Vancouver Whitecaps FC facts for kids
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| Nickname(s) | Blue-and-White The Village |
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| Short name | Caps | ||
| Founded | March 18, 2009 | ||
| Stadium | BC Place, Vancouver | ||
| Stadium capacity |
27,500 | ||
| Owners |
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| Chairman | Jeff Mallett | ||
| Sporting director | Axel Schuster | ||
| Coach | Vanni Sartini | ||
| League | Major League Soccer | ||
| 2024 | Western Conference: 8th Overall: 14th Playoffs: First round |
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The Vancouver Whitecaps Football Club is a professional soccer team from Vancouver, Canada. They play in Major League Soccer (MLS) as part of the Western Conference. The team started on March 18, 2009. They began playing in MLS in 2011 as the 17th team to join the league. They took over from an older team with the same name in Vancouver. This makes them a "phoenix club," meaning a new club that carries on the history of an older one. The same group has owned and managed the club since its earlier days.
In 2012, the Whitecaps became the first Canadian team to reach the MLS Cup playoffs. They have won the Canadian Championship four times: in 2015, 2022, 2023, and 2024. The Whitecaps also compete for the Cascadia Cup. This is a special trophy created by fans for games against their rivals, Seattle and Portland. Famous former players include Jay DeMerit, the team's first captain, and Camilo Sanvezzo, who won the MLS Golden Boot in 2013. Also, Alphonso Davies, a star player for the Canadian national team, started his career with the Whitecaps.
Contents
History of the Whitecaps
On March 18, 2009, a group in Vancouver was given the 17th Major League Soccer team. The club decided to keep the "Whitecaps" name. They quickly sold 5,000 season tickets when they first became available.
To get ready for their first MLS season, the Whitecaps brought in experienced people from around the world. On November 24, 2009, Paul Barber, a former executive from Tottenham Hotspur, became the CEO. Tom Soehn, a former D.C. United coach, became Director of Operations. Richard Grootscholten from the Netherlands joined as Technical Director.
Teitur Thordarson, who coached the older Whitecaps team, became the head coach for the first MLS season. However, he was replaced by Tom Soehn on May 30, 2011, after the team won only one of its first twelve games.
The Whitecaps played their first MLS game on March 19, 2011, against fellow Canadian team Toronto FC. They won 4–2, with Eric Hassli scoring the first goal. After this strong start, the team struggled for a while. Martin Rennie took over as the new head coach on November 2, 2011. The team had many season ticket holders in its first two MLS seasons.
On March 3, 2012, the Whitecaps won a pre-season cup, beating Toronto FC 1–0. They finished the regular season strong, becoming the first Canadian team to make the MLS playoffs. However, they were knocked out in the first round.
In 2013, the Whitecaps did not make the playoffs. After the season, coach Martin Rennie's contract was not renewed. There was also a situation with player Camilo, who left to join a Mexican club. The issue was resolved when the Mexican club paid a transfer fee to Vancouver.
In October 2014, the Whitecaps qualified for the CONCACAF Champions League for the first time. They also made the MLS playoffs for the second time, which was a first for a Canadian team.
In 2015, the Whitecaps had their best regular season ever, earning 53 points. They also won their first Canadian Championship. However, they were eliminated early from the CONCACAF Champions League and the MLS playoffs.
The 2016 season was not as successful in terms of points. They lost in the Canadian Championship final to Toronto FC. But they did win the Cascadia Cup by beating the Portland Timbers 4–1.
In 2017, the Whitecaps improved a lot. They reached the CONCACAF Champions League semi-finals for the first time. They also made the playoffs for the fourth time. They won their first-ever playoff game against the San Jose Earthquakes. But they were then eliminated by Seattle Sounders FC.
In 2018, the team struggled with defense. Coach Carl Robinson was replaced by interim coach Craig Dalrymple. The Whitecaps missed the playoffs that year.
The 2019 season brought many new players. Key players like Alphonso Davies had left. Marc Dos Santos became the new manager. The team finished last in the Western Conference and missed the playoffs again. They were also knocked out of the Canadian Championship by a Canadian Premier League team, Cavalry FC, which was a first for an MLS team.
The 2020 season was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The MLS season was paused and then restarted with a special tournament. The Whitecaps made it to the round of 16 but lost on penalties. They also played Canadian teams for the Canadian Championship, but did not qualify. Due to travel restrictions, they played some home games in the United States. They missed the playoffs for the third season in a row.
