AFC Toronto
| Full name | Association Football Club Toronto |
|---|---|
| Founded | April 26, 2023 |
| Stadium | |
| Capacity | 4,000 |
| CEO | Helena Ruken |
| Head coach | Marko Milanović |
| League | Northern Super League |
| 2025 | Regular season, 1st Playoffs, runners-up |
| Website | afctoronto |
AFC Toronto is a professional women's soccer club based in Toronto, Ontario, that competes in the Northern Super League, a league at the top of the Canadian soccer league system.
History
In April 2023, AFC Toronto was established by a group of local soccer community members, including Helena Ruken, Brenda Ha, Jill Burgin, Billy Wilson, Mike Ruthard, Kamal Sandhu, and Shamez Mangalji.[1] They became the third club to enter as a founding member of the Northern Super League, which will launch its inaugural season in 2025.[2][3] Although several of the founders held a connection with the North Toronto Nitros, including Ruken who serves as the Nitros President, AFC Toronto will operate as a separate entity.[4] In January 2024, Canadian Olympic sprinter Andre De Grasse joined the club as an investor.[5][6]
In June 2024, the club unveiled their official branding, maroon and vermillion serving as the team's colours, and their crest, which features a letter T at the centre symbolizing Toronto and mirrored 7s on either side representing the team's original seven founding members, as well as the city's original six boroughs plus the GTA.[7][8] It was announced that the team would play at York Lions Stadium as their home venue for the 2025 season, sharing the venue with Canadian Premier League club York United FC and MLS Next Pro side Toronto FC II.[9][10] In October 2024, Jade Kovacevic was unveiled as the club and league's first ever player signing.[11]
On April 19, 2025, they played their inaugural match, losing 1–0 to Montreal Roses FC, in front of 14,518 fans at BMO Field.[12] They recorded their first victory on May 1, 2025, in a 2–1 victory over Calgary Wild FC.[13] Toronto became the first team to qualify for the playoffs of the inaugural NSL season after their 7–0 victory over Vancouver Rise FC on September 13, 2025.[14] In September 2025, Toronto won the first-ever Supporters’ Shield in league history after clinching a finish at the top of the NSL regular season league table.[15]
In October 2025, the club announced that they would participate in the seven-a-side World Sevens Football event in December, featuring eight women's clubs and a $5 million US prize pool.[16] In November 2025, the club announced that, after playing two matches at BMO Field in 2025, they would split home matches between BMO Field and York Lions Stadium in 2026.[17]
On March 4, 2026, the club announced that they would open an academy for players aged 14-18 in August 2026, replacing the Canada Soccer National Development Centre in Toronto, with Marc Maunder being named as the club's academy director.[18]
Honours
| Type | Competition | Titles | Seasons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic | Regular season | 1 | 2025 |
Players and staff
Players
- As of February 17, 2026[19]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
|
|
- ^ Counts as a domestic player as she also holds Canadian nationality
Current staff
- As of August 7, 2024[20]
| Executive | |
|---|---|
| Chief Executive Officer | Helena Ruken |
| Chief Operating Officer | Kamal Sandhu |
| Vice-President, Brand and Partnerships | Kathleen Hegarty |
| Sporting Director | Billy Wilson |
| Coaching staff | |
| Head coach | Marko Milanović |
| Assistant coach | Sylvia Forbes |
| Goalkeeping coach | Rasih Pala |
| Head Athletic Therapist | Karla Leong |
| Sports Science & Performance coach | Mariana Gonzalez Moreno |
| Athletic therapist | Kia Halsall |
| Equipment manager | Keyosha Donkor |
Supporters
AFC Toronto's supporters group is The Vermilion Vanguard. The supporters section is located in Section 900 of the York Lions Stadium, and for away matches The Vermilion Vanguard meets at Something in the Water.[21]
See also
References
- ^ Dichter, Myles (April 26, 2023). "Toronto named 3rd franchise in Canadian women's pro soccer league set to start in 2025". CBC Sports.
- ^ Molinaro, John (April 26, 2023). "'Breaking through is possible': Matheson thrilled Toronto joining pro women's league". Sportsnet.
- ^ Davidson, Neil (April 26, 2023). "AFC Toronto City becomes 3rd team to sign on to Canadian women's pro soccer league". Global News.
- ^ "Toronto 'an untapped pool' of women's soccer talent: AFC Toronto City CEO Helena Ruken". Canadian Soccer Daily. April 28, 2023.
- ^ "Star sprinter De Grasse invests in AFC Toronto City women's soccer team". CBC Sports. January 17, 2024.
- ^ "Sprinting to kickoff in Canadian pro women's soccer: Andre De Grasse invests in Project 8's AFC Toronto". Canadian Soccer Daily. January 18, 2024.
- ^ Ngabo, Gilbert (June 3, 2024). "Toronto's pro women's soccer team unveils its crest, with kickoff set for next year". Toronto Star.
- ^ Nightingale, Tom (June 3, 2024). "Northern Super League's AFC Toronto unveil branding ahead of inaugural NSL season". Canadian Soccer Daily.
- ^ Jacques, John (August 28, 2024). "AFC Toronto To Play From York Lions Stadium Next Year". Northern Tribune.
- ^ "Northern Super League's AFC Toronto will share York Lions Stadium with CPL side York United". Canadian Soccer Daily. August 28, 2024.
- ^ Molinaro, John (October 21, 2024). "Jade Kovacevic excited to live dream as AFC Toronto's first-ever signing". Sportsnet.
- ^ Molinaro, John (April 19, 2025). "AFC Toronto makes strong first impression despite loss to Montreal Roses". Sportsnet.
- ^ Ngabo, Gilbert (May 1, 2025). "AFC Toronto celebrates historic first Northern Super League victory on home turf". Toronto Star.
- ^ "Match Recap: AFC Toronto Clinch Playoff Berth with Record-Breaking 7-0 Victory over Vancouver Ris..." AFC Toronto. September 13, 2025. Retrieved September 15, 2025.
- ^ "AFC Toronto Crowned Regular Season Champions, Capture NSL's Inaugural Supporters' Shield". AFC Toronto. September 29, 2025. Retrieved September 29, 2025.
- ^ Jacques, John (October 20, 2025). "AFC Toronto Joins Tournament With Five Million Dollar Prize Pool". Northern Tribune.
- ^ Jacques, John (November 13, 2025). "AFC Toronto Will Split 2026 Between Two Stadiums". Northern Tribune.
- ^ "AFC Toronto Builds for the Future, Launching New Professional Academy". AFC Toronto. March 4, 2026. Retrieved March 4, 2026.
- ^ "AFC Toronto Confirms Roster Updates for 2026 Season". AFC Toronto. December 17, 2025.
- ^ "AFC Toronto Welcomes Marko Milanovic and Sylvia Forbes as New Coaching Team". AFC Toronto. August 7, 2024.
- ^ "Fans & Supporters". AFC Toronto. Retrieved October 10, 2025.