It was hard to focus on the soccer aspects of the offseason for the Vancouver Whitecaps.
Despite lingering uncertainty about the club’s future in Vancouver, the Whitecaps are poised to build off their MLS era record-breaking 2025 season. It will be an interesting season for sure.
Thomas Müller will play his first full season as a Whitecap. Jesper Sørensen is entering his second year as Vancouver’s head coach, after being a finalist for MLS Coach of the Year in 2025. It is also a World Cup year, and the Whitecaps will not play a game at BC Place from late April to early August due to the big tournament. The club also decided to play in Leagues Cup, meaning they will play in four competitions this season. The others are MLS, the CONCACAF Champions Cup and the Canadian Championship.
For the first time, the blue and white enter an MLS season as legitimate MLS Cup contenders. This is a team with unfinished business on the pitch. Off the pitch, it is about trying to stay in Vancouver.
The Whitecaps offseason
Lost in the stadium and revenue talk the last few weeks and months, is the fact that the Whitecaps did make moves in the offseason.
They sold Ali Ahmed to Norwich City and traded Jayden Nelson to Austin FC. Joedrick Pupe and Giuseppe Bovalina were sent out on loan, and Daniel Rios’ option was not picked up.
The ‘Caps added some midfield depth by signing former Colorado Rapids midfielder Oliver Larraz. He is a solid ball-winning midfielder.
Vancouver also brought in reinforcements for the attack to replace Ahmed and Nelson. 19-year-old Bruno Caicedo was signed from Ecuadorian side Barcelona SC, and 24-year-old Aziel Jackson was signed on loan from Polish side Jagiellonia Białystok until the summer with an option to buy. Caicedo is a modern touchline winger who has potential, while Jackson is a speedy winger who needs to work on his execution and consistency, much like Nelson. These two provide winger depth with captain Ryan Gauld out until April after having knee surgery in January.
The most recent signing is Cheikh Sabaly. The 26-year-old was part of the Senegal team that won AFCON in January, and he joins from Ligue 1 side FC Metz. Sabaly can play both wings, and as a striker, so he provides depth on both fronts and has excellent pace, dribbling and finishing.
A look at the roster
Goalkeepers: Yohei Takoka, Isaac Boehmer, Adrian Zendejas
Defenders: Mathias Laborda, Sam Adekugbe, Ranko Veselinovic, Ralph Priso, Belal Halbouni, Sebastian Schonlau, Edier Ocampo, Tate Johnson, Mihail Gherasimencov, Tristan Blackmon, Nikola Djordjevic
Midfielders: Oliver Larraz, Thomas Müller, Sebastian Berhalter, Kenji Cabrera, Andres Cubas, Ryan Gauld, JC Ngando, Jeevan Badwal, Liam Mackenzie
Forwards: Cheikh Sabaly, Emmanuel Sabbi, Rayan Elloumi, Aziel Jackson, Brian White, Nelson Pierre, Bruno Caicedo
So the Whitecaps roster has a perfect balance of youth and experience. As a result, there is depth in just about every position. Given there were a ton of injuries last season, that is going to be key.
Vancouver’s “next man up mentality” was on full display last season, and it needs to be displayed once again.
Tristan Blackmon was 2025’s MLS Defender of The Year. Surrounding him are a good batch of centre-backs. His long-time partner, Ranko Veselinovic, is recovering from his ACL injury last year, but it is unclear if he will be ready for opening day. Ralph Priso moved from the midfield to centre-back in September and hasn’t missed a step since. It’s also crazy that the Whitecaps signed Sebastian Schonlau last summer and he still hasn’t played a game for them due to an Achilles injury.
In the midfield, Andres Cubas and Sebastian Berhalter have been a formidable duo. But will Berhalter be a Whitecap by the end of the season? He needs a new contract. Plus, there definitely will be suitors from Europe going after Berhalter if he continues his good form and if he makes the 2026 US World Cup squad. He is one of those players fighting for a spot. Whitecaps CEO and Sporting Director Axel Schuster confirmed the club is in talks with Berhalter’s camp regarding a contract extension.
JC Ngando was an afterthought down the stretch and in the playoffs last season. This season, he can prove he still belongs with the Whitecaps. Jeevan Badwal proved he can be a reliable depth midfielder last season, and there is still room for growth.
Kenji Cabrera didn’t play much after he signed with the Whitecaps in August. However, it was clear there was a player who has potential. Cabrera’s passing and creativity shone when he did play. 2026 is going to be a big year for him, especially with Gauld out until April, as he will be key as a winger or CAM.
With White starting up top and Müller in the CAM position, they lead the attack. Cabrera, Emmanuel Sabbi, Caicedo and Jackson round up some solid winger options.
Overall, this is a contending roster on paper. There is depth just about everywhere, and many players can play in multiple positions.
Can the Whitecaps replicate last year’s success or be even better?
Despite a ton of injuries last season, the Whitecaps had the best season of their MLS era to date. Staying as healthy as possible is a big key for 2026. That is especially due to this year’s schedule impacted by the World Cup and the fact that they are in four competitions.
The depth needs to step up once again. Injuries will happen.
The Whitecaps were at or near the top of several statistical categories last season. That included goals, goals against, Expected Goals, clean sheets, accurate crosses, touches in the opposition box and corners.
It is quite the task to replicate that success, but given the talent the Whitecaps have, there is no reason to see why they can’t. Sørensen’s possession-based and pressing system made Vancouver one of the most exciting teams to watch in MLS last season.
Vancouver has a goalkeeper that proved he is one of the best in the league (Takaoka), a solid defence, midfield and attack. The question is whether they can be consistent and healthy enough to compete with the other MLS teams that are also contenders.
LAFC, for example, is a team that is always in contention, especially with a full season of Heung-Min Son on the horizon. LA Galaxy are looking for a big bounce back from 2025, especially with the acquisitions of Jacob Glesnes and Joao Klauss. San Diego is looking to build off their successful inaugural season, while the Seattle Sounders should never be counted out.
In the East, Inter Miami, FC Cincinnati and Nashville SC are among the contenders.
The Whitecaps, on paper, can go toe to toe with any team in MLS. But of course, it is an unpredictable league. Remember, the LA Galaxy won MLS Cup in 2024 and in 2025, crashed back to Earth and were in the Wooden Spoon Race. At the same, time the Whitecaps were not heavily favoured among pundits, yet finished second in the Western Conference and made it to MLS Cup final.
The goal should be to go as far as possible in each competition, plus competing for the top 4 in the Western Conference and the Supporters’ Shield. Expectations have never been this high in the Whitecaps MLS era.
Kickoff
The Whitecaps are built to win trophies, but they have to prove it. This team is built to finish in the top four of the Western Conference and in the top five of the Supporters Shield race. Given Vancouver’s talent, do not be surprised if they end up finishing first in the West and/or win the Supporters Shield. They got the talent and depth to do so.
We’ll predict they finish second in the Western Conference. MLS pundits also seem to think so, as many have the Whitecaps finishing second or third.
The season begins in Costa Rica, where they will face C.S. Cartaginés in the first leg of the CONCACAF Champions Cup first round tie on Wednesday. Kickoff for that game is at 7:00 pm Pacific. The MLS season begins on February 21, and the ‘Caps host Real Salt Lake. Kickoff is at 4:30 pm.
Will this be the final season of the Whitecaps in Vancouver? Hopefully not. Nonetheless, it has the potential to be a memorable one.
