The Vancouver Whitecaps have had an unexpected this season.
Nobody predicted this. Vancouver currently sits with an 18-9-6 record and have 63 points, which is already an MLS-era club record. They only need a draw on Saturday against FC Dallas to clinch the Western Conference, that would be the first time in the MLS era they would’ve done so. However, three points would mean the Whitecaps would finish second in the overall MLS standings.
The Whitecaps also reached their first ever CONCACAF Champions Cup final in June. While the 5-0 loss in Mexico City to Cruz Azul stings, the run (which included a famous two-legged semi-final against Inter Miami) was something to be proud of. The club also won their fourth straight Canadian Championship a couple weeks of ago. However, that was expected.
Many players have stepped up for the Whitecaps this season, especially with the amount of injuries and international call-ups they have gotten. “Next man up” mentality has been key all year.
One of those players is Tate Johnson.
Tate Johnson has stepped up in his first year
The 20-year-old left-back is nearing the end of his rookie season. However, Johnson is nowhere near ready to pack it up and head on vacation.
This weekend is Decision Day in MLS and there is a lot at stake for many teams. As mentioned, first in the West and home field advantage for three rounds in the playoffs is what is at stake for the Whitecaps.
Johnson was taken 15th overall by the ‘Caps in last December’s MLS SuperDraft. He was coming off his freshman season with the University of North Carolina Tar Heels. There, he made 17 appearances and scored one goal and managed to get one assist.
Whitecaps Sporting Director and CEO Axel Schuster and the scouting staff were very high on Johnson and considered trading up for him. Johnson was projected to be the backup to Canadian international Sam Adekugbe.
At least that was the plan. Unfortunately, Adekugbe injured his squad in the home opener against LA Galaxy and missed nearly two months. In June, he sufferedn an Achilles tendon tear with Canada while playing against Côte D’Ivoire. He has been sidelined for the remainder of the 2025 season.
For Johnson, that meant he was thrown into the fire earlier than expected. He made his debut on March 5 against Monterrey in the Concacaf Champions Cup Round of 16 first leg. Three days later, the Tampa Bay native made his debut against CF Montreal. He also scored his first career goal that night.
“I’ve had a great experience so far being at the Whitecaps,” said Johnson following Thursday’s training session in an exclusive interview with Area 51 Sports Network. “I credit the staff and the group a lot for welcoming me in early when I got here in preseason. We have such a great group of guys. It’s been a fun season.”
Johnson has played 28 regular season games this season and started 19 of them. In addition to his one goal, he has tallied two assists. While there have been growing pains, the young left-back has displayed his maturity on the pitch. Johnson has been very good at progressing the ball up the pitch and has been very smart defensively.
The UNC alumnus has had several great moments already. That includes making an excellent tackle to keep up the pressure late in the last game against Orlando City SC. That eventually lead to Thomas Müller’s game winner. Of course, it is also hard to forget Johnson’s performance in the two CCC semi-final legs against Inter Miami where he and his teammates managed to shut down Lionel Messi.
Learning and growing
Johnson has been learning so much from the coaching staff and his teammates. As he is one of the youngest players on the team, he stated the importance of learning and also enjoying himself.
“I think I tried to have as much fun as I can,” he said. “I’m just picking up as everything I can, working hard in training. We have so many great guys that have played at high levels. So to be able to pick up something each and every day has been really critical for me.”
Johnson has enjoyed spending time with his teammates off the pitch as well. On Monday, he tagged along with teammates Müller, Ryan Gauld and Sebastian Berhalter and watched the Vancouver Canucks take on the St. Louis Blues.
Johnson, being from Tampa Bay obviously grew up a Lightning fan and stated Steven Stamkos was his favourite player. At the last game in Orlando, he had his parents and family friends watching him and was even happier to get a win in front of them.
“My parents, driving me to practice, I’m really thankful for them,” said Johnson while reflecting.
He also reflected on his time with the UNC Tar Heels. While it is a school mainly known for it’s basketball and football programs, Johnson says the soccer program was great and very important for him.
“I had a great time, definitely glad I got that experience,” he said. “I think it was important I went to college because I grew not only as a player, but also as a person a lot while I was there… to be able to go to college, play there for a year, then come here, I was blessed to be able to receive a contract and go through the draft process and all that.”
Johnson and the Whitecaps are not finished
While it was great to look back at how far he has come, Johnson and his teammates are looking ahead to the Decision Day and the playoffs.
“We’re approaching it the same as every game,” he said. “We want to win and had a good week of training and put together a good game plan. So we’re feeling confident heading into Saturday.”
“We know that we are a resilient team,” said Whitecaps head coach Jesper Sørensen following training on Thursday. “We know we’ve been doing well and we know that we look strong when we play. Teams have difficulties keeping up over 90 minutes when we play them, and that’s a good thing, and that’s the confidence we have. We believe in ourselves, even though we sometimes are in difficult situations, so I think that’s what we need to bring in. Whatever happened eight games ago doesn’t matter that much, but we are a team that believes in ourselves.”
It is more than likely that Sørensen will start Johnson on Saturday against FC Dallas. Vancouver will look to finish strong heading into the postseason and Johnson will hope to continue to contribute to a historic Whitecaps season. But they have a chance to make things even more historic over the next few weeks and months.