In 2021, the Whitecaps had much more success. Coach Marc Dos Santos was replaced by interim coach Vanni Sartini. Under Sartini, the team went unbeaten in 12 of their last 14 games. This helped them make the playoffs for the first time in four years. They were eliminated in the first round. Vanni Sartini was then named the permanent head coach.
In 2022, the Whitecaps missed the playoffs again. However, they won the 2022 Canadian Championship by beating Toronto FC in a penalty shootout. This was their first Canadian Championship win since 2015. This win also meant they qualified for the 2023 CONCACAF Champions League.
In the 2023 CONCACAF Champions League, the Whitecaps reached the quarterfinals. They were eliminated by Los Angeles FC. In the regular season, they made the playoffs again but were also eliminated by Los Angeles FC. They won the 2023 Canadian Championship for the third time, beating CF Montréal. This qualified them for the 2024 CONCACAF Champions Cup.
In the 2024 CONCACAF Champions Cup, the Whitecaps faced Tigres UANL again, a team they had lost to before. They were eliminated by the same score.
Team Colours and Badge
On June 8, 2010, the club officially announced they would keep the "Whitecaps" name. They also revealed a new logo. The name "Whitecaps" comes from the natural beauty around Vancouver. It refers to the snow-capped mountains and the white-capped waves of the Pacific Ocean.
The team's official colours 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 Pacific Ocean. The lighter blue also reminds people of the original Whitecaps team that won the Soccer Bowl in 1979. The silver outline on the badge celebrates the team's championship wins since 1974.
On June 10, 2010, the Whitecaps showed off their first jerseys. Bell Canada was their first jersey sponsor. The home jersey is white with thin navy blue stripes. The away jersey is deep blue with a special diamond pattern.
On June 14, 2012, the Whitecaps revealed a third jersey. This jersey was mostly "arbutus brown" with light blue accents. This design shows the deep roots and tall trees of British Columbia's rainforests.
In 2019, they used a redesigned version of their 1979 jersey. This was to celebrate 40 years since the team won the 1979 NASL Soccer Bowl.
In 2023, the club launched the "Bloodlines Jersey." This jersey highlights the connection between everyone. It also supports Canadian Blood Services and blood donation efforts.
In 2024, they released "The 50 Jersey" for the club's 50th anniversary. This jersey celebrates the Whitecaps as the longest-running professional soccer club in Canada and the United States. It gives a modern look to their original crest from 1974.
Kit history
Here are the home, away, and third jerseys the Whitecaps have worn over the years.
- Home
          2011–12
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    2013–14
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   2015–16
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     2017–18
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    2019–20
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    2021–22
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    2023–
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- Away
     2011–13
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    2014–15
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     2016–17
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     2018–19
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    2020–21
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    2022–23
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     2024–
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- Third
     2012–2013
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Team Sponsors
| Years | Jersey Maker | Main Sponsor |
|---|---|---|
| 2011–2022 | Adidas | Bell |
| 2023–present | Telus |
Home Stadium
The Whitecaps play their home games at BC Place in Vancouver. They share this stadium with the BC Lions, a Canadian Football League team. BC Place opened in 1983 and can hold 54,500 people. It has a special retractable roof that can open and close. The stadium was updated between 2009 and 2011. For Whitecaps games, the upper seats are covered to make the stadium feel smaller, with about 22,120 seats. The field at BC Place is made of polytan artificial turf, which is approved by FIFA.
For their first season in 2011, the Whitecaps played at Empire Field. This was a temporary stadium built while BC Place was being renovated. Empire Field could hold 27,500 people. The Whitecaps played their first game at BC Place on October 2, 2011.
The club also has a special training center. It's called the National Soccer Development Centre and is located at the University of British Columbia (UBC). It opened on September 22, 2017.
During the 2020 and 2021 seasons, the team had to play their home games in the United States. This was because of travel rules during the COVID-19 pandemic. They shared stadiums with other teams, like Providence Park in Portland, Oregon, and Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, Utah.
Team Culture
Fan Groups
The biggest fan group for the Whitecaps is called the Southsiders. This group started in 1999. They used to gather behind the goal at the south end of Swangard Stadium.
The Southsiders work closely with the team's owners. They are often featured in Whitecaps' marketing. The group has grown to over 1,200 members. Most Southsiders sit in a special general admission section at BC Place called the Village Stand. This section was created for the 2020 MLS season.
Other fan groups include the Curva Collective and the Rain City Brigade. The Curva Collective focuses on creating cool visual displays. The Rain City Brigade marches to the stadium on game days.
