 29	Seattle @ Vancouver	Tie	0-0
2017	October 25	San Jose @ Vancouver	Vancouver	5-0
2016	December 10	Seattle @ Toronto FC	Seattle	0-0 (5-4 PK)
2016	November 30	Montréal @ Toronto FC	Toronto FC	5-2 (ET)
2016	November 22	Toronto FC @ Montréal	Montréal	3-2
2016	November 6	Montréal @ New York Red Bulls	Montréal	2-1
2016	November 6	Toronto FC @ NYCFC	Toronto FC	5-0
2016	October 30	NYCFC @ Toronto FC	Toronto FC	2-0
2016	October 30	New York Red Bulls @ Montréal	Montréal	1-0
2016	October 27	Montréal @ D.C. United	Montréal	4-2
2016	October 26	Philadelphia @ Toronto FC	Toronto FC	3-1
2015	November 8	Portland @ Vancouver	Portland	2-0
2015	November 8	Montréal @ Columbus	Columbus	3-1 (ET)
2015	November 1	Vancouver @ Portland	Tie	0-0
2015	November 1	Columbus @ Montréal	Montréal	2-1
2015	October 29	Toronto FC @ Montréal	Montréal	3-0
2014	October 29	Vancouver @ Dallas	Dallas	2-1
2013	October 31	Montréal @ Houston	Houston	3-0
2012	November 1	Vancouver @ LA Galaxy	LA Galaxy	2-1

photo credit: Fox Sports 1 / MLS
Twitter capture: @TorontoFC

2020 MLS playoffs preview

The 2020 MLS playoffs will have the Eastern Conference Canadian teams. There is a slim chance that Toronto's first game will be against Montréal. The rivals met in the MLS playoffs in 2015 and 2016.

Toronto will play Nashville SC if that team beats Inter Miami CF in the late game tomorrow night. Otherwise, the Reds will play the Montréal vs. New England winner. The Philadelphia Union will take on the other Eastern play-in team.

The Impact will start out Friday night in Foxborough, MA at 6:30 pm on Fox Sports 1 and FOX Deportes in the United States with TSN and TVA Sports in Canada. Montréal is 4-5-1 on the road while the Revolution is 2-3-5 at home. New England has a 3-1 edge this season against the Impact. This is the first MLS playoff game for Montréal since 2016.

Toronto hosts its opponent on Tuesday at 6 pm in East Hartford, CT on TSN and TVA Sports in Canada as well as Fox Sports 1 and FOX Deportes in the United States.

Toronto FC is 7-2-1 at home in 2020.

Toronto, Montreal make 2020 MLS playoffs

Canadian MLS teams start an extended U.S. road trip

2020 MLS regular season returns with all-Canadian games

All 3 Canadian MLS teams advance to Round of 16 in Orlando

If Montréal gets past New England and draws Philadelphia, that game will be Tuesday at 8 pm in Philadelphia on ESPN and ESPN Deportes as well as TSN and TVA Sports.

The Eastern Conference semifinals are November 29 at 3 pm on ABC and 8 pm on ESPN.

