The presentation was made by Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, the investor-operator of the club, at the site of the team's future stadium along Toronto's waterfront at Exhibition Place.

"This is an exciting day for soccer fans in Toronto who can now enjoy great quality soccer and have a team they can call their own," said Tom Anselmi, executive vice-president and chief operating officer of MLSE.

"Toronto provides the perfect backdrop for the world's No. 1 sport given our city's diversity and affinity for soccer. We're committed to making Toronto FC and Major League Soccer a success."

Toronto was awarded an MLS franchise last October when plans were finalized to build a new stadium. MLS, the top professional soccer league in the United States, kicked off in 1996 with 10 teams and boasted surprisingly strong attendance the first season. Numbers declined slightly after the first year, but stabilized in subsequent years thanks to the league's TV deal with ABC and ESPN.

Soccer has 'exciting future' in Canada: MLS head

Toronto FC will be the first MLS team outside the United States since the league was formed.

"We're thrilled to have Toronto FC as the 13th team in Major League Soccer and our first international club," said MLS commissioner Don Garber. "The combination of a new stadium, a diverse sports market, and one of the elite sports and entertainment organizations in the world provides an exciting future for Major League Soccer in Canada."

The new stadium will also serve as the home of Canada's national soccer teams and play host to the FIFA under-20 World Cup, the soccer equivalent of the world junior hockey championship, in July 2007.

The 20,000-seat stadium is due to be completed in time for the start of the 2007 MLS season next April. Toronto FC will wear red and white colours.

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