Vancouver Whitecaps FC facts for kids
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| Nickname(s) | Blue-and-White The Village Caps |
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| 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 | Jesper Sørensen | |||
| 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 current Whitecaps team started on March 18, 2009. They joined Major League Soccer in 2011 as the 17th team. They took the place of an older Vancouver Whitecaps team, making them a "phoenix club" because they rose again with the same name. 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. They also made it to the CONCACAF Champions Cup final in 2025, but lost to Cruz Azul. The Whitecaps have big rivalries with Seattle and Portland. They compete for the Cascadia Cup, a trophy created by fans. Famous former players include Jay DeMerit, Camilo Sanvezzo, and Canadian national team captain Alphonso Davies.
Contents
Discover the Whitecaps' Journey
On March 18, 2009, MLS commissioner Don Garber announced that Vancouver would get the 17th Major League Soccer team. The club decided to keep the "Whitecaps" name. Fans were very excited, buying the first 5,000 season tickets in just two days.
To get ready for their first MLS season, the Whitecaps hired experienced people. Paul Barber, who used to work for Tottenham Hotspur, became the CEO. Tom Soehn joined as Director of Operations, and Richard Grootscholten became the 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 their first twelve games. Martin Rennie took over as the new head coach on November 2, 2011.
The Whitecaps played their first MLS game on March 19, 2011, against Toronto FC, winning 4–2. Eric Hassli scored the first goal for the Whitecaps in the MLS era. Even though they started strong, the team struggled for a while. They still managed to get 15,500 season ticket holders in their first year.
On March 3, 2012, the Whitecaps won their first pre-season cup, the Walt Disney World Pro Soccer Classic, by beating Toronto FC 1–0. They finished the 2012 regular season strong, becoming the first Canadian team to make the MLS playoffs. They were knocked out in the first round.
In 2013, the Whitecaps did not make the playoffs. Their coach, Martin Rennie, left the team. There was also a disagreement about player Camilo, who joined a Mexican club. This 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 big achievement for a Canadian team.
In 2015, the Whitecaps had their best regular season ever, earning 53 points. They also won the Canadian Championship for the first time, beating Montreal. However, they did not do as well in the playoffs or the CONCACAF Champions League.
In 2016, the team had a tougher season but still won the Cascadia Cup by beating the Portland Timbers 4–1.
The Whitecaps improved a lot in 2017. They reached the CONCACAF Champions League semi-finals for the first time. They also made the playoffs and won their first-ever playoff game against the San Jose Earthquakes.
In 2018, the team struggled with defense and missed the playoffs. Coach Carl Robinson was replaced by Craig Dalrymple as interim coach.
The 2019 season brought many changes, with key players like Alphonso Davies leaving. Marc Dos Santos became the new manager. The team finished last in their conference and were knocked out of the Canadian Championship by a Canadian Premier League team for the first time.
The 2020 season was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Whitecaps played some games in the "MLS is Back Tournament" and later played home games in Portland, Oregon. They missed the playoffs for the third year in a row.
2021 was a much better year. Even though coach Marc Dos Santos was replaced by Vanni Sartini in August, the team went on a great run, losing only two of their last 14 games. They made the playoffs for the first time in four years but were eliminated in the first round. Vanni Sartini was then named the permanent head coach.
In 2022, the Whitecaps missed the playoffs but won the Canadian Championship for the second time, beating Toronto FC in a penalty shootout. This win also qualified them for the 2023 CONCACAF Champions League.
In 2023, the Whitecaps reached the quarterfinals of the CONCACAF Champions League. They also made the MLS playoffs but were eliminated by Los Angeles FC. They won the 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 were eliminated by Tigres UANL. In the MLS regular season, they qualified for the playoffs and won their wild-card match against the Portland Timbers. However, they were again eliminated by Los Angeles FC. They won their third Canadian Championship in a row, beating Toronto FC in a penalty shootout, which qualified them for the 2025 CONCACAF Champions Cup.
Team Colors and Logo
On June 8, 2010, the club officially announced they would keep the "Whitecaps" name but with a new logo. The name "Whitecaps" refers to the snowy mountains around Vancouver and the white-capped waves of the Pacific Ocean.
The team's official colors are navy blue ("deep sea"), white, and light blue ("Whitecaps blue"). The deep sea blue represents Vancouver's ocean landscape. The Whitecaps blue shows the reflection of the mountains in the ocean. This lighter blue also honors the original Whitecaps team that won the Soccer Bowl in 1979. The silver outline on the logo celebrates the team's championship wins since 1974.
