MLS · Eastern Conference · Montréal, Quebec, Canada · Saputo Stadium
Montréal CF
The only French-speaking club in MLS, CF Montreal carries the bilingual swagger of a city where European football culture and North American sporting ambition collide - a franchise reborn under a new name but still fueled by the passionate ultras of the 1642 and Ultras Montreal.
1993–2011
The Impact Years
Building a soccer tradition in Montreal
The Montreal Impact were founded in 1993 and spent nearly two decades building a soccer identity in a city dominated by the Canadiens hockey franchise. Playing in various lower-division professional leagues including the APSL, A-League, and USL First Division, the Impact became one of North America's most successful non-MLS clubs. They won multiple league championships and Canadian Championships, establishing a devoted fanbase that packed Saputo Stadium.
The club's USL years featured memorable runs in the CONCACAF Champions League and consistent domestic success. The supporter culture, anchored by the Ultras Montreal group, created an atmosphere that rivaled many MLS stadiums and helped make the case for Montreal's inclusion in the top flight.
The announcement in 2010 that Montreal would join MLS as an expansion team in 2012 was the culmination of years of lobbying by owner Joey Saputo and the Impact's front office. The club had proven that Montreal was a soccer city, and the move to MLS was a natural next step.
Key Facts
- Founded in 1993, spent nearly 20 years in lower divisions
- Won multiple USL championships and Canadian Championships
- Saputo Stadium became one of North America's great soccer venues
- Admitted to MLS in 2010, began play in 2012
2012–2020
MLS Arrival
Learning to compete at the highest level
Montreal's MLS debut in 2012 was a celebration, with the club drawing large crowds to Saputo Stadium and holding their own in the Eastern Conference. The early MLS years were highlighted by the arrival of star players, most notably Didier Drogba in 2015. The Ivorian legend, who had starred at Chelsea in the Premier League, brought star power and goals to Montreal, scoring 11 times in 11 regular-season matches in his debut campaign.
The 2016 season represented the high-water mark of the Impact's MLS tenure, as the club reached the Eastern Conference Final behind Ignacio Piatti's creative brilliance and Drogba's leadership. The run captivated Montreal and demonstrated that the Impact could compete with MLS's elite when the pieces aligned. Piatti, an Argentine attacking midfielder, would go on to become the most important player in the club's MLS history.
However, consistency proved elusive. The years following the 2016 playoff run were marked by roster instability and coaching changes, with the club struggling to build on its moments of brilliance.
Key Facts
- Didier Drogba's arrival in 2015 brought global attention
- Reached the Eastern Conference Final in 2016
- Ignacio Piatti became the club's all-time MLS leading scorer
- Struggled with consistency in the competitive Eastern Conference
2021–Present
CF Montreal
A new identity and a fresh start
In January 2021, the club announced a comprehensive rebrand, dropping the Impact name and becoming Club de Foot Montreal - CF Montreal. The rebrand, which included a new crest and visual identity, was polarizing among fans. Supporters who had grown up with the Impact name felt a disconnect, while others embraced the modernization as a necessary evolution.
On the pitch, head coach Wilfried Nancy brought an attractive possession-based style that earned widespread praise. The 2022 season was particularly impressive, with CF Montreal finishing near the top of the Eastern Conference and playing some of the most entertaining football in MLS. Nancy's departure to Columbus after that season was a significant blow, but it also validated the quality of coaching the club had developed.
CF Montreal continues to build around a model that emphasizes developing young talent from Quebec and across Canada, supplemented by shrewd international signings. The club's academy has produced several players who have gone on to represent Canada internationally, and the pipeline from youth development to the first team remains a central pillar of the sporting project.
Key Facts
- Rebranded from Montreal Impact to CF Montreal in January 2021
- Wilfried Nancy's coaching earned league-wide recognition in 2022
- Strong academy pipeline producing Canadian international players
- Saputo Stadium remains the club's home ground