They're the matches that MLS supporters in Canada will surely be circling on their calendar after the 2014 Canadian national TV schedule was released on Monday: the all-Canada rivalry matchups on TSN and RDS.
There will be four of those head-to-head matches airing across Canada beginning with Vancouver vs. Montreal on June 25. It comes just three weeks after the conclusion of the Amway Canadian Championship, where the two clubs could be pitted in the final. The Whitecaps will have revenge on their mind after what happened in the 2013 title match.
On July 16, Toronto FC get their first crack at Canadian opposition in league play, when they host
Darren Mattocks
and the Vancouver Whitecaps. The Jamaican forward typically gets up for these kind of matches. Literally.
The all-Canadian slate for 2014 then closes with the only two league matches in the 401 Derby between Toronto and Montreal on August 3 and October 18. If you're still catching up on what the 401 Derby is,
you'll want to read this
. It's legit:
It even has its own Top 5 moments
, which
doesn't include last year's postgame scuffle
.
It's worth noting that the final matchup on October 18 comes on the second-to-last weekend of the season when playoff spots and seeding are on the line. Toronto FC supporters will be praying they're already celebrating their first-ever MLS Cup playoff berth against their bitter rivals. Especially the "TFC 4 Life" fan in this video:
Just how much do the blue and red supporters get up for this one? They only set an MLS record for traveling fans last year.
CANADIAN RIVALRY MATCHES ON NATIONAL TV:
Wed., June 25 – Montreal at Vancouver (TSN, RDS @ 10 pm ET)
Wed., July 16 – Vancouver at Toronto (TSN, RDS2 @ 8 pm ET)
Sun., Aug. 3 – Toronto at Montreal (TSN, RDS @ 6 pm ET)
Sat., Oct. 18 – Montreal at Toronto (TSN, RDS @ 2 pm ET)