On June 10, 2010, the Whitecaps showed off their new uniforms. Bell Canada became their first jersey sponsor. The home shirt is white with thin navy blue stripes. The away shirt is deep blue with a diamond pattern.
On June 14, 2012, they revealed a third uniform. It was mostly "arbutus brown" with light blue details. This design was inspired by the forests of British Columbia.
In 2019, they wore a special uniform that looked like their 1979 kit. This was to celebrate 40 years since they won the Soccer Bowl '79.
In 2023, the club launched the "Bloodlines Jersey" to highlight their partnership with Telus and support Canadian Blood Services.
In 2024, they released "The 50 Jersey" for their 50th anniversary. This celebrated the club as the longest-running professional soccer club in Canada and the United States.
Uniform History
Here are some of the home, away, and third uniforms the Whitecaps have worn.
- 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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    2023–24
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    2025–
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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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    2025
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Team Sponsors
| Years | Uniform Maker | Shirt Sponsor |
|---|---|---|
| 2011–2022 | Adidas | Bell |
| 2023–present | Telus |
Home Stadium
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The Whitecaps play their home games at BC Place in Vancouver. They share this stadium with the BC Lions football team. BC Place opened in 1983 and can hold 54,500 people. It has a special retractable roof that can open and close.
Between 2009 and 2011, the stadium was updated. White sails were added to make the stadium smaller for most Whitecaps games, reducing the capacity to about 22,120 seats. The field at BC Place is made of 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 had 27,500 seats. The Whitecaps played their first game at BC Place on October 2, 2011.
The club also has a training center called the National Soccer Development Centre. It opened on September 22, 2017, on the University of British Columbia (UBC) campus.
During the 2020 and 2021 seasons, the Whitecaps had to play their home games in the United States. This was because of travel rules during the COVID-19 pandemic. They played some games at Providence Park in Portland, Oregon, and later at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, Utah.
In April 2025, there were talks about building a new stadium for the Whitecaps at Hastings Park in Vancouver.
Team Culture
Fan Groups
The biggest fan group for the Whitecaps is called the Southsiders. They started in 1999. The Southsiders are very involved in supporting the team. Their numbers grew to over 1200 members by July 2010. They usually sit in a special section at BC Place called the Village Stand (sections 253 and 254). In this section, fans are allowed to stand and chant throughout the game.
Other fan groups include Curva Collective and the Rain City Brigade. There are also smaller groups. Vancouver Albion is North America's first all-youth fan group, with over 100 members. The Prawnsiders are a group for fans who sit in more expensive seats. South Sisters is a group for female, LGBTQ2+, and allied supporters. Couch Ultras organize large visual displays for games.
Team Mascot
The Whitecaps' official mascot is Spike. Spike is a Belted kingfisher, a type of bird often seen in the Vancouver area.
Team Rivalries
Cascadia Cup Matches
The Vancouver Whitecaps have strong rivalries with the Portland Timbers and Seattle Sounders FC. These rivalries started even before MLS began. Games between these three teams are very exciting and have a lot of passion from the fans.
Portland Timbers
The Portland Timbers are a major rival. Their history goes back to 1975 in the old North American Soccer League. They have played many important and tough matches, including playoff games.
Seattle Sounders
Canadian Rivalries
The Whitecaps also have rivalries with Toronto FC and CF Montreal. The first MLS game for Vancouver was against Toronto to help build this rivalry. Montreal was a rival when the teams played in a lower league. These three Canadian teams often play each other in the Voyageurs Cup competition.
Game Broadcasts
All Whitecaps games are shown on TV and radio. From 2014, TSN has broadcast many Whitecaps games. As of 2021, TSN streams all 34 regular season games. The current TV announcers are Blake Price and Paul Dolan. Since 2023, most games are on Apple TV, with CKGO-AM providing regional radio broadcasts.
Team Ownership
The Vancouver Whitecaps FC is owned by four main investors: Greg Kerfoot, Steve Luczo, Jeff Mallett, and Steve Nash. Together, they are worth a lot of money. Greg Kerfoot has been the main owner since 2002. Jeff Mallett, a former Yahoo! executive, 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 joined with Mallett to invest in the team. Steve Luczo, a business leader, also joined the ownership group. In 2009, this group paid $35 million to MLS to join the league. As of 2023, the club is valued at $410 million.
