Major League Soccer continues to deliver exciting Eastern Conference matchups throughout the 2026 season. Columbus vs Toronto is one of the significant games this year as both have already played once against each other this year. On March 21st, 2026, Columbus Crew and Toronto FC faced off against each other at BMO Field in Toronto. The rest of the game will be inverted on Oct. 24 at 2:30 p.m. ET when the teams play in Columbus where both will be fighting for the valuable league points.
March Result Still Matters
The first whistle of the March meeting brought a good deal of fun! The Toronto FC had a 2–1 win thanks to José Cifuentes’ 56th minute goal and Walker Zimmerman’s 83rd minute goal. Wessam Abou Ali gave Columbus Crew the lead with the opening goal, earlier. Moreover, it added a new occurrence to the rivalry that has been going on for a long time. Columbus was ahead of Toronto with 15 wins to their name, they had been evenly matched, with 11 draws between them, before the game.
Current Form Shows A Clear Gap
Now it’s a different story in the Eastern Conference. The sixth-place Columbus Crew (12-9-5, 45 points from 26 games) are getting their shot at the No. 11 seed. The team has been able to score 42 goals and allow 37 goals to be scored against them. This makes it Columbus’s job to continue to fight for an improved playoff record.
Toronto FC, meanwhile, are in 12th place with a 5-8-13 record and 23 points, from 26 games. The club have been 27 goals scorers and 34 goals conceded. As a result the two sides now have a 22-point difference. The latter is the difference from how their seasons have progressed since the March meeting.
Squad News Could Influence The Match
This year, head coach Henrik Rydström led Columbus. The Crew played in a 4-4-2 line-up in the March meeting, which featured regular starters Patrick Schulte, Diego Rossi, Steven Moreira, Sean Zawadzki, Max Arfsten, and more. Mohamed Farsi’s left leg was injured and he did not make the trip to the match. That line up was for March though though, and may alter leading up to the October second time around.
Luka Gavran, Walker Zimmerman, Jonathan Osorio, José Cifuentes, Joshua Sargent and Dániel Sallói were the names of the forwards for Toronto FC, while the midfielders were paired in a three-four-two-one system. Also, there were a number of injuries that meant that a few players were unable to take part in the March match. Before kick-off, fans should make sure they know the latest information on which players will be available to the team in the game as squads can vary throughout the season.
Key Factors Before Kickoff
Columbus Crew come into this rematch with a more overconfident attitude and are at home. However, Toronto FC has already demonstrated that they are able to play up to the level in the first game. As a result, both of the teams should be disciplined during the whole game.
The midfield battle will be key in determining what type of game it will be. Columbus play in possession and like to quickly get it in front of them while Toronto like to play fast, get it back and counterattack. Plus, if there are any injuries or other player availability aspects that are not taken into consideration they could affect the outcome.
Match Prediction
It should be a hottest of the hotsters game with Columbus vs Toronto. The advantage lies with Columbus Crew who have a better league standing, are in better form and have home advantage. But Toronto FC have the quality to pose a threat if they are able to play well on the defense and take advantage of their opportunities. So Columbus have a slight edge – but a close win or draw is in the cards.
Conclusion
The match is sure to be a competitive affair in the MLS as it is a rematch. The game’s outcome will be determined by the current form, tactical discipline and team news. Passionate supporters should see the official lineups before the match and be prepared for a possible late change as it can affect the match.
FAQs
What will be the date of the Columbus Crew vs Toronto FC rematch?
The reverse fixture will be on October 24, 06:30 p.m. ET in Columbus.
Why is it that Columbus has an advantage?
Columbus was in a much better spot when they stepped onto the court for the first time, with a healthy advantage in the league, the standings in the Eastern Conference and at home. All those factors make the hosts a little bit of an underdog.
