Vancouver Whitecaps Kick Off CONCACAF Champions Cup with Redemption in Mind
The sting of falling just short still lingers for the Vancouver Whitecaps as they embark on a new season. In 2025, the club delivered a stunning performance, battling through a series of formidable opponents to reach the CONCACAF Champions Cup final, only to be defeated by Liga MX powerhouse Cruz Azul. The team then followed up with its best Major League Soccer season in history, culminating in an appearance in the MLS Cup final, where they were bested by Lionel Messi's Inter Miami.
Now, those painful losses are serving as powerful motivation as the Whitecaps prepare to launch their 2026 campaign. The journey begins this Wednesday with a challenging away match against Costa Rican side C.S. Cartagines, marking the start of their CONCACAF Champions Cup run. This opening round is a two-legged series, with the first leg in Cartago and the return match in Vancouver on February 25.
A Hunger for Redemption
Striker Brian White, who led the team with 16 goals in MLS play last season, expressed the collective drive within the squad. "Obviously, we had a really good season last year, and we made it to the very end. And weren't able to capitalize on those situations," White said. "So I think everyone's kind of got that hunger, that chip on their shoulder, to kind of redeem those games. And we know it's going to be a long, hard season, but I think everyone's excited for it."
External expectations have risen significantly following last year's successes. White acknowledged this pressure but emphasized the team's focus on immediate challenges. "I think the expectations, especially externally, have been raised," he noted. "And that's all we can really look at right now, that we have Cartagines this round. And if we want to achieve anything, we have to get through them first."
Navigating Early Challenges
The matchup against Cartagines presents several obstacles. The Costa Rican club is in midseason form, while the Whitecaps have just concluded their training camp in Marbella, Spain. Factors such as distance, heat, and altitude add to the difficulty of the away fixture. Cartagines, which won the Champions Cup back in 1994 but did not participate in 2025, boasts a strong attacking lineup.
Whitecaps head coach Jesper Sorensen highlighted the opponent's strengths. "They're doing well in their league. That's always going to be a challenge," he said. "It's a good team that has confidence from having a good start, maybe a little bit of a better start than normal, in the Costa Rican league. But also it's a team where we hope we'll be strong enough to eventually prevail over two games."
Key Players and Strategic Depth
Vancouver's roster features significant talent, including German soccer star Thomas Muller, who is set to play his first full season with the team after joining from Bayern Munich in August. Brian White remains a crucial offensive force, having previously shone in Champions Cup play by scoring two goals in a first-round series against another Costa Rican club, Saprissa, last season.
"This tournament's a big moment," White said of such performances. "Playing for your national team is a big moment. So you always try to play at your best, and I've been able, fortunately, to do that in the past. So hopefully, I can continue doing that. But it's going to be a tough challenge."
Managing a Packed Schedule
The Whitecaps face a demanding schedule early in the season. Just three days after the Cartagines match, they will kick off their MLS campaign at home against Real Salt Lake. This compressed calendar will require strategic rotation of the lineup, especially as key players like attacking midfielder Ryan Gauld and defenders Ranko Veselinovic and Belal Halbouni continue to recover from injuries.
Coach Sorensen views the busy fixture list as an opportunity. "All the players got involved, and we got a lot of contributions from various players. So I think that was huge," he said, reflecting on last season. "Now, of course, hopefully it will be the same, that we will be ready to go, and everybody will be ready to play their part."
Despite the need for rotation, Sorensen confirmed that Vancouver will field its strongest possible lineup against Cartagines. "It's a competition we would like to see if we can do even better than last year. And if we want to do that, we have to win it. Also we have to take it seriously," he asserted. "There's not that much room for error. So we cannot just say 'Yeah, we go light in a couple of games here, and then we focus on the MLS.' We have to be strong already from Wednesday on."
As the Whitecaps step onto the field in Cartago, they carry the weight of last season's near-misses and the determination to transform that disappointment into triumph. With a blend of seasoned stars and collective resolve, the team is poised to make a statement in the CONCACAF Champions Cup, aiming to prove that they can indeed capitalize on the biggest moments this time around.
