With time running out and games dwindling fast, Toronto FC head to the Midwest this weekend for a pivotal match with St. Louis City SC, with playoff ambitions on the line. It will be more than the warm weather Toronto will face in St. Louis; it will also be a club on an unprecedented run of form, unbeaten in 17 matches across all competitions. The two teams last met on July 8, 2023, when St. Louis City won 1-0 away at BMO Field.
How St. Louis City enter the match
St. Louis have not tasted defeat since a 2-0 loss to Austin FC on May 3, 2026. They have three wins and two draws in their last five MLS matches, including significant victories over Western Conference leaders Vancouver Whitecaps and second-place Houston Dynamo, sandwiching a 3-3 draw with third-placed FC Dallas.
They weren't expected to perform this well this year. Few tipped them to be in the thick of the Western Conference playoff standings, just five points behind the Whitecaps and two behind Dallas and Houston. Their most recent game was a midweek Lamar Hunt US Open Cup semi-final win over the Colorado Rapids, which has vaulted City into the championship match in October.
WE'RE HEADED TO THE FINAL 🏆
— St Louis CITY SC (@stlCITYsc) September 17, 2026
See you in Columbus! pic.twitter.com/m4cwyQUkrz
St. Louis City SC play a high-intensity, aggressive style of football built on high pressing and quick recoveries, balanced with a progressive, possession-based attack. Their approach is hard-working and does not rely on one or more star players to carry the load. Head coach Yoann Damet has been key to implementing this disciplined, front-footed tactical mentality.
Anchoring the team from the back is veteran goalkeeper and club captain Roman Bürki. The former Dortmund keeper and Swiss international combines steady defending with calm leadership. German centre-back Timo Baumgartl further strengthens City's back line.
Versatile forward Simon Belcher now leads St. Louis' attack. Belcher can play anywhere across the front line, leads his team with seven goals, and has become the focal point of the attack since the summer departure of Marcel Hartel. The engine in their midfield is influential central midfielder Daniel Edelman. Already known for his defensive work in front of the St. Louis back line, Edelman has added some key offensive contributions with four goals and three assists.
Toronto's recent form
The Reds arrive in St. Louis on the heels of a deflating 3-0 loss in Orlando, still sitting three points short of a play-in spot in a tight and competitive Eastern Conference. While Toronto hasn't been playing poorly over the past two months, it hasn't been quite good enough in the playoff hunt either — too often falling behind and being forced to play catch-up, settling more frequently for draws when they needed three points.
Once again, Robin Fraser and Toronto will have to make do without attacking lynchpin Đorđe Mihailović, who remains out nursing a leg injury. This week also brought news that summer signing Nelson Palacio underwent thigh surgery and will not be making his debut for the Reds this season. However, club captain Jonathan Osorio is expected to be available for selection after missing several weeks with a leg injury. It remains to be seen whether new signing Alejandro Piedrahita will be available.
Toronto FC announced today that midfielder Nelson Palacio has undergone successful thigh surgery and will miss the remainder of the 2026 MLS season.
— Toronto FC (@TorontoFC) September 16, 2026
📰: https://t.co/TT2VJpyXPY pic.twitter.com/cIWI8XmdrO
The attack, which has been hot and cold, will lean on striker Josh Sargent and wingers Theo Corbeanu and Dániel Sallói to put the last game behind them and rediscover their scoring chemistry. Sallói leads the Reds with seven goals and six assists, while Josh Sargent also has seven goals and two assists.
Niklas Dorsch will also look to regain his pre-injury form. The midfielder — announced this week as Toronto's third designated player — wore a face mask last weekend to protect his surgically repaired cheek, which may have somewhat hampered his play. Dorsch will be expected to provide a shield for the back line while utilizing his passing ability to help spring the attack.
All told, Toronto will be out to collect all three points, as their playoff lives depend on it. However, their hosts' form will make that job challenging. To do that, the Reds will need to be disciplined and defensively responsible, and they'll need to score first. But most importantly, Toronto cannot afford to let St. Louis outwork them on the pitch — and these factors haven't all been on display in the same game too often this season.
Player availability
St. Louis City SC will have to do without Brazilian winger Célio Pompeu, who is out with a knee injury, and Canadian defender Kyle Hiebert, who remains sidelined with a hip injury that has kept him out for over four months.
Toronto FC will be missing midfielder Nelson Palacio, who is out for the season after thigh surgery, and Đorđe Mihailović, who is out with a leg injury. Despite the latter's absence, this is Toronto's healthiest squad all season. The club also announced this week that it had parted ways with long-time Chief Medical Officer Dr. Ira Smith after another season plagued by injuries.
Projected XIs
St. Louis City SC (3-4-3): Roman Bürki; Dante Polvara, Timo Baumgartl, Lukas MacNaughton; Tomas Totland, Daniel Edelman, Christopher Durkin, Conrad Wallem; Rafael Navarro, Simon Belcher, Jeong Sang-Bin
Toronto FC (4-2-3-1): Luka Gavran; Matheus Pereira, Walker Zimmerman, Benjamín Kuscevic, Richie Laryea; Niklas Dorsch, Markus Cimermancic; Lewis Morgan, Dániel Sallói, Theo Corbeanu; Josh Sargent
Game information and how to watch
⏰ 8:30 pm ET / 7:30 pm CT / 5:30 pm PT
📅 Saturday, September 19, 2026
📺 Apple TV
👨⚖️ Lukasz Szpala
🏟 Energizer Park, St. Louis, Missouri