Players and Staff
Current Roster
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Players on Loan
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Coaching Staff
| Role | Name | Nation |
|---|---|---|
| Head coach | Jesper Sørensen |  Denmark |
| 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 |
| Head of Physical Preperation | Jonathan Poli | Canada |
| Manager of Sport Analytics | Bryce Chevallier | Canada |
| Team Physician | Dr. Jim Bovard | Canada |
Team Leaders
| Role | Name | Nation |
|---|---|---|
| Chief Executive Officer & Sporting Director | Axel Schuster |  Germany |
| Chief Administrative Officer | Manav Deol | Canada |
| Chief Commercial Officer | Aditi Bhatt |  United States |
| Chief Financial Officer | Lisa Abbate | Canada |
| Technical Director | Quinn Thompson | Canada |
Past Coaches and Captains
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 – November 26, 2024 | Vanni Sartini | Italy |
| January 14, 2025 – | Jesper Sørensen | Denmark |
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 Whitecaps' 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 that plays in the Northern Super League, Canada's top women's soccer league. The Rise 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 and ensure fairness between the men's and women's programs.
Whitecaps Women's Team History
The Whitecaps used to have a women's team that played from 2001 to 2012. They won the W-League championship twice, in 2004 and 2006. After 2012, the Whitecaps started a youth development program for girls.
In 2019, some former players shared concerns about past coaches. Investigations were conducted into these matters. The MLS investigation found that the Whitecaps' response was appropriate and followed recommendations. A separate investigation into Canada Soccer's actions found that some issues were not handled well by them.
Whitecaps FC Academy
The Whitecaps FC Academy is the youth program for Vancouver Whitecaps FC. It helps young soccer players grow and improve. The academy has teams for both boys and girls 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
- CONCACAF Champions Cup
- Runners-up (1): 2025
Minor Trophies
- Cascadia Cup
- Winners (4): 2013, 2014, 2016, 2023
Team Records
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 |
| 2024 | Brian White |
15 |
Note: Only MLS regular season goals counted
Most Games Played
| Rank | Position | Player | Nation | Years | Total Games |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Midfielder | Russell Teibert | Canada |
2011–23 | 300 |
| 2 | Defender | Jordan Harvey | United States |
2011–17 | 199 |
| 3 | Defender | Jake Nerwinski | United States |
2017–23 | 157 |
| 4 | Defender | Ranko Veselinović |  Serbia |
2020– | 155 |
| 5 | Midfielder | Gershon Koffie |  Ghana |
2011–15 | 151 |
| Goalkeeper | David Ousted | Denmark |
2013–17 | 151 | |
| 7 | Midfielder | Ryan Raposo | Canada |
2020–24 | 140 |
| 8 | Defender | Kendall Waston | Costa Rica |
2014–18 | 137 |
| 9 | Midfielder | Matías Laba |  Argentina |
2014–17 | 129 |
| 10 | Midfielder | Ryan Gauld |  Scotland |
2021– | 126 |
- As of September 14, 2024
Top Goal Scorers Overall
| Rank | Position | Player | Nation | Years | Total Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Forward | Brian White | United States |
2021– | 50 |
| 2 | Forward | Camilo | Brazil |
2011–13 | 43 |
| 3 | Midfielder | Ryan Gauld | Scotland |
2021– | 37 |
| 4 | Midfielder | Pedro Morales | Chile |
2014–16 | 29 |
| Midfielder | Cristian Techera |  Uruguay |
2015–18 | 29 | |
| 6 | Forward | Fredy Montero |  Colombia |
2017, 2019–20 | 28 |
| 7 | Forward | Kekuta Manneh |  Gambia |
2013–17 | 24 |
| 8 | Forward | Darren Mattocks |  Jamaica |
2012–15 | 22 |
| 9 | Forward | Yordy Reyna |  Peru |
2017–20 | 21 |
| 10 | Forward | Lucas Cavallini | Canada |
2020–2022 | 18 |
- As of September 14, 2024
Other Player Records
- Most appearances: Russell Teibert (252 games)
- Most goals: Camilo (39 goals)
- Most assists: Ryan Gauld (23 assists)
- Hat tricks (3 goals in one game):
- 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 for a goalkeeper: David Ousted (55 wins)
- Most shutouts (games with no goals scored against): David Ousted (42 shutouts)
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 |
| 2024 | Ryan Gauld | Scotland |
See also
In Spanish: Vancouver Whitecaps Football Club para niños
