CF Montreal at Saputo Stadium
CF Montreal (formerly known as Montreal Impact) joined Major League Soccer as an expansion franchise in 2012, the league's third Canadian team. CF Montreal previously played in the American Professional Soccer League, the United Soccer League, and the North American Soccer League. But the MLS was a natural fit, and soon enough the team got down to the task of being as Montreal as possible — cosmopolitan rosters, a rowdy fan culture, a goofy mascot.
For much of the team's existence, the centerpiece of its attack was Ignacio Piatti, the criminally underrated Argentine midfielder. A clever dribbler, dynamic creator, and superb finisher, Nacho was a highlight waiting to happen, even if at times he was obscured by more celebrated teammates like Didier Drogba.
In 2015, the duo of Piatti and Drogba combined for 24 goals and led Montreal to the club's best season to date. Drogba recorded three of those goals in his debut with the club, a victory over the Chicago Fire. It was a "perfect" hat trick, meaning he scored with his right foot, his left foot, and his head. CF Montreal finished third in the Eastern Conference that year and advanced to the CONCACAF Champions League Final. They were the second MLS team — and first Canadian team — to do so.
CF Montreal plays in Montreal's Saputo Stadium at Olympic Park. Proceedings are enlivened considerably by the noisy presence of three supporters' groups: Ultras Montreal, 127 Montreal, and 1642 MTL. The Ultras are the main group, and they've been with the team since before CF Montreal was in the MLS. They chant, they jump, they hate Toronto.
