Live updates as FC Cincinnati hosts Toronto FC in MLS play

Updated March 8, 2026, 6:24 p.m. ET

FC Cincinnati faces a crucial opportunity on Sunday Night Soccer when they face Toronto FC Sunday, March 8 at TQL Stadium. Kickoff is 7 p.m.

Cincinnati is 1-1 with a 2-0 win over Atlanta and a 1-0 defeat to Minnesota. Toronto is 0-2 with a 3-2 loss to Dallas and a 3-0 loss to Vancouver, both on the road.

Cincinnati’s next three MLS games are against teams widely expected to not qualify for the MLS playoffs (Toronto, New England and Montreal), so the Orange and Blue have a chance to get off to a fast start. But first things first, follow along here for updates on the Toronto match.

Starting lineups

Cincinnati starts Kevin Denkey and Tom Barlow up front. Dado Valenzuela takes Evander’s spot again at No. 10, but Evander is available off the bench. Obi Nwobodo and Pavel Bucha are in central midfield. Bryan Ramirez and Ender Echenique are on the wings. Gilberto Flores, Miles Robinson and Nick Hagglund are on defense with Roman Celentano in goal.

A look at the matchup between FC Cincinnati and Toronto FC

Here is our preview of the match. Note that Cincy star center back Matt Miazga is in Philadelphia this afternoon making his 2026 debut with FC Cincinnati 2, so will not be in uniform tonight. Evander has been training with the club and he was pictured in social media posts promoting tonight’s game, so there are signs that he could be in the starting lineup against Toronto.

Will Josh Sargent make his MLS debut for Toronto?

Toronto signee Josh Sargent was officially welcomed to the team as the club’s newest Designated Player after a league-high fee paid to Norwich City FC of the EFL Championship in England. Sargent, 26, is a forward who started for the U.S. Men’s National Team in the 2022 FIFA World Cup. He scored 56 total goals for Norwich City and has been training with Toronto this week.

Toronto is 0-2 this season. They might want to hold Sargent for their home opener March 14 and debut him for the home fans. But since they’re already 0-2 for the season, there is urgency to send him out there at TQL to get a result.

FC Cincinnati celebrates women on International Women’s Day

Today, March 8, is International Women’s Day. FC Cincinnati commemorated the occasion by sharing a video clip of head coach Pat Noonan talking about the influential women in his life, and a video of Evander doing the same with his family. Nick Hagglund shared a personal post on his Instagram account about his wife, children and rest of his family.

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