Vancouver Whitecaps star Thomas Muller calls on fans to pack stadium for home games

Vancouver Whitecaps' Thomas Muller shows his appreciation to Vancouver fans after Inter Miami defeated Vancouver during the MLS Cup final soccer match, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., on Saturday, December 6, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

VANCOUVER — Thomas Muller wants Vancouver Whitecaps fans to show their support by showing up at B.C. Place.

“If I have a wish, I don’t know how we can get it done, but it would be nice if the lower bowl is in every home game full full, not only almost full,” the German soccer legend said after training Wednesday. “I want to have the feeling that it’s packed.”

Muller’s comments come as rumours continue to swirl around the future of the Major League Soccer club.

The team’s current ownership group — including Greg Kerfoot, Steve Luczo, Jeff Mallett and former NBA star Steve Nash — announced the Whitecaps were up for sale in December 2024.

Chief executive officer Axel Schuster has repeatedly said the priority is to find a new owner who will keep the ‘Caps in Vancouver, though speculation around relocation continues.

Muller said he doesn’t know what will happen in the club’s future or what’s “going on in the background.”

“It’s not in our control, but I feel that we can provide something, to get kind of a feeling going,” the star midfielder said. “And maybe the fans, maybe they also should stand up a little bit more to avoid it.”

Asked whether he has been approached about buying into the club, Muller declined to comment.

“I think it’s more important from a player’s perspective that we try to give the city, and also the fans, that we give everything to be successful. We want them to feel great when they come to B.C. Place and enjoy our games,” he said.

“We are doing everything well so far and I hope that helps for the whole environment to see that the Whitecaps are very important for this city. So that’s my feeling about this situation.”

Vancouver climbed to the top of the MLS standings last week after blanking New York City FC 2-0 in front of 25,460 fans at B.C. Place.

The success comes after the team finished the 2025 season with its first MLS Cup final appearance, where Vancouver fell to Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami.

Despite the on-field success, Schuster said in February that the Whitecaps still sit at the bottom of the league when it comes to team revenue. He said Vancouver trails clubs in the middle of the standings by $40 million.

“We are really concerned that, after such a successful season, the gap is even becoming bigger, that this at some point will not be manageable for us any more,” the CEO said on Feb. 5.

On the pitch, the Whitecaps have continued to roll this year, going 6-1-0 for their best start in the club’s MLS era.

Watching the team play is enjoyable, said Muller, who has 10 goals and three assists over 14 regular-season MLS games since coming to Vancouver last August.

“It’s enjoyable not only because I love this game but also because we are delivering week in, week out,” said the former Bayern Munich standout.

“Even in the games we are maybe not at our best, we are grinding in and trying to fight until the last second. Yeah, it’s worth it. … But we try our best to get the people in B.C. Place for a reason.”

This report by Gemma Karstens-Smith, The Canadian Press, was first published April 15, 2026.