Vancouver Whitecaps FC facts for kids
 |
||||
| Nickname(s) | Blue-and-White The Village Caps |
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Founded | March 18, 2009 | |||
| Stadium | BC Place, Vancouver | |||
| Stadium capacity |
54,313 | |||
| Owners |
|
|||
| Chairman | Jeff Mallett | |||
| Sporting director | Axel Schuster | |||
| Coach | Jesper Sørensen | |||
| League | Major League Soccer | |||
| 2025 | Western Conference: 2nd Overall: 5th Playoffs: Runners-up |
|||
|
||||
Vancouver Whitecaps Football Club is a professional soccer team from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. They play in Major League Soccer (MLS), which is the top soccer league in North America. The team started on March 18, 2009, and began playing in MLS in 2011. They are the third team to use the "Whitecaps" name, which has a history going back to 1974.
The Whitecaps made history in 2012 as the first Canadian team to qualify for the MLS playoffs. They have won the Canadian Championship five times. In 2025, they reached the finals of both the CONCACAF Champions Cup and the MLS Cup, but finished as runners-up. The team has exciting rivalries with Seattle and Portland for the Cascadia Cup.
Famous players who have played for the Whitecaps include Jay DeMerit, who was their first captain, Camilo Sanvezzo, who won the top scorer award in 2013, and Alphonso Davies, who is now a captain for the Canadian national team. In 2025, the team also signed German soccer star Thomas Müller, a World Cup winner.
Contents
The Whitecaps' Journey: A History
Starting in Major League Soccer
The Vancouver Whitecaps joined Major League Soccer (MLS) on March 18, 2009. They were the 17th team to join the league. The club decided to keep the "Whitecaps" name, which has been used by Vancouver soccer teams since 1974. Fans were very excited, buying thousands of season tickets quickly.
The team played its first MLS game on March 19, 2011, winning 4–2 against fellow Canadian team Toronto FC. Eric Hassli scored the first goal for the Whitecaps in MLS. After a tough start, the team worked hard to improve.
Reaching the Playoffs and Winning Trophies
In 2012, the Whitecaps made history by becoming the first Canadian team to qualify for the MLS playoffs. They finished fifth in their conference. The team continued to grow, and in 2015, they had their best regular season ever, earning 53 points. That same year, they won their first Canadian Championship, beating Montreal. This win also helped them qualify for the CONCACAF Champions League for the first time.
The Whitecaps also won the Cascadia Cup in 2016, a special trophy decided by games against their rivals, Portland and Seattle. In 2017, they reached the semi-finals of the CONCACAF Champions League, showing they could compete with top teams from North America.
Ups and Downs and New Beginnings
Like many sports teams, the Whitecaps had some challenging seasons. In 2018 and 2019, they missed the playoffs. Many key players left, and new coaches joined the team. The 2020 season was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, and the team had to play some home games in the United States.
However, the team showed great spirit. In 2021, under coach Vanni Sartini, they had a strong finish to the season and made it back to the playoffs. In 2022, they won the Canadian Championship again, their second time, which qualified them for the 2023 CONCACAF Champions League. They continued their success in the Canadian Championship, winning it for a third time in 2023 and a fourth time in 2024.
A Historic 2025 Season
The 2025 season was truly special for the Whitecaps. They started strong in the 2025 CONCACAF Champions Cup, beating teams like Saprissa and Monterrey to reach their first-ever Champions Cup final. They faced Cruz Azul in Mexico City but lost the final match.
In the 2025 Canadian Championship, the Whitecaps won their fourth consecutive title, beating Vancouver FC 4–2. Midfielder Ali Ahmed was named the tournament's best player.
A big moment in 2025 was when German soccer superstar Thomas Müller joined the team. His arrival helped the Whitecaps have their most successful MLS regular season ever, earning 63 points. They made it to the 2025 MLS Cup playoffs, where they had an exciting win against Los Angeles FC in front of a record crowd. The Whitecaps then won their first Western Conference title, reaching the MLS Cup final, but lost to Inter Miami.
Team Colors and Badge
What Do the Colors Mean?
The Whitecaps' name comes from the beautiful nature around Vancouver. It reminds us of the snow-capped mountains and the white-capped waves of the Pacific Ocean.
The team's main colors are navy blue ("deep sea"), white, and light blue ("Whitecaps blue"). The "deep sea" blue shows the ocean around Vancouver. The "Whitecaps blue" represents the mountains reflecting in the water. This lighter blue also honors the colors of the original Whitecaps team that won a championship in 1979. A silver outline on the badge celebrates the team's many victories since 1974.
