✍️ Baltej Bining

Hello everybody! Our column is back as this week's edition was delayed due to the Vancouver Rise playing on a Monday, but the regular timing will resume for our next edition.

In the past week for Vancouver soccer, matches have been played, with the Whitecaps having a double week for games in Texas.

This is Vancouver Weekly!

Vancouver Whitecaps

It was a mixed week for the Whitecaps, but there were still plenty of positives to take away.

On Wednesday evening, Vancouver returned to winning ways after two straight draws, defeating FC Dallas 3-2 thanks largely to a brilliant brace from Sebastian Berhalter.

Saturday, however, told a different story. The Whitecaps suffered just their second defeat of the MLS season, falling 1-0 to the Houston Dynamo, with Yohei Takaoka’s red card adding further frustration in a decision that will not be overturned.

To make matters worse, midfielder Andrés Cubas picked up a yellow card, meaning the Paraguayan will miss the club’s final match before the month-long break due to suspension.

Still, there were positives beyond Wednesday’s victory.

Defender Ranko Veselinović made substitute appearances against both Dallas and Houston, marking his first MLS minutes since suffering an ACL injury in July of last year.

The Whitecaps also managed to reclaim top spot in the Western Conference standings following consecutive defeats for the San Jose Earthquakes, while remaining second in the Supporters’ Shield race behind the surging Nashville SC.

Off the pitch, Rayan Elloumi became the first Whitecaps player named to a 2026 FIFA World Cup squad, as Tunisia called up the 18-year-old for the tournament. Vancouver are expected to receive around $11,000 for each day Elloumi is away with the national team, meaning the club could earn up to roughly $250,000 from FIFA even if Tunisia exit in the group stage.

The Whitecaps return to action on Saturday for their final match before the FIFA World Cup break, travelling back to California to face San Diego FC at Snapdragon Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7:30 pm PT.

Vancouver FC

After a couple of positive results, the Eagles were handed a reality check by last year’s CPL finalists.

At Willoughby Community Park, Cavalry earned a 2-0 victory over Vancouver FC, with Tobias Warschewski and Levi Laing both scoring late to secure all three points.

It was an open and attacking match, with both sides registering double-digit shot totals, but the key difference was Vancouver FC’s inability to capitalize on their opportunities.

In many ways, the match summed up the Eagles’ 2026 season so far. The performances have often been encouraging, but the results have not reflected the quality of football they have played.

Vancouver FC remain seventh in the standings, though the gap to the final playoff spot is still manageable. Still, results need to start arriving soon before that margin begins to grow.

Next up for the Eagles is a home clash against FC Supra on Saturday at Willoughby Stadium, with kickoff set for 3:00 pm PT.

Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2

It just hasn't been the season Rich Fagan would have imagined heading into 2026.

After back-to-back defeats in California, WFC2 were hoping to bounce back at home against the Tacoma Defiance, the same side they earned their most recent victory against.

Following a quiet first half, Tacoma broke through after the break as Stuart Hawkins and Mark Bronnik both found the net to hand WFC2 yet another defeat in what has become a frustrating season.

With the loss, WFC2 now sit second last in the Western Conference with a 2-2-7 record through 11 matches, while the gap to the final playoff spot has grown to eight points.

The next match already feels crucial for Rich Fagan’s side, and fortunately for them, it will once again come at home.

WFC2 will host Real Monarchs SLC at Swangard Stadium on May 24, with kickoff set for 4:00 pm PT.

Vancouver Rise

It took them longer than expected to figure things out, but the Vancouver Rise have finally done it.

After opening the 2026 season with three straight defeats, the Rise grabbed their first win of the campaign on Monday, defeating the Halifax Tides 2-1 at Wanderers Grounds.

Jessica De Filippo opened the scoring in the first half before Jordyn Rhodes equalized for Halifax after the break, but Quinn restored Vancouver’s lead almost immediately from the penalty spot, as Anja Heiner-Møller’s side held on for all three points.

A couple of key changes helped spark the victory.

Jessica Wulf made her club debut after not featuring at all in 2025, and the 21-year-old goalkeeper looked composed throughout the match, handling her first professional appearance confidently.

Heiner-Møller also switched to a 3-4-3 formation, with Anna Bout starting at right wingback. The adjustment paid off quickly, as Bout recorded her first assist for the club on De Filippo’s opening goal.

Tori Tumeth was another standout performer, playing a major role in the first goal before later winning the penalty that proved to be the game-winner. Defensively, she also put together a strong shift, frustrating several Halifax attackers throughout the afternoon.

The Rise will now look to build on the result as they return home to Swangard Stadium on Saturday to face AFC Toronto, a side that has already defeated them once this season. Kickoff is set for 1:00 pm PT.

That's all for Vancouver Weekly, as the Vancouver sides take a 2-0-3 record from that last week, not bad but not great.

Thanks for reading, and we’ll see you next week, Vancouverites!