The Vancouver Whitecaps' 2026 season got underway with a disappointing 0-0 draw against Cartaginés.
The 'Caps dominated possession but created little danger throughout the match, with their best chances coming from loose balls at set-pieces.
They lined up with Yohei Takaoka in goal and Tate Johnson, Mathías Laborda, Tristan Blackmon, and Édier Ocampo completing the back four. Sebastian Berhalter and Andrés Cubas played the double pivot with Jeevan Badwal as the number 10, while Kenji Cabrera, Emmanuel Sabbi, and Brian White made up the front three.
Vancouver started the game with the majority of possession, with Cartaginés causing virtually no trouble to the back four.
Emmanuel Sabbi had the best chance of the match, attempting a bicycle kick from close range following a corner that was cleared off the line by a defender.
Brian White missed a chance that would have broken the deadlock, swinging at thin air as the ball ran wide across the pitch.
Andrés Cubas had an attempt himself, firing from the right channel, only to see it saved by goalkeeper Kevin Briceño.
¡Briceño en plan grande! 🧤 pic.twitter.com/UNqAQhRlSz
— Concacaf Champions Cup (@TheChampions) February 19, 2026
The second half had little to nothing.
Thomas Müller came on roughly an hour in, while Aziel Jackson made his debut in Whitecaps colours.
Next up for the visitors is their league opener at BC Place against Real Salt Lake on Saturday (7:30 pm ET / 4:30 pm PT).
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"We couldn't break their defence line; they did well in that regard, but on the other hand, they were not close to breaking ours."
"Let's see what's going to happen in a week from now, but yeah, I expect a little bit of the same picture."
"I cannot complain about the players we have available. They do a great job, and they work well, so that's the best thing."
"They made it very difficult for us. The plan they put up was good."
"I think today we had a good — in general — control of the game."
"It's an ok result, I think we played well and had a good rhythm from the start of the game."
"We're up against a team that fought really hard, and also, was very organized, so it was difficult for us."
"I have to be satisfied with the result here."
Jesper Sørensen will speak to the media shortly.
It's a goalless draw in leg one of the round one series between Cartaginés and the Whitecaps.
Vancouver enjoyed the majority of possession and chances, but couldn't find a way past Kevin Briceño.
Thomas Müller takes the pitch in the place of Andrés Cubas.
Édier Ocampo fires a shot straight at Kevin Briceño, who has no issues.
Cartaginés' Cristopher Nuñez is booked for a tackle on Kenji Cabrera.
The Whitecaps winger seems to be in a lot of pain, and Thomas Müller is receiving instructions from Sørensen for a possible substitution.
Aziel Jackson makes his Vancouver Whitecaps debut, taking the place of Emmanuel Sabbi.
We're back for 45 more minutes.
Nothing to separate the two sides at the break.
The Whitecaps had the better chances, but couldn't break the deadlock.
Mathías Laborda attempts a shot with his thigh very close to the goal, but his attempt goes high.
Andrés Cubas recovers the ball in the right channel and unleashes a shot that's saved by Kevin Briceño.
Vancouver has struggled to break through Cartaginés' backline, with Sabbi getting the best chance of the match so far.
The hosts have shown little to no intent of attack.
The Whitecaps nearly get their goal! Emmanuel Sabbi attempts a bicycle kick from close range, but Diego Mesen blocks the shot on the goal line. Still goalless in Costa Rica.
The Whitecaps get us started.
Thomas Müller is on the bench for his side's first match of the season, with the Whitecaps presumably opting for a three-man midfield without a traditional number 10.
Mathías Laborda will play alongside Tristan Blackmon at centre-back, with Tate Johnson and Édier Ocampo completing the back four.
Kenji Cabrera and Emmanuel Sabbi will operate on the wings, while Brian White — today's captain — will lead the line.
Yohei Takaoka; Tate Johnson, Mathías Laborda, Tristan Blackmon, Édier Ocampo; Sebastian Berhalter, Andrés Cubas, Jeevan Badwal; Kenji Cabrera, Brian White (C), Emmanuel Sabbi
Kevin Briceño; Fernán Faerron, Douglas López, Cristopher Núñez (C), Juan Gaete, Luis Flores, Carlos Barahona, Diego González, Diego Mesen, Ricardo Marquez, Suhander Zuñiga
The Vancouver Whitecaps are back in action for the first time this season, taking on Costa Rican side C.S. Cartaginés.
The winner of this tie will go on to face the Seattle Sounders in the round of 16.
📆 Wednesday, February 18, 2026
⏰ 10:00 pm ET / 7:00 pm PT
📺 OneSoccer, FuboTV, Telus Optik TV Ch. 980
👤 Bryan Lopez (Guatemala)
🏟 Estadio Fello Meza, Cartago, Costa Rica
Hello and welcome to our live text commentary of tonight's Concacaf Champions Cup clash between C.S. Cartaginés and the Vancouver Whitecaps.