The AFC Toronto defender co-wrote and performs “In The 6ix” — the club’s official anthem — debuted at the 2026 home opener. It’s the latest chapter in a creative life she’s been building since the very beginning.

TORONTO, ON (May 8, 2026) — In her elementary school yearbook, Zoe Burns wrote that she wanted the best of both worlds. Twenty-some years later, she has found them — on the pitch as a defender for AFC Toronto, and on the mic as the voice behind the club’s official anthem.

“In The 6ix (Official AFC Toronto Theme Song)” — written by Zoe Burns and Bryan Lash and produced by Bryan Lash at Blash Studios, made its debut in-stadium at the 2026 home opener at BMO Field on May 3. The song represents both her love for Toronto and the energy of gameday — a rallying call for the club and its fans heading into matchday and 2026 season ahead.

“Being able to blend my love for music and my soccer career was always something I wanted to do. Finally, being able to put them together has been a dream come true.”

THE SONG
The inspiration was personal. Burns has deep ties to Toronto — family, history, and a city she’s grown to love during her time with AFC Toronto. She wanted the anthem to feel like the club: confident, competitive, and connected our home.

“AFC Toronto is confident and competitive, we know who we are and what we bring to the pitch as a group,” she said. “We wanted to capture the feeling right before you are about to start the game. The hype, fire, and intensity, while also keeping it creative and fun, because at the end of the day it’s a game we all love.”

For fans, the goal is simple: unity, confidence, and a rush of energy heading into kickoff. “I just hope they love it as much as I do,” said Burns, “and that it makes them feel ready and connected to our club.”

MUSIC HAS ALWAYS BEEN THERE
Music has been part of Burns’ life long before her professional soccer career. She spent years in musical theatre and choir before the demands of college athletics pulled her away temporarily. But she never stopped writing.

“I have always been writing but got more serious with it in the last few years,” she said. The off-season becomes studio time while the season becomes material. “I try to write all year long so there’s a lot to work with when I do get the time to spend long hours in the studio.”

TWO STAGES, ONE PLAYER
Ask Burns how she balances two careers and she’ll tell you she’s not sure she’d want to choose between them. For Burns, the two careers don't compete, they coexist.

“They are both creative outlets, just performed differently on different stages. Sports and music both present ideas and create a show that connects with their audience.

If soccer is fast, problem-solving, and intense, music is the opposite. “Music creates a space for my brain to think in other ways, slow down, and process emotionally,” she said. “I feel they are so drastically different sides of me that I will always need both.”

ON THE PITCH
Burns, 24, wears number 12 and plays as a right-sided defender for AFC Toronto, bringing pace, tenacity, and attacking instinct from the back. Originally from Issaquah, Washington, she arrived at AFC Toronto in July 2025.

A dual citizen, Burns represented the U.S. at the U16 and U17 levels before committing to Canada’s U20 program in 2022 — scoring twice and earning Best XI honours at the CONCACAF Women’s U20 Championship. She later earned her first senior call-up with the Canadian Women’s National Team.

In her first NSL season in 2025, she made 12 appearances for AFC Toronto, highlighted by a memorable brace in a 2–0 win over Calgary Wild FC. She has carried that form into 2026 — opening the scoring in the first game of the season, netting her third NSL career goal just eight minutes into the season opener against Vancouver Rise FC, a match AFC Toronto won 3–2.

MUSIC QUICK HITTERS

• One word to describe the song:  Fired Up
• Dream artist collaboration:  Billie Eilish
• Song you listen to before a match:  Breakin’ Dishes

Media Contact
Christina Miller
Director, Public Relations, Media & Communications
AFC Toronto
cmiller@afctoronto.ca