Toronto FC Players Tests Positive For COVID-19

In a statement released this afternoon, Major League Soccer side Toronto FC has confirmed that multiple members of the team have tested positive for COVID-19.

As a result, Toronto FC has opted to isolate club personnel and has discontinued training until proper contract tracing and follow-up tests have been conducted. In the official statement, the club reported that it will provided further updates later on this week as more information becomes available.

Toronto FC had opened its preseason training camp on February 17 after securing permission to start a few days ahead of schedule due to the Canadian Championship Final. While this fixture was largely expected to take place on March 20 at BMO Field, the fact that TFC’s cup final opponents Forge FC haven’t secured permission to train at all has cast some doubt on if the cup final can actually take place.

With Toronto FC now halting its own training due to the positive COVID-19 cases, it’s not clear what can ultimately be done with the cup final, which has already been delayed as much as it can be. In a best case scenario, the Toronto FC players who test negative could return to training after the follow-up tests, but that still leaves Forge FC waiting in the wind.

It’s not clear how this will impact some of Toronto FC’s potential call-ups for the Canadian senior national team and the U-23 side for the Concacaf Men’s Olympic Qualifier. It is imperative that safety comes first in a situation like this, and that means this COVID-19 outbreak may curtail some national team opportunities.

Following the international break at the end of March, the winner of the prospective Canadian Championship Final is set to take on Liga MX side Club Leon in Concacaf Champions League action, with the Major League Soccer set to begin on April 17.

We wish good health to all the Toronto FC players and staff.