How Toronto FC Became a Serie A Bastion in the MLS | OneFootball

Toronto FC have a strong record in the MLS. They managed to win a treble in 2017, made three trips to the cup final in a four-year period, then shone in the 2018 Concacaf Champions League. Since then, the team has been lacklustre and languished in mid-table. One way it aimed to rectify this situation was with a contingent of Italian-bred players and a penchant for spending. With two of its stars departing, will Toronto FC remain a Serie A bastion in the MLS?

Toronto FC in 2026

Toronto FC are one of several Canadian teams that play in Major League Soccer. They are a member of the Eastern Conference, amongst teams such as Nashville SC, New York Red Bulls and CF Montreal. They have been part of the MLS since 2007, and were the first Canadian team in the league.

At the time of writing, Toronto FC have just started the season with a single game, unfortunately a loss. In such early days, final league standings are hard to predict.

Major markets have them at around +5000 to win the cup and +4000 to be the regular season league winners. It is a position that, over the last few seasons, has become too familiar for fans. People who like to place wagers on final placings in the MLS can use prediction market platforms like Fanduel Predicts via Saturday Down South’s review. Operating slightly differently to standard betting platforms, they allow people to buy stakes in possible outcomes, such as Toronto winning the cup or their final position in the conference.

The Serie A Contingent

To date, the team has had two players from Juventus FC in the form of Federico Bernardeschi and Sebastian Giovinco. The former arguably had the most impact on the club before leaving for a stint at Bologna FC 1909. In his time, he had a range of outstanding moments, including a hat trick against CF Montreal and a goal from a standing corner.

Lorenzo Insigne joined from a free transfer after a stint at Napoli. On a reported salary of $15 million, he was the highest-paid player in the MLS. He has now moved to Pescara in Serie B. Domenico Criscito was another major player, though he was only with the team for a short time. Along with Insigne and Bernardeschi, they formed a trio of Italians who were a real crowd puller for the team.

Another player was Raoul Petretta. Although primarily born and based in Germany, he did represent Italy at the U21 level. He joined in 2023 and carried on until 2025. At one point, he even captained the team against Nashville SC.

Moving Forward

The 2025 season was Toronto’s first under the leadership of Robin Fraser. With a disappointing 12th position in the conference and the departure of its key Italian players, it seems the experiment is over.

Toronto are still looking to replace these stalwarts. US International Josh Sargent has just joined from the UK team Norwich City, to the tune of $27 million. This suggests that spending is still on the table, but building a squad that will take them to the cup needs more than cash alone, a lesson they know all too well.