MLS 2020 Orlando tournament preview

NHL, MLB, MLS latest sports leagues to suspend their regular season

2020 MLS preview

CanadianCrossing.com soccer coverage

MLS Canadian teams playoffs results

Year	Date	Teams	Winner	Score
2020	November 24	TBD @ Toronto	TBD	TBD
2020	November 20	Montréal @ New England	TBD	TBD
2019	November 10	Toronto @ Seattle	Seattle	3-1
2019	October 30	Toronto @ Atlanta	Toronto	2-1
2019	October 23	Toronto @ New York City FC	Toronto	2-1
2019	October 19	D.C. United @ Toronto	Toronto	5-1 (ET)
2017	December 9	Seattle @ Toronto	Toronto	2-0
2017	November 29	Columbus @ Toronto	Toronto	1-0
2017	November 21	Toronto @ Columbus	Tie	0-0
2017	November 5	New York Red Bulls @ Toronto	NY Red Bulls	1-0
2017	November 2	Vancouver @ Seattle	Seattle	2-0
2017	October 30	Toronto @ New York Red Bulls	Toronto	2-1
2017	October 29	Seattle @ Vancouver	Tie	0-0
2017	October 25	San Jose @ Vancouver	Vancouver	5-0
2016	December 10	Seattle @ Toronto FC	Seattle	0-0 (5-4 PK)
2016	November 30	Montréal @ Toronto FC	Toronto FC	5-2 (ET)
2016	November 22	Toronto FC @ Montréal	Montréal	3-2
2016	November 6	Montréal @ New York Red Bulls	Montréal	2-1
2016	November 6	Toronto FC @ NYCFC	Toronto FC	5-0
2016	October 30	NYCFC @ Toronto FC	Toronto FC	2-0
2016	October 30	New York Red Bulls @ Montréal	Montréal	1-0
2016	October 27	Montréal @ D.C. United	Montréal	4-2
2016	October 26	Philadelphia @ Toronto FC	Toronto FC	3-1
2015	November 8	Portland @ Vancouver	Portland	2-0
2015	November 8	Montréal @ Columbus	Columbus	3-1 (ET)
2015	November 1	Vancouver @ Portland	Tie	0-0
2015	November 1	Columbus @ Montréal	Montréal	2-1
2015	October 29	Toronto FC @ Montréal	Montréal	3-0
2014	October 29	Vancouver @ Dallas	Dallas	2-1
2013	October 31	Montréal @ Houston	Houston	3-0
2012	November 1	Vancouver @ LA Galaxy	LA Galaxy	2-1

photo credit: TSN; Fox Sports 1 / MLS

Toronto, Montreal make 2020 MLS playoffs

We paid way more attention to the 2020 MLS season from the start and stop in March, the mess in Orlando, the all-Canadian games with actual fans in Montréal, and more games in the United States on not-so-home turf. That was the 2020 MLS regular season.

The Montréal Impact got a thrilling comeback victory on Decision Day to earn a playoff spot. Toronto FC lost on Decision Day, ending the Reds chance at the Supporters Shield. Vancouver was eliminated from contention on Wednesday.

Going into the final game against DC United, Montréal had lost 3 in a row and 5 of 6. The team had only won 2 of its last 12 matches before Sunday.

Montréal finished with a 8-13-2 record with 26 points / 1.13 points per game. Montréal finished 3-6-1 at home and 3-5-1 road games (not counting the Orlando tournament).

MLS has expanded the Eastern playoffs for a play-in round. The #9 Impact will take on the #8 seed New England Revolution on November 20 in Foxborough, MA at 6:30 pm on TSN and TVA Sports in Canada as well as Fox Sports 1 and FOX Deportes in the United States. The U.S. audience can watch a Montréal playoff game without having to worry how to work the SAP magic on their TV.

While we are intrigued that the Impact are in the 2020 MLS playoffs, a 8-13-2 team shouldn't get rewarded with playoff soccer.

Toronto FC lost 2-1 to the New York Red Bulls on Sunday so the Reds are in second place. Toronto will play Nashville SC if that team beats Inter Miami CF tomorrow. Otherwise, the Reds will play the Montréal vs. New England winner. The Philadelphia Union will take on the other Eastern play-in team.

The Reds finished 13-5-5 with 44 points / 1.91 points per game. Toronto had a 7-2-1 home record and went 5-3-2 on the road (not counting the Orlando tournament).

Toronto hosts its opponent November 24 at 6 pm on TSN and TVA Sports in Canada as well as Fox Sports 1 and FOX Deportes in the United States.  

The Vancouver Whitecaps have now gone 3 seasons without a playoff appearance. The Whitecaps played a full 23 games unlike some teams in the Western Conference, so while the Colorado Rapids had fewer points, that team didn't play a full season. The MLS is determining playoff spots based on points per game.

