‘This tournament’s a big moment’: Vancouver Whitecaps kick off CONCACAF Champions Cup

Vancouver Whitecaps' Brian White, back centre, moves the ball while being watched by Portland Timbers' David Ayala during the second half of an MLS soccer match, in Vancouver, on Wednesday, September 24, 2025. (Darryl Dyck / The Canadian Press)

VANCOUVER — Falling short still eats at the Vancouver Whitecaps.

The club stunned many in 2025, first downing a series of big-name opponents to earn a spot in the CONCACAF Champions Cup final, where it fell to Liga MX giant Cruz Azul.

Vancouver then followed up with its best Major League Soccer season on record and capped the year with an appearance in the MLS Cup final. The team fell again, this time to Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami.

Now those losses are serving as motivation as a new season begins.

“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,” said striker Brian White.

“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.”

The 2026 campaign starts Wednesday when the ‘Caps visit Costa Rican side C.S. Cartagines to kick off their Champions Cup run.

The two-legged opening round series begins in Cartago before shifting to Vancouver on Feb. 25. It will be the first-ever meeting between the two sides.

White knows onlookers are predicting big things from his team in the tournament this year.

“I think the expectations, especially externally, have been raised,” he said. ”I think for us, I think we went into every game last year wanting to win that game, wanting to win that round.

“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.”

Cartagines heads into Wednesday’s matchup in midseason form while the ‘Caps have just wrapped up training camp in Marbella, Spain.

“They’re doing well in their in their league. That’s always going to be a challenge,” White said. ”It’s going to be a tough test away from home.

“Far, heat, altitude. Yeah, it’s going to be a challenge, but I think everyone’s ready for it.”

Cartagines didn’t play Champions Cup in 2025, but won the tournament back in 1994.

The team has wingers who can take the ball inside and shoot well, and strong attackers who go into the box hard, said Whitecaps head coach Jesper Sorensen.

“I think it’s a good team that has confidence from the from having a good start, maybe a little bit of a better start than normal, in the Costa Rican league,” he said. ”But also it’s a team where we hope we’ll be strong enough to eventually prevail over two games.”

The ‘Caps have strong pieces, too, including German soccer star Thomas Muller, who’s set to play his first full season with the team after coming over from Bayern Munich in August.

White, too, has long been an offensive star for Vancouver and led the club in goals last season with 16 in MLS play.

Last season, he helped the Whitecaps edge another Costa Rican club, Saprissa, in Champions Cup with two goals in the second leg of their first-round series.

“This tournament’s a big moment,” he said of the performance. “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.”

Another challenge for the Whitecaps this season will be their packed schedule.

Three days after facing Cartagines, the team will kick off the MLS season at home hosting Real Salt Lake.

The group benefited from having games come fast and furious last year, Sorensen said.

“All the players got involved, and we got a lot of contributions from various players. So I think that was huge,” he said. 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.”

The cramped calendar will force Sorensen and his staff to rotate the lineup, though, especially as attacking midfielder Ryan Gauld, and defenders Ranko Veselinovic and Belal Halbouni continue to work their way back from injuries.

Vancouver will still be fielding its best possible roster against Cartagines, Sorensen said.

“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 said.

“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.”

This report by Gemma Karstens-Smith of The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 17, 2026.