Toronto FC competes against what rival for the Trillium Cup?

Toronto FC competes against the Columbus Crew for the Trillium Cup. The annual Major League Soccer rivalry brings together clubs from Toronto, Ontario, and Columbus, Ohio, across the Great Lakes region.

The Trillium Cup was established in 2008, during Toronto FC’s second MLS season. Its name comes from the trillium, the official flower of Ontario and the official wildflower of Ohio. The flower gives the rivalry a shared regional symbol, even though the teams represent different countries.

The rivalry began with support from Toronto mayor David Miller and Columbus mayor Michael B. Coleman, who created a friendly wager around the first contest. Columbus won the inaugural match 2–0 on March 29, 2008, and claimed that year’s cup after the series concluded.

The cup is generally awarded to the team earning the most points in the season’s meetings, with wins worth three points and draws worth one. Toronto and Columbus have also met in the MLS Cup Playoffs, including the 2017 Eastern Conference Finals, when Toronto advanced to the final.