The Whitecaps finished 9-14-0 with 27 points / 1.17 points per game. Vancouver went 6-4-0 at home and 2-8-0 on the road. Vancouver managed to be the only MLS team this season without a tie; a few losses that would have been ties would have helped the Whitecaps. Vancouver had a better record than Montréal but was in the wrong conference.

The Whitecaps struggled mightily against their Cascadia rivals, scoring a single goal in an 0-5 run against Portland and Seattle. Didn't help that one of Vancouver's "home" games was against Portland in the Timbers home stadium.

Canadian MLS teams start an extended U.S. road trip

2020 MLS regular season returns with all-Canadian games

All 3 Canadian MLS teams advance to Round of 16 in Orlando

Sadly to no one's surprise, the Canadian MLS teams avoiding television in the United States after the Orlando tournament. We knew U.S. cameras wouldn't show any of the all-Canadian games. Toronto FC is one of the top teams in MLS and on U.S. soil since September and yet, no U.S. television. Would have settled for a TUDN or UniMás telecast but didn't even get that.

All the MLS playoff games involving Canadian teams will be on ESPN or Fox Sports 1.

MLS 2020 Orlando tournament preview

NHL, MLB, MLS latest sports leagues to suspend their regular season

2020 MLS preview

The Toronto home games will take place at the Reds temporary home: Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field in East Hartford, CT. Unless the Montréal Impact plays #10 Inter Miami CF, the team is done with home games at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, NJ. The Vancouver Whitecaps finished their "home" season at Providence Park in Portland, OR.

CanadianCrossing.com soccer coverage

We will have a 2020 MLS playoffs preview next week. The 2020 MLS Cup will be on Saturday, December 12 at 8 pm on FOX, UniMás, TSN, and TVA Sports.

MLS Canadian teams playoffs results

Year	Date	Teams	Winner	Score
2020	November 24	TBD @ Toronto	TBD	TBD
2020	November 20	Montréal @ New England	TBD	TBD
2019	November 10	Toronto @ Seattle	Seattle	3-1
2019	October 30	Toronto @ Atlanta	Toronto	2-1
2019	October 23	Toronto @ New York City FC	Toronto	2-1
2019	October 19	D.C. United @ Toronto	Toronto	5-1 (ET)
2017	December 9	Seattle @ Toronto	Toronto	2-0
2017	November 29	Columbus @ Toronto	Toronto	1-0
2017	November 21	Toronto @ Columbus	Tie	0-0
2017	November 5	New York Red Bulls @ Toronto	NY Red Bulls	1-0
2017	November 2	Vancouver @ Seattle	Seattle	2-0
2017	October 30	Toronto @ New York Red Bulls	Toronto	2-1
2017	October 29	Seattle @ Vancouver	Tie	0-0
2017	October 25	San Jose @ Vancouver	Vancouver	5-0
2016	December 10	Seattle @ Toronto FC	Seattle	0-0 (5-4 PK)
2016	November 30	Montréal @ Toronto FC	Toronto FC	5-2 (ET)
2016	November 22	Toronto FC @ Montréal	Montréal	3-2
2016	November 6	Montréal @ New York Red Bulls	Montréal	2-1
2016	November 6	Toronto FC @ NYCFC	Toronto FC	5-0
2016	October 30	NYCFC @ Toronto FC	Toronto FC	2-0
2016	October 30	New York Red Bulls @ Montréal	Montréal	1-0
2016	October 27	Montréal @ D.C. United	Montréal	4-2
2016	October 26	Philadelphia @ Toronto FC	Toronto FC	3-1
2015	November 8	Portland @ Vancouver	Portland	2-0
2015	November 8	Montréal @ Columbus	Columbus	3-1 (ET)
2015	November 1	Vancouver @ Portland	Tie	0-0
2015	November 1	Columbus @ Montréal	Montréal	2-1
2015	October 29	Toronto FC @ Montréal	Montréal	3-0
2014	October 29	Vancouver @ Dallas	Dallas	2-1
2013	October 31	Montréal @ Houston	Houston	3-0
2012	November 1	Vancouver @ LA Galaxy	LA Galaxy	2-1

photo credit: Major League Soccer

How did the Canadian Premier League complete a 2020 season and not the CFL?

