It doesn’t feel real that the Vancouver Whitecaps are playing this well.
They are coming off a 5-1 dismantling of Austin FC over the weekend. They are also coming off a massive victory over Pumas UNAM in the CONCACAF Champions Cup and will face Inter Miami and that Lionel Messi guy (assuming he shows up this time.) in the semi-finals.
As it stands, the Whitecaps and their 6-1-1 record in MLS is the best in the league. Read that again. Yes, right now they lead the Supporters Shield race. It’s only by a point as Columbus has 18, but it still feels like a fever dream.
It’s a new dawn, it’s a new day, it’s a new life for Whitecaps fans. And they are feeling good. It is even more impressive that the team is having a lot of success without key players Ryan Gauld, Sam Adekugbe, Mathias Laborda and Jayden Nelson.
It’s a long season but confidence is building
Ever since the start of the season, it feels like the Whitecaps have played a thousand games. Vancouver has been playing midweek games due to the Champions Cup. Yet, despite the gruelling schedule, Vancouver has only lost twice in all competitions.
“Everybody is feeling good, everybody feels that they’re part of it,” said Whitecaps head coach Jesper Sørensen after the win over Austin on Saturday. You have some injuries, but that also means that the squad, everybody gets close to playing and gets to play So everybody feels like they’re part of the squad and also part of the success. You cannot ask for that, you can hope. I’m just happy, especially for the players.”
The Whitecaps lead MLS in several statistical categories. That includes goals for, expected goals and goal differential.
According to FotMob, they also lead MLS in shots on target per match, (6.3) and are tied for first in big chances, (29) first in accurate crosses per match, (6.5) and first in touches in the opposition box. (272)
Brian White scored four goals against Austin. He is tied with Tai Baribo of the Philadelphia Union for the MLS lead in goals with six. The American striker was named the MLS Player of the Matchday for this past weekend. According to Har Journalist of Daily Hive and Canadian Soccer Daily, White and Baribo are the only players named Player of the Matchday in 2024 and 2025.
However, the MLS season is not even two months old. There are still important and tougher games coming up including the CCC semi-final legs against Inter Miami and Canadian Championship games later this year. Plus, a lot more MLS matches.
But winning can bring confidence.
“I think right now we’re so happy and fortunate that we’re making good results, said Sørensen. “The players can build confidence out of the results and also be even better connected as a group.”
Over the past few years, the Whitecaps have shown a lot of togetherness. Under Vanni Sartini and now under Sørensen, players have talked endlessly about how great it is to play for each other. Vancouver is a team with a great team culture.
“I think it says a lot about the kind of group that we have that we’re able to prepare with the amount of games that we’ve had…that we’re still able to put on a performance like that,” said White after the game against Austin on the character of the team. “I think we have a really good group…and I think you can see that on the field.”
The Whitecaps have an opportunity
Vancouver is known for being a fickle sports town.
For instance, when the Vancouver Canucks are doing well and in the playoffs, there is a huge buzz around the city. Tickets and merch sales go flying off the shelves. But when they aren’t, there isn’t a lot of attention, other than from the diehards.
This year, the Canucks will once again miss the playoffs. The Vancouver Canadians of the MiLB have also begun their season and have their home opener on Tuesday. The CFL’s BC Lions don’t begin their season until June.
With all due respect to the Lions and Canadians, the team to cheer for right now is the Whitecaps.
They are on top of MLS (for now) and are in the semi-finals of the CONCACAF Champions Cup. They are also a very likable and tight-knit team. The Whitecaps also play an exciting brand of soccer with their controlled and possession-based game. They know how to score goals and their build-ups are mesmerizing.
Tickets for the Champions Cup semi-finals first leg against Inter Miami are selling fast too. According to Ticketmaster, only resale tickets are available.
That game and the rest of the season are a massive opportunity for the Whitecaps. They have the chance to captivate the city of Vancouver. If they keep winning games, more and more people will want to attend games at BC Place and people will talk with people they know about the team.
The Whitecaps have a chance to win the Champions Cup, win another Canadian Championship and go on a deep MLS Cup playoff run and perhaps, all the way.
They even have the chance to add a couple of more signings for even more depth. Sporting director and CEO Axel Schuster mentioned in February that he and the club are looking for two more signings, particularly midfielders by the end of this window. However, the window closes on April 23. It is unlikely that two signings will come through the door before then. The summer window opens on July 24 and closes on August 21, so it seems fans will have to wait until then for new signings.
But right now, the Whitecaps are clicking in many ways. White and Gauld aren’t doing the heavy lifting Guys like Emmanuel Sabbi, Sebastian Berhalter, Nelson, Tate Johnson and Pedro Vite have stepped up in big ways. Andres Cubas also continues to be one of the best defensive midfielders in MLS. While they are doing well right now, Sørensen and the players have stated they want to get better.
After over 14 years of disappointment in MLS, it seems things are starting to turn around. There is no better time than now for the Whitecaps to compete for trophies and attract more fans. While the Apple TV deal makes it tough to watch the games on TV, getting BC Place filled as much as possible should be one of the goals.
It’s time for the Whitecaps to captivate this city. But it is up to them to continue their impressive form to do so. Will it be easy? Of course not, but this season could be special for the Whitecaps.