The Whitecaps also have North America's first all-youth fan group, Vancouver Albion. They stand in section 254 and have over 100 members. The Prawnsiders are another group, named for fans who sit in more expensive seats. The South Sisters group provides a welcoming space for female and LGBTQ2+ supporters and allies. Couch Ultras organize large displays at BC Place.
In the Village Stand, fans can stand and chant throughout the game. You don't need to be part of a specific fan group to sit there.
Team Mascot
The Whitecaps' official mascot is Spike. Spike is a Belted kingfisher, which is a bird often seen in the Vancouver area.
Team Rivalries
Cascadia Cup
The Vancouver Whitecaps have long-standing rivalries with the Portland Timbers and Seattle Sounders FC. These rivalries started even before MLS began. Games between these three teams are very exciting. Fans from all three cities are very passionate.
Portland Timbers
The Portland Timbers are one of the Whitecaps' biggest rivals. Their rivalry goes all the way back to 1975. Games between them have often been intense, especially in playoff matches. They have played each other over 100 times.
Seattle Sounders
Canadian Rivalries
The Whitecaps also have rivalries with Toronto FC and CF Montreal. The first MLS game for Vancouver was against Toronto. This was done to help create a rivalry between the two Canadian teams. Montreal was also a rival when the teams played in a lower division. These three teams often play against each other in the Voyageurs Cup competition.
Team Ownership
The Vancouver Whitecaps FC is owned by four investors: Greg Kerfoot, Steve Luczo, Jeff Mallett, and Steve Nash. Together, they are worth over $2 billion. Greg Kerfoot has been the main owner of the Whitecaps since 2002. Jeff Mallett, a former chief operating officer of Yahoo!, grew up in Victoria, British Columbia. He also owns parts of other sports teams. Steve Nash, a famous basketball player, also grew up in Victoria. He is the older brother of former Whitecaps player Martin Nash. Steve Luczo is a business leader who also owns part of the NBA's Boston Celtics. The group paid $35 million in 2009 to join the MLS league. In 2023, the club was valued at $410 million.
Current Players and Staff
- For details on former players, see All-time Vancouver Whitecaps FC roster.
Team Roster
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Players on Loan
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Coaching Staff
| Role | Name | Nation |
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| Head coach | Vanni Sartini |  Italy |
| Assistant coach | Brendan Shaw |  Ireland |
| Assistant coach | Michael D'Agostino |  Canada |
| Goalkeeper coach | Youssef Dahha |  Morocco |
| First team video analyst | Drew Foster | Canada |
| First team assistant video analyst | James Grieve |  Scotland |
| Team Physician | Dr. Jim Bovard | Canada |
Club Leaders
| Role | Name | Nation |
|---|---|---|
| Chief Executive Officer & Sporting Director | Axel Schuster |  Germany |
| General Counsel | Manav Deol | Canada |
| Chief Commercial Officer | Aditi Bhatt |  United States |
| Vice President, Finance | Lisa Abbate | Canada |
| Senior Director, Player Personnel | Quinn Thompson | Canada |
Former Players and Staff
Head Coaches
| Years | Name | Nation |
|---|---|---|
| September 1, 2010 – May 30, 2011 | Teitur Thordarson |  Iceland |
| May 30, 2011 – October 25, 2011 | Tom Soehn (interim) | United States |
| October 26, 2011 – October 29, 2013 | Martin Rennie | Scotland |
| December 16, 2013 – September 25, 2018 | Carl Robinson |  Wales |
| September 25, 2018 – November 7, 2018 | Craig Dalrymple (interim) |  England |
| November 7, 2018 – August 27, 2021 | Marc Dos Santos | Canada |
| August 27, 2021 – November 30, 2021 | Vanni Sartini (interim) | Italy |
| November 30, 2021 – present | Vanni Sartini | Italy |
Team Captains
| 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 |
Related Teams
Whitecaps FC 2
Whitecaps FC 2 is the club's reserve team. They started playing in the new MLS Next Pro league in 2022. This team helps younger players develop their skills.
Vancouver Rise FC
Vancouver Rise FC is a women's soccer club. They will play in the Northern Super League, Canada's top women's soccer league, starting in 2025. This team is a new version of the Whitecaps' former women's team. It was created to help female players from the Whitecaps' academy continue their careers. It also aims to create equal opportunities for men's and women's soccer within the organization.
Whitecaps Women's Team History
The Whitecaps used to have a women's team that played from 2001 to 2012. This team won the W-League championship twice, in 2004 and 2006. After 2012, the Whitecaps started a youth development program for girls.
