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Toronto vs Montreal: The 401 Derby MLS Rivalry Explained

Will Brown by Will Brown, April 01, 2025

Toronto FC vs CF Montreal – A Canadian MLS Rivalry

For nearly two decades, the 401 Derby MLS rivalry has produced countless memorable moments. A showdown between the traditional nemeses Toronto and Montreal, both teams have experienced highs and lows, with a consistent victor still yet to emerge. In this guide, we’ve covered the origins of the rivalry, some memorable moments for both teams, a timeline of important clashes and events, and a discussion on the future outlook of the rivalry.

What is the Canadian Classique?

The 401 Derby, or Canadian Classique, is the name given to the tense sporting rivalry between Montreal and Toronto. To get this guide started, we’ve provided a detailed history of the showdown, from their first clash in 2008 to more recent games.

From there, we’ve provided a timeline of some of the most consequential events, including controversies and surprise wins. We’ve then looked at the highlights for both teams against each other, before rounding out this guide by looking to the future.

The History of the CF Montreal vs Toronto FC Rivalry

The CF Montreal vs Toronto FC rivalry dates back decades even though both teams are relatively young. This is because it stems from a historical conflict that both cities have shared over sports, partly owing to the widely varying cultures, languages, and politics of the city’s two provinces.

Controversy quickly erupted when Toronto became the first Canadian team to enter the US Major League Soccer (MLS) in 2007. When it was announced by MLS in 2005, fans in Montreal complained that its rival had been given preferential treatment. Fortunately, Montreal would have a chance to vent its frustrations during a Canadian Championship match in 2008.

While the game resulted in a draw, Montreal would go on to win the championship. These early games set the standard for the team’s pair-ups, with physical play and tense exchanges becoming commonplace. Over the next two years, Toronto would dominate Montreal, humiliating them with a 6-1 defeat in 2009.

In 2012, CF Montreal entered the league, and the higher stakes of the competition saw the intensity of the rivalry reach new heights. In need of a strong narrative, league executives name the rivalry “the 401 Derby” after the highway that connects the cities. It was later called the Canadian Classique, with matches between the two drawing large Canadian audiences and a flurry of activity at best MLS betting sites.

One of the cornerstones of the rivalry between the teams is that Montreal, based in Quebec, is French-speaking, while Ontario-based Toronto is English-speaking. There are vast differences in the styles of play between the teams, with Montreal’s technical, possession-based play contrasting with Toronto’s direct and aggressive approach.

These cultural clashes exist outside of the 401 Derby MLS rivalry too, which often makes interactions between fans at games heated. Montreal’s fans are renowned for their loyalty and passion, as can be witnessed in their enduring showdown between the Boston Bruins and Toronto Maple Leafs in hockey.

Timeline of Memorable Events

Throughout the history of the CF Montreal vs Toronto FC rivalry, the 401 Derby games have produced an array of high-stakes controversies and memorable moments. We have listed some of these landmark events in the timeline below:

  • May 2008: The first official meeting between the clubs in the Canadian Championship ends in a scoreless draw. Montreal would go on to win the tournament.
  • June 18, 2009: The “Miracle in Montreal” saw Toronto defeat Montreal 6-1 at Saputo Stadium, Montreal.
  • April 7, 2012: Montreal’s first MLS game against Toronto FC draws a record 58,912 fans at Toronto’s Olympic Stadium. Montreal wins 2-1, adding fuel to the rivalry.
  • May 1, 2013: Montreal overcomes a 2-0 aggregate deficit in the Canadian Championship semifinal to win 6-2 on aggregate.
  • August 30, 2015: Montreal’s Didier Drogba becomes the first MLS player to score a hat-trick in his first start. Montreal wins 4-1, making Drogba a hero for the team.
  • November 22, 2016: The Eastern Conference Final first leg sees Montreal dominate Toronto 3-2 at Olympic Stadium before a record 61,004 fans.
  • November 30, 2016: The second leg sees Toronto overcome a 3-0 deficit to win 5-2 in extra time, advancing to their first MLS Cup Final.
  • September 20, 2017: Toronto’s 3-1 victory in Montreal wins the Supporters’ Shield. Toronto celebrates on their rival’s field to the ire of Montreal’s fans.
  • June 26, 2019: The Canadian Championship semifinal sees Montreal eliminate Toronto.
  • September 9, 2020: During the pandemic-restricted season, a heated exchange between the teams’ coaches escalates, requiring staff and players to be separated after the final whistle.
  • November 23, 2021: CF Montreal defeats Toronto 1-0 in the Canadian Championship semifinal. Toronto fans protest by throwing objects on the field, leading to stadium bans.

As this timeline details, the tensions between Montreal and Toronto seem much more intense than the LA FC and LA Galaxy rivalry. With the active involvement of fans, players, and even staff, the Canadian Classique remains one of the most compelling narratives in MLS.

Toronto Memorable Moments

One of Toronto’s defining moments in its rivalry against Montreal came in the 2016 Eastern Conference Final. After trailing Montreal 3-2 in the first leg, Toronto turned their fortunes around to produce a win on a 7-5 aggregated score at BMO Field. The event resulted in an eruption of celebrations among Toronto fans.

Toronto’s 2017 season included multiple victories over Montreal, which built to a tense Supporters’ Shield showdown at BMO Stadium. With a 3-1 win, Toronto would win the Shield and later, that year’s MLS Cup. But perhaps the most memorable moment came in 2009 with the iconic “Miracle in Montreal.”

The Canadian Championship group stage match required Toronto to win by four goals to claim the trophy. Against all odds, the team dominated their opponents 6-1 in front of a home crow, with Dwayne De Rosario scoring two goals. This remains the largest margin of victory in the history of the Montreal vs Toronto MLS rivalry.

Montreal Memorable Moments

The Canadian Championship beginning of the Montreal vs Toronto soccer was one of the finest moments for Montreal and gave the team bragging rights over Toronto. Despite competing in the lower-division USL, Montreal overcame their nemesis with a Championship win and furthered the argument to be accepted into the MLS.

Another iconic moment was Didier Drogba’s hat-trick performance in 2015, which instantly became a part of the rivalry’s mythology. The Chelsea legend dismantled Toronto’s defense with three distinctive goals in his first appearance for the team, and while he made himself a Montreal hero, he’d become a villain for Toronto fans.

In 2019, Montreal again defeated Toronto in the Canadian Championship semifinal. Proving that they would never forget Toronto’s Supporters’ Shield celebration, Montreal’s players mockingly recreated it. They would later win over Toronto in 2021 in the Canadian Championship, much to the anger of Toronto’s fans.

The Future of the Rivalry

While the 401 Derby MLS rivalry hasn’t cooled down over the previous years, it has grown less competitive due to Toronto’s poor performances. Toronto finished its 2023 and 2024 seasons at the bottom of the ladder, while Montreal’s performances have ranked near or top of the Eastern Conference in the same period.

Although the 2025 season is just beginning, time will tell whether we’ll get a return to form from the team. What is exciting is that the MLS is set to change over the coming years, with the introduction of cash for trade transfer fees and several new teams. It is also set to gain a boost from the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will see two games hosted in Canada.

With viewership and attendance for the MLS climbing and global exposure in 2026, both clubs could benefit from increased funding. This could help influence European or South American players to join the teams, which would only create more fierce competition between them.

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