AFC Toronto head back to BMO Field on Sunday, feeling confident but knowing they have more to prove. Montréal Roses FC are coming to town for an early-season match that already feels more important than most regular games.

These two teams quickly developed a real rivalry last season. They faced each other five times in all competitions, including a heated playoff semi-final where Toronto beat Montréal 6-1 on aggregate to reach the NSL final.

That dominance, however, does not tell the full story of this matchup. Montréal were also the first team to beat AFC Toronto at BMO Field, spoiling the club's inaugural home game with a narrow 1-0 win that still lingers in the background heading into Sunday.

There is also a feeling that both teams have evolved since those playoff meetings.

"Montreal looked great in the first few games," AFC Toronto head coach Marko Milanović said ahead of the rematch. "They signed some impact players. They also changed their system; now they're playing with a back three like us. So they look a little bit different from last year."

That defensive structure continues to define Montréal. Last season, the Roses conceded fewer goals than anyone else in the NSL, and through the opening weeks of 2026, they remain unbeaten, having not allowed a single goal. There is a calmness and control to the way Montréal play that makes them difficult to break down, even when matches become chaotic around them.

Toronto, meanwhile, still looks like a side learning how to balance expectation with consistency. The talent is obvious, as is the depth, but last weekend's scoreless draw against Halifax Tides FC showed there is still another level to reach, particularly in the final third.

Even so, there is little sense of panic internally.

"I think we're trending in the right direction," Milanović said. "It's all up from here."

The biggest challenge for Toronto now is adapting without Esther Okoronkwo, who is expected to miss up to six weeks after suffering an injury during the Halifax match. Her absence changes the complexion of this team immediately. Few players in the league combine power, movement, and unpredictability the way Okoronkwo does, and replacing that production collectively will not be easy.

That responsibility may now fall in part to Lauren Rowe, who is expected to step into a larger role over the coming weeks. Rowe showed flashes of quality last season and scored against Montréal during the playoffs, but this stretch could represent a real turning point in her development.

"I just want to make the most of it and show what I can do, show my strengths," Rowe said.

Without Okoronkwo, Sunday's match may become less open than previous meetings between these sides. Toronto's ability to stretch games vertically was central to many of their biggest performances last season, while Montréal thrive in structured matches where patience and defensive discipline matter most.

Away from the football itself, the occasion at BMO Field will also carry added meaning. AFC Toronto are set to celebrate Asian Heritage Day, recognizing the contributions of Toronto's Asian community and highlighting players within the squad, including Victoria Pickett, Kaela Hansen, and Samantha Chang.

"I think it's incredibly awesome to have AFC Toronto celebrating, recognizing, and honouring me, my other teammates, and API individuals within the Toronto area," Pickett said. "Growing up, I never really saw any professional female API individuals. So to be able to be that for little girls and boys seeing me on the pitch, it means a great deal."

Moments like that continue to shape the identity of the NSL beyond results and standings.

As for the match itself, there is already enough history between these clubs for this to feel significant. Toronto may still hold the psychological edge after last year's playoffs, but Montréal arrive looking more mature, more balanced, and perhaps better equipped for this version of AFC Toronto.

That alone should make Sunday one of the most intriguing fixtures of the early NSL season.

Game information and how to watch

📆 Sunday, May 10, 2026
⏰ 1:00 pm ET / 10:00 am PT
📺 RDS, YouTube, CBC Gem
🧑‍⚖️ Scott Bowman
🏟 BMO Field, Toronto, Canada