In 2019, some fan groups protested during games. This was to support an independent investigation into concerns about past coaching staff. In late 2021, MLS announced an independent review. The investigation found that the Whitecaps' response to the concerns was appropriate. A separate investigation into Canada Soccer's actions found that some allegations were "mishandled."
Whitecaps FC Academy
The Whitecaps FC Academy is the club's youth development system. It helps young soccer players grow their skills. It was started in 2007. The academy has both boys' and girls' teams that play in League1 British Columbia.
Team Achievements
Major Trophies
- Canadian Championship
- Winners (4): 2015, 2022, 2023, 2024
- Runners-up (4): 2011, 2012, 2016, 2018
Minor Trophies
- Cascadia Cup
- Winners (4): 2013, 2014, 2016, 2023
Team Records
Year-by-Year Results
Here are the results for the Whitecaps' last five seasons. For all seasons, see List of Vancouver Whitecaps FC seasons.
List of Vancouver Whitecaps FC records and statistics
International Tournaments
CONCACAF Champions Cup
Vancouver has played in the CONCACAF Champions Cup four times. Their first appearance was in the 2015–16 tournament. List of Vancouver Whitecaps FC records and statistics
| CONCACAF Champions Cup history | |
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| 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 | Semi-finals in 2016–17 |
| Worst result | Group stage (3rd in group) in 2015–16 |
Other Competitions
- 2011 World Football Challenge
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- Group stage vs. Manchester City – 1–2
- Group stage vs.
Player Records and Awards
Top Scorers by 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 |
Note: Only MLS regular season goals counted
Most Games Played
| Rank | Position | Player | Nation | Years Played | MLS | Playoffs | CC | CCL | LC | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Midfielder | Russell Teibert | Canada |
2011–23 | 254 | 2 | 32 | 10 | 2 | 300 |
| 2 | Defender | Jordan Harvey | United States |
2011–17 | 179 | 4 | 12 | 4 | - | 199 |
| 3 | Defender | Jake Nerwinski | United States |
2017–23 | 140 | 4 | 11 | 2 | - | 157 |
| 4 | Defender | Ranko Veselinović |  Serbia |
2020– | 133 | 2 | 10 | 5 | 5 | 155 |
| 5 | Midfielder | Gershon Koffie |  Ghana |
2011–15 | 133 | 4 | 13 | 1 | - | 151 |
| Goalkeeper | David Ousted | Denmark |
2013–17 | 142 | 3 | 2 | 4 | - | 151 | |
| 7 | Midfielder | Ryan Raposo | Canada |
2020– | 117 | 1 | 11 | 6 | 5 | 140 |
| 8 | Defender | Kendall Waston | Costa Rica |
2014–18 | 115 | 6 | 8 | 8 | - | 137 |
| 9 | Midfielder | Matías Laba |  Argentina |
2014–17 | 113 | 3 | 6 | 7 | - | 129 |
| 10 | Midfielder | Ryan Gauld |  Scotland |
2021– | 104 | 3 | 11 | 5 | 3 | 126 |
Bolded players are currently on the Whitecaps FC roster.
Top Goal Scorers
| Rank | Position | Player | Nation | Years Played | MLS Goals | Playoff Goals | CC Goals | CCL Goals | LC | Total Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Forward | Brian White | United States |
2021– | 42 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 50 |
| 2 | Forward | Camilo | Brazil |
2011–13 | 39 | – | 4 | – | – | 43 |
| 3 | Midfielder | Ryan Gauld | Scotland |
2021– | 32 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 37 |
| 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 |
Bolded players are currently on the Whitecaps FC roster.
Other Player Records
- Most games played: Russell Teibert (252)
- Most goals scored: Camilo (39)
- Most assists: Ryan Gauld (23)
- Players who scored three goals in one game (hat tricks):
- Kekuta Manneh vs. Seattle Sounders FC (October 9, 2013)
- Camilo vs. Colorado Rapids (October 27, 2013)
- Cristian Techera vs. New England Revolution (May 26, 2018)
- Brian White vs. San Jose Earthquakes (October 2, 2021)
- Brian White vs. St. Louis City SC (June 29, 2024)
- Most wins by a goalkeeper: David Ousted (55)
- Most shutouts (games with no goals scored against them): David Ousted (42)
Player of the Year Award
| 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 |
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See also
In Spanish: Vancouver Whitecaps Football Club para niños