Team Jerseys
The Whitecaps have different jerseys for home, away, and special occasions.
- The home jersey is usually white with navy blue stripes.
- The away jersey is often deep blue with a special diamond pattern.
- In 2012, they introduced a third jersey that was "arbutus brown" with sky blue. This color represented the forests of British Columbia.
- In 2019, they wore a special jersey that looked like their 1979 championship uniform.
- In 2023, the team released the "Bloodlines Jersey" to support Canadian Blood Services.
- For their 50th anniversary in 2024, they created "The 50 Jersey," a modern version of their very first team crest.
Kit History
Here you can see the different home, away, and third kits the Whitecaps have worn over the years.
- Home Kits
          2011–12
|
    2013–14
|
   2015–16
|
     2017–18
|
    2019–20
|
    2021–22
|
    2023–24
|
    2025–
|
- Away Kits
     2011–13
|
    2014–15
|
     2016–17
|
     2018–19
|
    2020–21
|
    2022–23
|
     2024–
|
- Third Kits
     2012–2013
|
    2025
|
Team Sponsors
The Whitecaps have had different sponsors for their jerseys over the years.
| Period | Kit manufacturer | Shirt sponsor |
|---|---|---|
| 2011–2022 | Adidas | Bell |
| 2023–present | Telus |
Home Stadium
Playing at BC Place
The Whitecaps play their home games at BC Place in Vancouver. This large stadium can hold 54,500 people. It has a special retractable roof that can open and close. For most Whitecaps games, parts of the stadium are closed off to make it feel more full, reducing the capacity to about 22,120 seats. The field is made of artificial turf, which is a special type of fake grass approved for soccer.
Training Facilities
The club has a special training center called the National Soccer Development Centre. It opened in 2017 on the campus of the University of British Columbia (UBC). This center helps players practice and improve their skills.
Club Culture
Amazing Supporters
The Whitecaps have many passionate fans who cheer them on! The biggest group is called the Southsiders. They started in 1999 and are known for their loud cheering and support. Other groups include the Curva Collective and the Rain City Brigade.
There's even a special group just for young fans called Vancouver Albion. They are North America's first all-youth supporter group! These groups help make game days exciting with their songs and displays. In 2020, a new area called the Village Stand was created for supporters to stand and chant during matches.
Team Mascot
The Whitecaps' official mascot is Spike. Spike is a Belted kingfisher, which is a type of bird often seen in the Vancouver area.
Team Rivalries
The Cascadia Cup
The Whitecaps have exciting rivalries with two other teams from the Pacific Northwest: the Portland Timbers and Seattle Sounders FC. These rivalries are very old, going back to the 1970s. Games between these three teams are always full of energy and passion!
- Portland Timbers
The rivalry with the Portland Timbers started in 1975. They have played over 100 times, making it one of the longest rivalries in US soccer history.
- Seattle Sounders FC
The rivalry with Seattle Sounders FC also began in the 1970s. These teams have met over 160 times, creating many memorable matches.
Canadian Rivalries
The Whitecaps also have rivalries with other Canadian teams: Toronto FC and CF Montreal. Their very first MLS game was against Toronto FC, which helped start this rivalry. These teams often play against each other in the Canadian Championship for the Voyageurs Cup.
Team Ownership
The Vancouver Whitecaps FC is owned by a group of four investors. These owners include Greg Kerfoot, Steve Luczo, Jeff Mallett, and Steve Nash. Steve Nash is a famous basketball player who grew up in Victoria, British Columbia. This group bought the team in 2009.
Current Players and Staff
Player Roster
Here are some of the players currently on the Whitecaps FC team.
|
|
Technical Staff
These are the people who coach and support the players.
| Role | Name | Nation |
|---|---|---|
| Head coach | Jesper Sørensen |  Denmark |
| Assistant coach | Brendan Shaw |  Ireland |
| Assistant coach | Michael D'Agostino |  Canada |
| Goalkeeper coach | Youssef Dahha |  Morocco |
| Head of Physical Preparation | Jonathan Poli | Canada |
| Team Physician | Dr. Jim Bovard | Canada |
Club Captains
The team captain is a very important leader on the field.
| Years | Name | Nation |
|---|---|---|
| 2011–2014 | Jay DeMerit |  United States |
| 2014–2016 | Pedro Morales |  Chile |
| 2016–2017 | David Ousted |  Denmark |
| 2017–2018 | Kendall Waston |  Costa Rica |
| 2019 | Jon Erice |  Spain |
| 2020–2023 | Russell Teibert |  Canada |
| 2024– | Ryan Gauld |  Scotland |
Other Whitecaps Teams
Whitecaps FC 2
This is the club's reserve team. They play in a league called MLS Next Pro. This team helps younger players develop their skills.