Forge FC dominated the 2020 Canadian Premier League soccer championship with a solid 2-0 win over HFX Wanderers. The late goal was a fluke but did bring insurance. The Canadian Premier League championship game in Charlottetown was even on Fox Sports 2 in the United States, simulcasting the One network coverage. Recognized Andi Petrillo as part of the studio coverage.

Hamilton won't likely have a parade for the winning Forge FC team. Halifax isn't likely to have welcomed the Wanderers with thousands waiting for the plane to land.

Like the other sports, the Canadian Premier League set up a bubble, branded as The Island Games at the University of Prince Edward Island in Charlottetown over a 5-week stretch from mid-August to mid-September.

Rise Above#CanPL l @ForgeFCHamilton pic.twitter.com/Z5nuequsAa

— CanPL (@CPLsoccer) September 19, 2020

The NFL is off and playing, though the league blew off the preseason. College football has been hit and miss, mostly miss so far. The CFL is on the sidelines, choosing not to play.

A 5-week season isn't a whole lot. MLS has been piecemeal and the Canadian teams are wandering nomads in the U.S. desert. The NHL and NBA bubbles have been stellar. MLB had a lot of troubles early with COVID-19 cases but played a lot of doubleheaders.

Canadians wanting football are stuck watching the NFL on TV

CFL cancels 2020 season

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MLS had to draw a schedule with pencil in the Orlando tournament as 2 teams didn't even play in Orlando. MLB had teams sitting out for a week in a 60-game season. If we make it to the next 5 years and look back on 2020, the details of how these leagues played in a pandemic will be forgotten. They played somewhat safely or completely safely. That is the lasting memory.

The CFL fumbled and stumbled. We offered up a bubble concept with teams playing in Moncton, Saint John, and Halifax. We didn't consider the University of Prince Edward Island campus. The CFL could have built up strong favour playing in a part of Canada where the league wants to grow the game.

If CFL plays in 2020, have all the games in the Maritimes

2020 Touchdown Atlantic in Halifax: What would have been

We even offered up a 9-week season: every team plays each other once. The CFL attempt worked on a 6-game schedule and couldn't even pull that off.

Money was the reason we heard. The CFL might have had that money if they played a season first. Does the CPL have so much more money than the CFL?

Hamilton winning the CPL title can't compete with the Tiger-Cats winning the Grey Cup. The other 8 CFL teams won a Grey Cup in the 2010s: Hamilton lost to Winnipeg in the 2019 Grey Cup. That was the last CFL game until 2021, hopefully.

CanadianCrossing.com CFL coverage

Football and soccer are different beasts in terms of turnaround and trying to get games played in a short window. Canada had the advantage of being in much better shape with COVID-19, especially Atlantic Canada.

The CPL has 8 teams vs. 9 for the CFL. The format was for all the teams to play each other in the beginning, just like my idea.

The NFL and CPL are not the CFL. They rolled up sleeves and made a 2020 season happen. The CFL will be in trouble even with playing a 2021 season. They will have to recover fan interest when fans may not be able to be in a stadium, even at half capacity. 750 fans watched the Montréal Impact in person. The NFL will conduct a grand experiment with fans at certain stadiums this fall. If there is a Michigan-Ohio State game this fall, how many fans will be in Columbus, Ohio?

The Stanley Cup, NBA Finals trophy, World Series trophy, and likely the Super Bowl championship will be awarded. The Grey Cup will collect dust. If the Canadian Premier League could figure out how to make a 2020 season work, the Canadian Football League should have tried harder to be more creative to get a 2020 season on the books.

photo credit: Canadian Premier League
Twitter capture: @CPLsoccer

Canadian MLS teams start an extended U.S. road trip

Editor's note: MLS has announced the remaining schedules for Toronto, Montréal, and Vancouver teams. The teams keep their U.S. home stadiums as noted in the article. The regular season finishes up on November 8.

