The stakes are at their highest with just three games left in MLS' 2026 regular season, and Toronto once again finds itself in a must-win situation.

BMO Field will host what could be its final MLS game of the season as DC United come to town in a game with major playoff implications for both sides.

TFC enter Wednesday's contest sitting 11th in the East, three points back of Red Bull New York and the ninth playoff spot in the conference. Meanwhile, DC sit back in 13th, six points back of RBNY and needing a small miracle to make it in.

Both sides will enter this one needing nothing less than three points to fulfill their goal of returning to the postseason for the first time in over half a decade.

This will be the second and final meeting between the pair this season, with the reverse fixture seeing DC steal all three points at Audi Field back in July thanks to a late and controversial Tai Baribo penalty.

How Toronto enter the match

Saturday's loss in Columbus marks a major missed opportunity for the Reds, one that also gave a massive hit to their playoff chances. 

That unfortunate result came on the heels of a seven-point week including major wins in the Canadian Classique and a six-pointer over the Red Bulls, which has kept their season alive to date.

After a season marred by injuries to key players, the core of Đorđe Mihailović, Josh Sargent, Niklas Dorsch and Richie Laryea have all been healthy down the stretch, and the team has finally been able to pull a few results together.

However, it still feels as though this team has another level to hit. A lot of their points are rescued late in games, when the team is forced to move forward and attack. Toronto hold one of the lowest marks in MLS in first-half goals, and rarely has the lead in games.

There is legitimate criticism of Robin Fraser's management being too conservative and defensive, which is part of what came back to bite the group in Columbus, where they let the Crew's playmakers run the show and failed to control the game with the ball at all until they were already down 4-0.

It's now up to Fraser and the group to find a way to find a way to grab at least two more wins in their last three games to really have a chance at making the playoffs. 

With a week of 13th-place DC on Wednesday and then 14th-place Atlanta on Sunday, now would be the time for Toronto to find a way to win back-to-back games for the first time since March 21 and April 4, the fifth and sixth games of the season.

Additionally, Toronto could be eliminated from the playoffs on Wednesday. A loss against DC as well as a Red Bull New York win over New England would officially end TFC's playoff hopes.

How DC enter the match

Despite some times of optimism, it's ended up as another disappointing year in the U.S. capital.

They're still alive in the playoff race, but by the skin of their teeth, as multiple different scenarios could officially eliminate the Black-and-Red from the postseason. 

A loss at BMO Field, or a Red Bulls win, would eliminate DC. A draw alongside a Red Bulls draw, or a Columbus win, would also put an end to their hopes.

Laying it out like that, it's pretty clear a lot would need to go right for this team to make the postseason. Three straight losses – including two against Cincinnati in the past week – have been what has nearly cemented that fact.

This is a team under manager René Weiler that has taken a high-press, car crash style of football. They sit dead last in MLS in completed passes per game by a decent margin, and also sit last in average possession, being the only team in the league that averages below 40% of the ball per game.

They love to lump the ball up to their big striker duo of Louis Munteanu and Tai Baribo, hoping to win physical duels and create enough chaos to find goals. Otherwise, they'll press hard off the ball and sit in a 4-4-2 that's more focused on defending the box than keeping the ball.

The downside is they never really control the game, and when you're at a talent deficit in most games, particularly in midfield, you can be overrun easily, which is a big reason their -17 goal differential is tied for the third-worst in MLS.

That all said, this team is still alive, and will be desperate to stay that way. They'll know anything less than three points will likely see their season end.

Availability

For Toronto, they'll remain without Kobe Franklin and Walker Zimmerman as they recover from injuries, while Nelson Palacio, of course, remains out for the season. 

On DC's side, they're likely to be pretty shorthanded, including their designated player strike partnership. Munteanu, Hosei Kijima, and Gabe Segal are out, while Baribo is questionable.

Projected XIs

Each side should go as full-strength as possible given the stakes, even though it's a midweek fixture.

Toronto FC (4-2-3-1): Luka Gavran; Matheus Pereira, Benjamín Kuscevic, Zane Monlouis, Richie Laryea; Jonathan Osorio, Niklas Dorsch; Dániel Sallói, Đorđe Mihailović, Theo Corbeanu; Josh Sargent

DC United (4-4-2): Sean Johnson; Keisuke Kurokawa, Kye Rowles, Lucas Bartlett, Silvan Hefti; João Peglow, Andre Dozzell, Brandon Servania, Kimito Nono; Tai Baribo, Jackson Hopkins

Game information and how to watch

📆 Wednesday, October 28
⏰ 7:30 pm ET / 4:30 pm PT
📺 Apple TV / TSN / RDS
🧑‍⚖️ Alexis Da Silva
🏟 BMO Field, Toronto, Canada