Vancouver Rise FC (Women's Team)
Vancouver Rise FC is a women's soccer team that plays in the Northern Super League, Canada's top women's soccer league. This team helps female players from the Whitecaps' youth academy continue their soccer careers.
Whitecaps FC Academy
The Whitecaps FC Academy is a program that trains young soccer players. It helps boys and girls learn and grow in soccer, hoping to play for the main Whitecaps teams one day.
Past Women's Team
The Whitecaps used to have a women's team that won championships in 2004 and 2006. The club has since focused on supporting youth development programs for girls. The club has also worked to address past concerns about player safety and has supported independent investigations into these matters.
Team Achievements
Trophies Won
The Whitecaps have won several important competitions!
| Competition | Titles | Years |
|---|---|---|
| National | ||
| Western Conference (Playoffs) | 1 | 2025 |
| Canadian Championship | 5 (Runners-up: 4) |
2015, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 (2011, 2012, 2016, 2018) |
| MLS Cup | 0 (Runners-up: 1) |
(2025) |
| Continental | ||
| CONCACAF Champions Cup | 0 (Runners-up: 1) |
(2025) |
Top Scorers by Season
This table shows which player scored the most goals for the Whitecaps in each MLS regular season.
| Year | Player | Goals |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 |  Camilo |
12 |
| 2012 |  Darren Mattocks |
7 |
| 2013 | Camilo |
22 |
| 2014 |  Pedro Morales |
10 |
| 2015 |  Octavio Rivero |
10 |
| 2016 | Pedro Morales |
9 |
| 2017 |  Fredy Montero |
13 |
| 2018 |  Kei Kamara |
14 |
| 2019 | Fredy Montero |
8 |
| 2020 | Lucas Cavallini |
6 |
| 2021 |  Brian White |
12 |
| 2022 | Lucas Cavallini |
9 |
| 2023 | Brian White |
15 |
| 2024 | Brian White |
15 |
| 2025 | Brian White |
16 |
Note: Only MLS regular season goals counted
Player of the Year
This award is given to the best player on the team each year.
| Year | Name | Nation |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Camilo | Brazil |
| 2012 | Lee Young-Pyo |  South Korea |
| 2013 | Camilo | Brazil |
| 2014 | Pedro Morales | Chile |
| 2015 | Kendall Waston | Costa Rica |
| 2016 | Jordan Harvey | United States |
| 2017 | Kendall Waston | Costa Rica |
| 2018 | Alphonso Davies | Canada |
| 2019 | Maxime Crépeau | Canada |
| 2020 | Ali Adnan |  Iraq |
| 2021 | Maxime Crépeau | Canada |
| 2022 | Ryan Gauld |  Scotland |
| 2023 | Ryan Gauld | Scotland |
| 2024 | Ryan Gauld | Scotland |
| 2025 | Sebastian Berhalter | United States |
Team Records
Year-by-Year Results
Here is a quick look at the Whitecaps' results for their last five seasons. List of Vancouver Whitecaps FC records and statistics
CONCACAF Champions Cup History
The Whitecaps have played in the CONCACAF Champions Cup five times.
| CONCACAF Champions Cup history | |
|---|---|
| First match | Whitecaps FC 1–1 Seattle Sounders FC (August 5, 2015; Vancouver, Canada) |
| Biggest win | Whitecaps FC 5–0 Real España  (March 8, 2023; Vancouver, Canada) |
| Biggest defeats | Seattle Sounders FC 3–0 Whitecaps FC (September 23, 2015; Seattle, United States) Whitecaps FC 0–3 Los Angeles FC (April 5, 2023; Vancouver, Canada) Los Angeles FC 3–0 Whitecaps FC (April 11, 2023; Los Angeles, United States)  UANL 3–0 Whitecaps FC (February 14, 2024; San Nicolás de los Garza, Mexico) |
| Best result | Runners-up in 2025 |
| Worst result | Group stage (3rd in group) in 2015–16 |
Player Records
Most Appearances
These players have played the most games for the Whitecaps.
