Match Preview: Toronto FC vs. Austin FC | OneFootball

BMO Field, Toronto, ON

It’s an early kickoff at BMO Field this Saturday as Toronto FC looks to solidify its position in the Eastern Conference against a visiting Austin FC side. With both teams navigating the early-season grind of 2026, here is everything you need to know ahead of the match.

Who Are Ya - Austin FC

Austin FC joined MLS as an expansion side in 2021 and quickly became known for one of the most vibrant atmospheres in the league at Q2 Stadium. After a fairytale run to the Western Conference Finals in 2022, the "Verde and Black" have spent the last few seasons trying to reclaim that elite status.

Austin has had a less that spectacular start to the 2026 campaign. They currently sit 13th in the Western Conference with six points from one win and three draws from seven matches. They recently dropped points at home to a mediocre LA Galaxy team with a 2-1 loss.

The 2026 U.S. Open Cup provided another blow to Austin's momentum. After reaching the Final in 2025, they entered the 2026 tournament in the Round of 32. In a frustrating away fixture against USL Championship team Louisville City FC on Tuesday night, Austin was bounced from the competition early, failing to capitalize on their MLS pedigree against the lower-division side in another 2-1 loss.

Goals have been hard to come by so far in the 2026 MLS Season for Austin, having only scored eight goals in seven matches. The team's leading scorer is Myrto Uzuni with two goals.

Players to Watch

Myrto Uzuni - The Albanian international is the focal point of the Austin attack. He’s a constant threat on set pieces and has the clinical finishing ability to punish a Toronto defense that has been prone to lapses this year.

Facundo Torres - A major offseason acquisition from Orlando, Torres brings his pace to challenge the Toronto backline. He is a dynamic, left-footed winger who excels at cutting inside from the right to unleash lethal shots or pinpoint crosses. Torres leads the team with four assists this season.

Brad Stuver - Austin’s most reliable player Stuver remains one of the most underrated shot-stoppers in the league. He quietly continues to If Toronto dominates possession, they’ll still need something special to beat him.

The TFC Connection

Despite Austin's relatively short history, a few notable names have worn both shirts:

Jayden Nelson: A product of the TFC Academy, Nelson left Toronto in 2022 after securing a move to Europe with Norwegian side Rosenborg. Nelson returned to MLS in 2025 with the Vancouver Whitecaps. Austin acquired Nelson from the 'Caps in exchange for $700,000 2026 GAM, $550,000 in 2027 GAM, and its 2026 MLS SuperDraft First Round pick. Austin has put a lot of faith in the 23-year-old to make a difference in the attack and Nelson has scored one goal so far this season.

Matt Hedges: The recently-retired center-back had a stint in the Toronto backline in 2023 for 14 matches. Hedges played for FC Dallas for 11 seasons before arriving in Toronto as a free agent. Hedges did not like being so far away from Texas and requested a move to Austin to accommodate his homesick feelings. He played with Austin until the end of the 2024 season. After make only two brief appearences with the Des Moines Menace in the US Open Cup in 2025, Hedges decided to retire as as an FC Dallas player after signing a one-day contract.

Max Urruti: One of the biggest blunders of the Kevin Payne era, Urruti was rumoured to be signing with Toronto FC for about six months in 2013. He signed with the team in August from Argentina's Newell's Old Boys and made only two appearences and logged 37 minutes. Urruti was not fitting in and was promptly shipped off to Portland in a trade for Bright Dike. He found his footing with the Timbers, ultimately helping the side lift the 2015 MLS Cup. Urruti’s most statistically dominant years followed at FC Dallas, where he secured a domestic double (the U.S. Open Cup and Supporters' Shield). Urruti began his Kei Kamara MLS Whistlestop Tour in 2019 with stops in Montreal, Houston, Austin, and finally retiring in New England at the end of the 2025 season. Urruti remains one of the few players to have surpassed 300 appearances and 70 goals, cementing his legacy as one of the most reliable Argentine strikers in MLS history.

Let's TF-See - Toronto's Current Form

Toronto FC is currently navigating a period of significant growth and frustration as they solidify their identity under Robin Fraser. Since a disappointing home opener, the Reds have found their footing at BMO Field, stitching together a five-game unbeaten streak. While the early season was marred by defensive lapses, the team has significantly tightened up, conceding only five goals in their last five outings.

Despite the positive momentum, a troubling pattern of conceding goals to short-handed opponents has emerged as the team’s Achilles' heel. In consecutive weeks against the Colorado Rapids and FC Cincinnati, Toronto has struggled to capitalize on a man advantage, often looking disjointed in possession and lacking a ruthless finishing touch through the middle—a void made more apparent by the absence of Djordje Mihailovic. After playing with a man advantage for over 20 minutes following Kevin Denkey’s red card, the Reds failed to find the back of the net through their own play, only taking the lead via a fortunate own goal. This inability to capitalize on a man advantage was compounded by a stoppage-time collapse, as they conceded an equalizer to 10-man Cincinnati in the 92nd minute. This lack of clinical finishing and late-game concentration remains the primary hurdle for Robin Fraser’s side as they look to transition from a tough out into a true contender.

Injuries

Score Prediction: Toronto FC 2 - 1 Austin FC