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Vancouver Whitecaps FC expecting another big BC Place crowd for Müller's first start

Rob Williams
Rob Williams
|
Aug 21 2025, 11:40 pm
Vancouver Whitecaps FC expecting another big BC Place crowd for Müller's first start
@WhitecapsFC/X

He arrived at YVR just eight days ago, but Thomas Müller is already making a difference at the box office for Vancouver Whitecaps FC.

His debut match drew a BC Place lower-bowl sellout crowd of 26,031 fans on Sunday. The German soccer legend was subbed into the game in the 61st minute, as manager Jesper Sørensen limited his playing time.

That isn’t expected to be the case in Saturday’s home match against St. Louis SC.

Müller is likely to play the full 90 minutes in that match, upping the odds of us seeing a magic moment from the longtime Bayern Munich man.

Sunday’s match didn’t go perfectly according to plan, given Müller was held off the scoresheet and Vancouver earned just one point in a draw. But that doesn’t tell the full story.

Müller showed his quality when he buried a shot past the goalkeeper from outside the 18-yard box. The goal was called back due to offside in the buildup, but it proved what Müller is capable of, even at age 35.

Whitecaps FC fans were enthusiastic last week, giving Müller a hero’s welcome. And you can expect the hype train to keep going this weekend.

The club has announced that it expects “another big crowd” on Saturday. Over 22,500 tickets have been sold, leaving fewer than 3,500 seats available, with two days of sales yet to come.

“The energy at BC Place for our match this past Sunday was electric,” said Whitecaps FC CEO and sporting director Axel Schuster. “We are in a very tight race at the top of the Western Conference, and we know that every point matters. Saturday is another big opportunity to push closer towards our goals.”

The ‘Caps are just seven points away from tying their best-ever MLS regular-season point total, with eight games left.

Whitecaps FC has an average home attendance of 20,533 for MLS regular-season matches this season. That doesn’t include Lionel Messi’s visit to Vancouver for the Concacaf Champions Cup semi-final, which drew a season-high 53,837 fans.

What to look out for on Saturday

Müller might not be the only newcomer we see on the pitch.

Vancouver has bolstered its lineup with two new defenders from Europe, in Sebastian Schonlau from Germany and Joedrick Pupe from Belgium. Schonlau trained with his new Whitecaps FC teammates on Thursday, which could make him an option at centre back on Saturday.

The match begins at 6:30 p.m., but BC Place will be buzzing before then. The Terry Fox Plaza Fan Zone kicks off at 3:30 p.m., featuring a DJ playing music and a beer garden with $5 drink specials. There will also be a merch tent, a “Score on Yohei” activation, a face-painting station, and a “spin to win” station offering instant prizes.

Inside BC Place, Müller T-shirts are sure to be a hot item. The Whitecaps say they’ll be available at retail sections in the stadium while supplies last.

 

The most unique offering for the match is an opportunity to work out on the pitch at BC Place, beginning at 10 a.m. For $51, you can get a ticket to the game and a 60-minute HIIT workout with House Concept instructors.

“We’re turning BC Place into the city’s biggest fitness studio,” Whitecaps FC said on social media.

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