| Rank | Pos. | Player | Nation | Career | MLS | Playoffs | CC | CCL | LC | MIB | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Midfielder | Russell Teibert | Canada |
2011–23 | 250 | 2 | 32 | 10 | 2 | 4 | 300 |
| 2 | Defender | Jordan Harvey | United States |
2011–17 | 179 | 5 | 12 | 4 | – | – | 200 |
| Defender | Ranko Veselinović |  Serbia |
2020– | 158 | 6 | 13 | 14 | 5 | 4 | 200 | |
| 4 | Forward | Brian White | United States |
2021– | 136 | 9 | 14 | 15 | 6 | – | 180 |
| 5 | Defender | Jake Nerwinski | United States |
2017–23 | 138 | 4 | 11 | 2 | – | 4 | 159 |
| 6 | Midfielder | Gershon Koffie |  Ghana |
2011–15 | 134 | 4 | 13 | 1 | – | – | 152 |
| 7 | Goalkeeper | David Ousted | Denmark |
2013–17 | 142 | 3 | 2 | 4 | – | – | 151 |
| 8 | Midfielder | Ryan Gauld | Scotland |
2021– | 114 | 11 | 12 | 8 | 3 | – | 148 |
| Midfielder | Sebastian Berhalter | United States |
2022– | 106 | 9 | 14 | 14 | 5 | – | 148 | |
| Midfielder | Ryan Raposo | Canada |
2020–24 | 119 | 3 | 12 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 148 |
Bolded players are currently on the Whitecaps FC roster.
Top Goal Scorers
These players have scored the most goals for the Whitecaps.
| Rank | Pos. | Player | Nation | Career | MLS | Playoffs | CC | CCL | LC | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Forward | Brian White | United States |
2021– | 62 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 1 | 79 |
| 2 | Midfielder | Ryan Gauld | Scotland |
2021– | 34 | 5 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 46 |
| 3 | Forward | Camilo | Brazil |
2011–13 | 39 | – | 4 | – | – | 43 |
| 4 | Midfielder | Pedro Morales | Chile |
2014–16 | 25 | 0 | 4 | 0 | – | 29 |
| Midfielder | Cristian Techera |  Uruguay |
2015–18 | 23 | 1 | 0 | 5 | – | 29 | |
| 6 | Forward | Fredy Montero |  Colombia |
2017, 2019–20 | 26 | 1 | 0 | 1 | – | 28 |
| 7 | Forward | Kekuta Manneh |  Gambia |
2013–17 | 22 | 0 | 1 | 1 | – | 24 |
| 8 | Forward | Darren Mattocks |  Jamaica |
2012–15 | 19 | 1 | 2 | 0 | – | 22 |
| 9 | Forward | Yordy Reyna |  Peru |
2017–20 | 20 | 0 | 1 | – | – | 21 |
| 10 | Forward | Lucas Cavallini | Canada |
2020–2022 | 18 | 0 | 0 | – | – | 18 |
- As of September 14, 2024
Bolded players are currently on the Whitecaps FC roster.
Clean Sheets (No Goals Conceded)
These goalkeepers have recorded the most "clean sheets," meaning they didn't let the other team score any goals in a game.
| Rank | Player | Nation | Career | MLS | Playoffs | CC | CCL | LC | MIB | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | David Ousted | Denmark |
2013-2018 | 43 | 1 | 1 | 1 | – | – | 46 |
| 2 | Yohei Takaoka |  Japan |
2023- | 28 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 0 | – | 35 |
| 3 | Joe Cannon | United States |
2010-2014 | 13 | – | 0 | – | – | – | 13 |
| Maxime Crépeau | Canada |
2018-2022 | 12 | 0 | 1 | – | – | 0 | 13 | |
| 5 | Brad Knighton | United States |
2012-2013 | 7 | 0 | 3 | – | – | – | 10 |
| 6 | Thomas Hasal | Canada |
2019-2024 | 6 | – | – | 0 | – | 2 | 8 |
| 7 | Cody Cropper | United States |
2022-2023 | 5 | – | 1 | – | – | – | 6 |
| Stefan Marinovic |  New Zealand |
2017-2019 | 3 | 2 | 1 | – | – | – | 6 | |
| 9 | Isaac Boehmer | Canada |
2021- | 1 | – | 4 | 0 | 0 | – | 5 |
| 10 | Paolo Tornaghi |  Italy |
2014-2017 | 1 | – | 1 | 2 | – | – | 4 |
- As of December 1, 2025
Bolded players are currently on the Whitecaps FC roster.
See also
In Spanish: Vancouver Whitecaps Football Club para niños
