✍️ Baltej Bining
Hello, Vancouver soccer fans! Another weekend has gone by, and we'll be having World Cup games here very soon.
The Whitecaps continued their home stretch while WFC2 and Vancouver FC were on the road, as the Rise begins its season this Friday.
This is Vancouver Weekly!
Vancouver Whitecaps FC
It's just too easy for Jesper Sørensen's Whitecaps, as they cruised to a 3-0 win against Sporting Kansas City, making it seven wins in the 2026 Major League Soccer season.
Emmanuel Sabbi, Bruno Caicedo, and Thomas Müller were all on the scoresheet on Saturday, as Sabbi put in a much-needed man of the match performance, grabbing an assist to Müller's goal to add to his opener.
With the 'Save the Caps' movement in full strength after the Southsiders announced a website in their efforts to keep the club in Vancouver, filling the news off the field, the 'Caps have been a major success on the pitch, arguably having an even better start to their 2026 campaign than last year.
The stat of the day from the Whitecaps Communication Department is a team effort, with the club becoming just the second side in MLS history to score at least 22 goals in the first eight league games of the season, joining the 1998 Los Angeles Galaxy, who scored an impressive 28 goals.
With Ranko Veselinović potentially returning to a Whitecaps team sheet on Saturday and the May returns of Sam Adekugbe and Ryan Gauld, it's smooth sailing for the Whitecaps on the pitch, and it could get even better with notable absences set to return soon.
The Whitecaps will play their final home match before the 2026 FIFA World Cup, hosting the high-scoring Colorado Rapids on Saturday, with kickoff set for 7:30 pm PT / 10:30 pm ET.
Vancouver FC
The same positivity from the Whitecaps can't be seen with their neighbours.
Vancouver FC suffered their third defeat of the season, and a fifth consecutive across all competitions, as Inter Toronto defeated the Eagles by another 1-0 scoreline, with forward Gabriel Bitar grabbing the lone goal of the match.
For Vancouver, it's another narrow 1-0 defeat where they have been the better attacking team, with one sequence proving to be fatal for Martin Nash's squad.
One of the most glaring stats from this side has been their failure to put the ball in the back of the net, having yet to score a goal in the five games they've played across all competitions. While they do have the attacking talent with the likes of Terran Campbell and Thierno Bah, so far, they've been firing blanks.
Vancouver's marquee signing hasn't even featured for the club so far. Lys Mousset started for Langley United a week ago to build fitness. Despite scoring, he came off immediately as he was holding his hamstring and was limping, per AFTN.
The next chance for the Eagles to pick up their first win will again come in Ontario, as Atlético Ottawa hosts Vancouver FC in its home opener on Sunday, with kickoff set for 10:00 am PT / 1:00 pm ET.
Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2
WFC2 found themselves on the road for the fourth time this season, as they took on Sporting Kansas City II at Children's Mercy Victory Park.
After a quiet first half, Liam Mackenzie headed in a Carson Rassak corner just after the restart to open the scoring.
Kansas City would draw a penalty on the hour mark, as Cristiano Bruletti pushed down Pierre Lurot in the box, but 16-year-old debutant Sam Rogers saved the spot kick, going down to his right to deny Missael Rodríguez.
Rodríguez eventually found his goal ten minutes later, but WFC2 responded just two minutes after that, as Prince Amponsah’s pass was poked home by captain Trevor Wright, who scored his second of the season after also finding the net against Tacoma Defiance.
Unfortunately for Rich Fagan's side, it would come crumbling down in the dying embers, as Zamir Loyo Reynaga grabbed an 89th-minute equalizer before Kashan Hines won the game in the seventh minute of stoppage time.
It's a fourth loss of the season and will be back at home on Sunday against Colorado Rapids 2, with a 4:00 pm PT afternoon kickoff set.
Vancouver Rise
It’s almost time for the Northern Super League champions to defend their crown, as matchweek has arrived, with the Vancouver Rise set to face AFC Toronto on Friday, April 24, with kickoff at 7:00 pm PT / 10:00 pm ET.
Maithé López started in Colombia’s final two matches of the CONMEBOL Women’s Nations League, as they defeated Chile 2-0 before playing to a 0-0 draw against Argentina.
Thanks for taking a read into the second edition of Vancouver Weekly! We hope to see you next week, where we will discuss the four games that the four Vancouver sides will have played. Thanks as always, Vancouverites!
