TORONTO — Richie Laryea lived out a dream. The Canadian defender started all five of his country’s matches — including its hometown opener on a pitch he knows well — as part of a breakout World Cup campaign for the men’s national team. The international sporting showcase now growing ever smaller in Laryea’s rear-view mirror, his focus is solely on getting scuffling Toronto FC on track. And it’s been a minute since the club walked through BMO Field’s doors. The 31-year-old and his teammates return to the friendly confines Saturday when they host the New England Revolution as Major League Soccer resumes action on Lake Ontario’s northwestern shore after more than three months. TFC and the CFL’s Toronto Argonauts were forced out of the stadium in May when FIFA took control ahead of the tournament. Thousands of temporary seats were added to get the venue World Cup ready, while other permanent improvements included four LED video boards. Laryea, however, knows things will look a lot different this weekend compared to the scenes when he crossed the touchline for Canada against Bosnia-Herzegovina on June 12. “It was all dressed up in a different way,” the veteran right back from Toronto said Tuesday at TFC’s practice facility. “We’re just excited to get back on the field and see the fans and put together some good performances.” Those have, once again, been largely hard to come by in 2026. Toronto started 3-2-1 as part of a home-heavy schedule, but hasn’t won a match since a 3-2 victory over the Colorado Rapids on April 4. The club played six more BMO Field games in a row before pulling up stakes May 9, registering four draws and a pair of losses. TFC then limped into the World Cup break with two more road defeats, and returned to action last month with three draws and another setback to sit 3-7-8. Resting six points below the playoff cutline with 16 matches remaining on the schedule, including five of the next six at home, the clock has already been ticking for a club that hasn’t qualified for the post-season since 2020. “In this league, as soon as you get rolling, you get a few wins under your belt, and you get in a good way, the season turns very quickly,” Laryea said. “Opinions change very quickly, the mood within the team changes very quickly when you start winning. It starts this Saturday.” TFC central defender Walker Zimmerman, who’s in his first season at the club, has seen progress over the last four games since the group reconvened. “A different feel,” he said. “A tie can sometimes feel different. Sometimes you feel like you’re holding on to it, and that you’re like, ‘OK, we got out of there.’ And then there are times that you go in, whether it’s a tie or loss, and you’re like, ‘Yo, we deserved so much more.’” Toronto has been cut down by a familiar injury bug, but health has improved in recent weeks to go along with the addition of German midfielder Niklas Dorsch on the transfer market. “You understand the importance of points at this stage,” said Zimmerman, a 33-year-old from Lawrenceville, Ga. “When you’re looking from underneath the playoff line, it’s an uncomfortable position.” Laryea was in a somewhat awkward position of his own coming back to the fold mid-season. While players based in Europe are now only just ramping up to start anew, Laryea had less than a week off. “Quick turnaround,” he said. “It’s tough, but I feel like physically and mentally, I’m in a good place.” Soccer in this country is viewed, generally speaking, as in a similarly positive position in terms of interest at the international level following the World Cup. Whether that can be parlayed down the line into increased support domestically and locally for the likes TFC remains to be seen. “We have a big responsibility here at this club to be able to continue to ignite that,” Laryea said. “You want to be able to capitalize on a great opportunity.” Zimmerman didn’t attend any of Toronto six World Cup fixtures, but the American was impressed by how the city embraced the event. “Everyone told me when I came here how diverse it is,” he said. “But walking around and seeing all the different people, hearing all the different languages that are spoken on a regular basis, you’re just like, ‘Wow, I feel like I’m literally in a melting pot of so many different cultures.’” He sees a big opportunity for TFC with its BMO Field return. “That’s what’s beautiful about being here,” he said. “All those people should care about their (soccer). Hopefully we bring some of that excitement.” This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 11, 2026. Joshua Clipperton, The Canadian Press
