It would be an understatement to say that things are going well for the Vancouver Whitecaps right now.
The Whitecaps clinched a playoff spot on Saturday, a 7-0 thrashing of Philadelphia that included Thomas Müller scoring a hat trick on his birthday.
Müller was named MLS Player of the Matchday, while coach Jesper Sørensen and five players were named to the MLS Matchday squad.
And at long last, there is really positive news to share about Captain Ryan Gauld.
Accolades have been flying in after the largest margin of victory in the Whitecaps’ MLS era, but the team isn’t ready to rest on its laurels ahead of another massive match.
Vancouver will host Canadian Premier League club Forge FC in the second leg of the Canadian Championship semi-finals on Tuesday night at BC Place.
The two teams played to a 2-2 draw in the first leg in Hamilton, Ont., on Aug. 13.
Müller living up to the hype
There has been a wave of jubilant emotions ever since Müller touched down at YVR on Aug. 13.
Vancouver has greeted the 36-year-old German star with three straight lower-bowl sellouts at BC Place, and he has lived up to the hype. Müller has now scored in back-to-back MLS matches and has five goal contributions in his three MLS appearances.
But he’s keeping his emotions in check.
“I’m a very emotional guy and I’m a very non-emotional guy,” Müller told reporters following training on Monday. “In the same way, what was on Saturday? I already forgot to be honest. I think in football, in my sport, in life, you are at the game, you’re sad or you’re celebrating, it depends on the result. In the evening or maybe the day after, it’s always focusing on the next one. It doesn’t matter if the result was crazy good. We have to go for the next one.”
The Bayern Munich legend is happy to contribute when it means the team is earning results. Müller wants to see continued improvements from himself and his teammates that will put the Whitecaps in a position to have success when the MLS playoffs begin next month.
“I’m happy that we’re seeing more development,” Müller said. “I think we have to see more steps to be ready for the playoffs. I think we’re on a good way to it. I think the whole team feels it. We are not just fading out the season. I think we are aware that we want to get better to our most important point of the season. That’s what I feel the team feels, and we’re well prepared.”
Was this your birthday wish @esmuellert_? 😏#VWFC | #VANvPHI pic.twitter.com/57f3gFEEIS
— X – Vancouver Whitecaps FC (@WhitecapsFC) September 14, 2025
The immediate success Müller has had was not necessarily expected this quickly. There wasn’t a needed ramp-up to full fitness or a lengthy process to adapt to Sørensen’s tactics.
“You have some expectations when you bring in a top-class player,” Sørensen said post-game on Saturday. “You have expectations that he can do something extra for you, but how fast he can blend in with the others, that’s actually what it’s about.
“That’s why I wanted to put him in (the lineup) early on. It was important for me to get him in fast, because he should be an important part of the team as fast as possible. I think that he really has taken the challenge to be a focal part of the team and not just be a guy that’ll figure it out.”
Off the pitch, Müller has found time to enjoy the summer weather. Whether it’s biking around the city, going fishing with Isaac Boehmer and Sebastian Schonlau, or playing golf with Sebastian Berhalter, Brian White, and Tate Johnson, Müller has been keeping busy.
Müller went back to Germany during the international break earlier this month. His brother has visited Vancouver, and his parents were both in attendance for his trio of birthday goals.
Gauld cleared for contact
On Monday, Gauld participated in his first full training session with his Whitecaps teammates for the first time since injuring his left knee capsule on March 8.
Gauld trained without any restrictions. He wasn’t under any type of protection during the 75-minute training session.
“He’s not in and out,” Sørensen told reporters following training. “Of course, he needs some training sessions with the team. He’s missed a lot. Everybody can see he has the qualities.
“It’s moving forward. The exact timeline, we have to figure out. We also have to see him in a longer stretch where he is training constantly, because we don’t want another setback. It’s most important how we get him back, than more important when. It looks very promising.”
The Whitecaps captain continues to wear a brace on his left knee and has been cleared for contact, but will not be available for selection against Forge on Tuesday.
Potential playoff dates
With a playoff spot now secured, the Whitecaps have their sights set on a top-four finish in the Western Conference. That would secure home-pitch advantage in a first-round best-of-three series.
They’re currently in third place, with two games in hand on both San Diego and Minnesota.
The race for first place in the Western Conference (MLS)
A top-four finish would mean the Whitecaps host Game 1 and Game 3, if necessary. Game 1 would take place at BC Place sometime between Oct. 24 and 26. Game 3 would be between Nov. 7 and 9.
Thankfully, the WSX Championship World Supercross event isn’t scheduled until Nov. 15 and won’t conflict with any MLS Cup Playoff matches this year.