Major League Soccer (MLS) has released 3 more games in piecemeal fashion. The Canadian teams are on an extended road trip into the United States.

Toronto, Montréal, and Vancouver have 3 U.S. opponents, 2 road games and a designated home game. The Reds and Impact actually get a neutral field while the Whitecaps play a "home" game at the field of the opponent.

The Impact will play Philadelphia at the home of the Red Bulls in Harrison, NJ. The Reds get an actual neutral field at Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field in East Hartford, CT.

We have found that offensive when the Toronto Blue Jays were stuck with that scenario while the team got Sahlen Field in Buffalo ready. Very difficult to imagine MLS couldn't find a neutral field on the West Coast of the United States.

The Canadian teams have an imbalance on U.S. soil even with a neutral field. The Canadian teams are living in suitcases; going back to Canada means a 14-day quarantine.

The eastern Canadian teams also have a much better travel schedule in playing 3 games in 8 days (7 days for Montréal) compared to Vancouver's flying schedule.

TSN and TVA Sports will have their usual coverage. ESPN+ will have the games in the United States.

Date	Road	Home	Time
September 19	Toronto	D.C. United	7:30p
September 19	Vancouver	Real Salt Lake	9:30p
September 20	Philadelphia	Montréal*	7:30p
September 23	Toronto	New York City FC	7p
September 23	Montréal	New England	7:30p
September 23	Vancouver	LAFC	10:30p
September 27	Montréal	NY Red Bulls	7p
September 27	Columbus	Toronto+	7:30p
September 27	Portland	Vancouver#	10p

* Red Bull Arena in Harrison, NJ; + Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field in East Hartford, CT;
# Providence Park, Portland

2020 MLS regular season returns with all-Canadian games

All 3 Canadian MLS teams advance to Round of 16 in Orlando

MLS 2020 Orlando tournament preview

What sports will look like on Canadian soil in 2020

Toronto FC had a tremendous unbeaten run of 18 games, a game short of the MLS record of 19 last done a decade ago. The Reds pulled off 3 straight shutouts on Canadian soil until the Impact posted a 1-0 victory.

Toronto was set to tie the game on a penalty kick when Alejandro Pozuelo was ready to kick, but passed the ball to Pablo Piatti. Piatti scored on Impact goalkeeper Clement Diop, but the goal didn't count. The play looked cool but apparently was too cute for the rules.

2020 MLS preview

CanadianCrossing.com soccer coverage

Having 250 people in a 20,081 seat Stade Saputo won't make too much noise but a lot more noise than having 0 fans. The Montréal Impact took advantage of Quebec's guidelines since 250 is the maximum allowed.

The 750 tickets sold represent the only fans who have been able to see a major league sport on Canadian soil since the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic shut everything down.

The Impact gave club members first access to tickets that started at $49.

British Columbia and Alberta getting the smoke from U.S. West Coast wildfires

Toronto FC will take on either Hamilton Forge FC or Halifax HFX Wanderers for the Canadian Championship. The Canadian Premier League entry will be determined tomorrow. Americans can watch that match on Fox Sports 2 at 1:30 pm Eastern from Charlottetown, PEI.

The Reds finished 4-2 against the other Canadian teams. Montréal (3-3) had a chance to advance with a second win over Vancouver (2-4) but lost 3-1 on Wednesday.

Toronto FC posted 3 straight shutout wins to start the round-robin, 2 against Vancouver and 1 against Montréal. The Impact posted a shutout win against both Vancouver and Toronto.

The 2020 Canadian Championship winner gets the Voyageurs Cup and qualifies for the next edition of the Concacaf Champions League.

We noted earlier this week about the impact of the smoke on the Montréal Impact series at BC Place against the Vancouver Whitecaps. The hydration breaks were definitely helpful.

photo credit: TSN/MLS