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'We know what's coming': Vancouver Whitecaps ready for playoff battle

Har Johal
Har Johal
|
Nov 13 2026, 12:28 am
'We know what's coming': Vancouver Whitecaps ready for playoff battle
Anne-Marie Sorvin/Imagn Images

The Vancouver Whitecaps trained in the rain this week as they await their playoff opponent.

Vancouver’s playoff journey begins on Sunday, Nov. 22 against the winner of the Western Conference wildcard match between the Seattle Sounders and Real Salt Lake on Nov. 19.

The upper bowl is open for the Whitecaps’ playoff opener, with limited tickets remaining in the lower bowl. Ryan Gauld and his teammates are hoping this will be the first of several playoff matches at BC Place this year. 

“The ultimate goal is that we want to bring a championship to the city,” Gauld told Offside. “It’s been a while since the Canucks were in the Stanley Cup Finals and we were in the Finals last year, and neither of us could quite bring it home. The city is feeling the need for a (men’s) winner. It’s great to know there could be 30 to 35,000, whatever it is. We’ll hope to put on a good performance, and hopefully there’ll be a few more games for them there.”

Can the Whitecaps win it all this year?

Vancouver finished the regular season with three consecutive wins, clinching first in the West with an MLS record of 19-8-7 and 64 points. It earns them home-pitch advantage throughout the playoffs, unless they run into Nashville in the MLS Cup Final.

Vancouver had to play on the road twice in last year’s playoffs, in San Diego during the Western Conference Final and in Fort Lauderdale for the MLS Cup Final.

The Whitecaps have made changes to their roster since last year’s final. Gone are the likes of Sebastian Berhalter and Ali Ahmed, for instance. Conversely, they’ve had Thomas Müller for a full season and Gauld back at full health, which wasn’t necessarily the case last year.

Oliver Larraz, Bruno Caicedo, Cheikh Sabaly, Yadaly Diaby, Aleksa Cvetcović, Rui Modesto, and Sebastian Ramirez have all brought depth since joining Vancouver this year.

Larraz and Cvetcović have spent time playing next to Andres Cubas in the midfield, and Caicedo has 12 goal contributions in 25 MLS appearances playing on the left wing. Sabaly has shown signs of improvement since moving to a role as a second-half substitute.

Individually, these additions don’t replace what Berhalter delivered, but they have strengthened the club and provided Sørensen with multiple tactical options during a year where the Whitecaps played in four different competitions. Vancouver has more interchangeable pieces that can step into the lineup and flourish when they’re called on.

Diaby and Cvetcovć have combined for 13 starts, four goals, and 1,117 minutes of playing time. Modesto has filled in for Édier Ocampo at right back and has made four appearances.

“It’s a more mature team, but it’s different,” Sørensen told Offside. “Last year it was a team that was in unknown territory in a lot of the playoffs and in some of the Concacaf Champions Cup as well. This year we’re a little bit more experienced.”

Gauld concurs.

“We know what’s coming,” Gauld said. “We all experienced the feeling of losing out last year. We’ve got to kind of hold on to that and remember how painful it was and do our best to avoid that.”

How have the new faces adjusted?

“Diaby has been okay in some ways,” Sørensen said. “He started better than he has been of late. Aleksa has been on his way forward, progressing, and Rui has not played that much. We saw when he came on the pitch the other day (Saturday), it looked better. Sebastian got his first minutes. We’ve got different contributions. We have very good strength and depth.”

Thomas Müller’s status

Thomas Müller continues to ramp up his match fitness after suffering a hamstring injury on Oct. 6. The Raumdeuter was sidelined for four matches before returning as a substitute on Oct. 28. The 37-year-old has only played a total of 43 minutes since his injury.

Müller was not training with his teammates on Wednesday.

“Thomas is not resting because he’s been out for a long time,” Sørensen explained. “He’s recovering, and we’ll try to see if we can manage to build him up towards the playoffs in the best possible condition.”

“Obviously there’s some concerns about his injury. It’s about seeing how we can manage for him to progress going forward here.”

Comeback year for Gauld

Gauld has been nominated for 2026 MLS Comeback Player of the Year, alongside Cincinnati’s Nick Hagglund and San Jose’s Eduard Löwen.

It’s important recognition from players, coaches, general managers, and the press for the ‘Caps captain.

“That’s obviously the nice side of it,” Gauld said. “Recognition from people within the league and people who watch it. I think that would be the positive to kind of take out of it.”

A left knee capsule sprain on March 8, 2025 sidelined Gauld for much of last season. Gauld returned for the stretch drive and run to the MLS Cup Final before having knee debridement surgery in January. There were 501 days between regular-season starts for Gauld before he returned to the starting lineup on July 22 in Cincinnati.

 

Having Gauld back with the team and contributing in the way that he has been is a huge boost for his teammates who have supported him throughout his return to his form.

“I always say I have so much respect and admiration for the way he handled all that,” said longtime teammate Brian White. “I can only imagine how difficult that must have been for him, especially as it was for us to see him go through that. To see him back out there and doing what he does. He’s our leader, and it’s so good to see him back.”

Gauld made 20 MLS appearances this season, scoring six goals and adding five assists. The 30-year-old finished tied for third on the team in MLS goals scored.

Whitecaps coach Jesper Sørensen has been nominated for MLS Coach of the Year for the second consecutive season. He has stiff competition, up against Nashville SC’s B.J. Callaghan and Yoann Damet of St. Louis City SC.

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