A game many have been anticipating since the 2026 MLS schedule was released.
It's the first MLS fixture of the year to feature two Canadian clubs, and one that plenty of fans will be tuning in for with great interest.
In a meeting between two of Canada's most storied clubs, the Vancouver Whitecaps host Toronto FC at BC Place Stadium.
Here's what you need to know ahead of the clash.
Vancouver Whitecaps
The Vancouver Whitecaps have made an impressive start to their 2026 campaign, recording two wins and a draw, including a vital 2-0 victory over C.S. Cartaginés on Wednesday.
Jesper Sørensen's side have kept three clean sheets so far, with Yohei Takaoka able to thank his defence for limiting the number of saves he has been called upon to make.
With three different goal scorers already on the board, Toronto could be in for a difficult evening.
Toronto FC
As for the Reds, they have played just once this season, and it ended in defeat as FC Dallas claimed all three points in a high-scoring affair.
Djordje Mihailović and Derrick Etienne Jr. both scored for Toronto, with national team midfielder Jonathan Osorio creating the first and Hungarian Dániel Sallói indirectly setting up the second.
Despite the loss, this Toronto side shouldn't be written off heading into this clash: They had a productive winter window, bringing in Walker Zimmerman, Matheus Pereira, Emilio Aristizábal, and Raheem Edwards, before most recently acquiring USMNT striker Josh Sargent for a record fee.
Overall Head-to-Head
The last time these two met was at the start of the 2025 campaign, when the sides played out a goalless draw on a rainy day at BMO Field.
In 2024, the clubs met twice at BC Place. The first came in league play, where Vancouver steamrolled Toronto 4-0, and the second in the Canadian Championship, where the 'Caps again came out on top. After a goalless 90 minutes — which included Isaac Boehmer saving a penalty against Italian superstar Federico Bernardeschi — Vancouver prevailed in a penalty shootout.
The overall head-to-head record is level, with 12 wins apiece and 12 draws from 36 meetings. Vancouver's biggest victory in the MLS era came with that 4-0 win in 2024, while Toronto's finest hour against the 'Caps came in the second leg of the 2018 Canadian Championship final, where the Reds dismantled Vancouver 5-2 on the night for a 7-4 aggregate scoreline.
Toronto will be looking to end an eight-game winless streak against the Whitecaps, a run that stretches all the way back to August 21, 2020.
Players to watch
Thomas Müller for the Whitecaps, and Djordje Mihailović for Toronto.
It's hard not to talk about Thomas Müller when previewing the Vancouver Whitecaps. The German marquee arrived in British Columbia during the 2025 summer transfer window and made an immediate impact, contributing nine goals and four assists in 13 matches, helping Vancouver claim their fourth straight Canadian Championship and reach a first-ever MLS Cup Final. His 2026 campaign, however, has got off to a frustrating start in front of goal, with the forward striking the post on three separate occasions across the opening three matches of the season. He has performed well overall and continues to impress at 36. Can the Raumdeuter shake off his early misfortune and find the net tomorrow night?
From one Designated Player to another, Djordje Mihailović brings plenty of MLS pedigree to Toronto, having shone for CF Montréal and the Colorado Rapids after beginning his professional career at the Chicago Fire. Acquired midseason in 2025, he hit the ground running in a similar fashion to Müller, appearing in ten games and contributing four goals and two assists as Toronto missed the playoffs for another year — their last postseason appearance coming in 2020, which also, coincidentally, marked the last time they defeated Vancouver, a 1-0 win at BMO Field. Mihailović has picked up where he left off in 2025, opening his account for the season last week. If Toronto are to pull off an upset, the American midfielder will almost certainly be central to it.
Availability
The Vancouver Whitecaps will remain without Sam Adekugbe, Ryan Gauld, Belal Halbouni, and Ranko Veselinović through injury, with Kenji Cabrera now added to the list after picking up an ankle injury during Wednesday's Champions Cup match. Emmanuel Sabbi is also unavailable after the league handed the winger a one-match suspension for serious foul play during a challenge with Luca Moisa of Real Salt Lake. Cheikh Sabaly is eligible to feature, though the same cannot be said for Bruno Caicedo, who has yet to receive clearance on his visa.
Toronto FC have their own injury concerns heading into the match. Theo Corbeanu, Adisa De Rosario, Nicksoen Gomis, Deandre Kerr, and Matheus Pereira are all sidelined, though Robin Fraser confirmed that Gomis and Pereira are making good progress, per John Molinaro. Zane Monlouis is fit and available for the Reds, which should help shore up a defence that conceded three goals last week.
Projected XIs
Vancouver (4-2-3-1): Yohei Takaoka; Mathías Laborda, Tristan Blackmon, Ralph Priso, Tate Johnson; Sebastian Berhalter, Andrés Cubas; Édier Ocampo, Thomas Müller (c), Aziel Jackson; Brian White
Toronto (4-2-3-1): Luka Gavran; Kobe Franklin, Walker Zimmerman, Zane Monlouis, Richie Laryea; Alonso Coello, José Cifuentes; Dániel Sallói, Jonathan Osorio (c), Djordje Mihailović; Derrick Etienne Jr.
Game information and how to watch
📆 Saturday, February 28, 2026
⏰ 9:30 pm ET / 6:30 pm PT
📺 MLS Season Pass
👤 Fotis Bazakos
🏟 BC Place, Vancouver, Canada
