Toronto FC, CF Montreal get green light to play at home in front of fans

Toronto FC and CF Montreal have been given the green light to play at home this weekend, with a limited number of fans in the stands.

Wednesday's update from Major League Soccer on Canadian home-market games only covers the next few weeks, with two TFC and one Montreal match affected.

"During this temporary window, Vancouver Whitecaps FC will host their home matches on July 17 and July 20 at Rio Tinto Stadium [in Sandy, Utah] as conversations continue with the Canadian government regarding the three Canadian teams hosting future home matches in Canada," MLS said in a statement.

"The importance of this return home for our team can't be overstated," TFC president Bill Manning said in a statement. "It has been a long, hard time on the road due to pandemic protocols and we have greatly missed the energy and support of our fans at BMO Field.

"Our return to Canada gave the team an incredible boost this week and we look forward to an emotional night at BMO Field with our fans on Saturday."

The league said the Toronto and Montreal clubs will follow local and regional guidelines regarding attendance.

A TFC spokesman said 7,000 fans will be allowed Saturday and 15,000 next week, with Saturday's crowd made up of front-line health-care workers, first responders and season seat members. Montreal will allow 5,000 fans.

'We are truly happy'

"After all this time away, we are truly happy to finally be able to play at home," Montreal president and CEO Kevin Gilmore said in a statement. "The past few months have been very difficult for our players and staff, who had to go into exile, but they have shown tremendous resilience.

"Our supporters have also been remarkably patient throughout this period, and we can't wait to see them at Stade Saputo on Saturday.  We hope this is one more step in the right direction towards a full return."

Montreal (5-3-4) and Toronto (2-8-2) both returned home last week after the federal government loosened pandemic-related border restrictions for fully vaccinated travellers. The Whitecaps (2-7-3) remain in their temporary U.S. home.

Clubs and match officials travelling to Canada will be subject to public health protocols required of all individuals entering the country, the league said. Only fully vaccinated players and staff will be excluded from Canadian quarantine requirements.

COVID-19 testing will take place prior to departure and upon arrival in Canada.

After the two upcoming games at BMO Field, Toronto visits Chicago on July 24 before a home game Aug. 1 against Nashville SC. The league announcement Wednesday does not cover the Aug. 1 game.

There was some confusion in the wake of Wednesday's announcement over whether the Canadian teams had a so-called National Interest Exemption.

TFC, for example, used that last year, allowing it to come home to train for stretches with modified quarantine rules. A request has been made for another NIE, which would allow players not fully vaccinated to cross the border with a modified quarantine.

That request has yet to be ruled on.

But TFC and Montreal, with the approval of MLS, are adhering to the current rules for fully vaccinated travellers in crossing the border with regards to the games over the next week.

After hosting Cincinnati, Montreal visits New York City FC (at Red Bulls Arena), the New England Revolution and Inter Miami CF. Its next home game after that is Aug. 4 against Atlanta United.

Long-awaited homecoming

Montreal last played at Saputo Stadium on Sept. 9, when it beat Toronto before 250 fans. Vancouver's last outing at BC Place Stadium was a 2-1 win over Montreal on Sept. 16 with no fans in the stands.

Toronto has not played at BMO Field since Sept. 1 when no fans were allowed. It has played the 31 games since on the road, finishing out last season in East Hartford, Conn., and starting this year in Orlando.

The last time fans were allowed at BMO Field for a TFC game was March 7, 2020, the second game of the regular season.

The Whitecaps haven't played at home in front of fans since Feb. 29, 2020.

"We just need to go back home. We need to be home. Sports shouldn't be like that. No sports team should go through that," Vancouver coach Marc Dos Santos told reporters in a virtual availability Wednesday.

Montreal shifted its base of operation to Harrison, N.Y., last year and Fort Lauderdale, Fla., this year. The Whitecaps set up shop in Portland and Utah, respectively.

The three Canadian teams have gone a combined 26-40-12 in regular-season and playoff play since leaving their home markets.

Montreal currently sits eighth overall in the league standings, while Vancouver is 25th and Toronto is last at 27th.

Baseball's Blue Jays are also in return-to-play negotiations. The American League club started the season at its spring training home of Dunedin, Fla., before moving operations to Buffalo.