Vancouver Whitecaps fans bring 'Save the Caps' campaign to B.C. Place

Vancouver Whitecaps fans hold signs before the first half of an MLS soccer match against the Colorado Rapids in Vancouver, on Saturday, April 25, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ethan Cairns

Vancouver Whitecaps players say they see the support fans are showing as rumours swirl about the club’s potential move — and that support is fueling the team’s winning streak.

A sold-out crowd of 27,589 people watched the ‘Caps (8-1-0) down the Colorado Rapids 3-1 on Saturday, packing B.C. Place for Vancouver’s final home game ahead of this summer’s FIFA World Cup.

“The way the support has grown, 27,000 fans in the stands, it shows what this club means to the city and to the people,” said striker Brian White.

“And it means a lot to us to have their support week in and week out. And they were huge for us tonight. It wasn’t an easy game by any means, and having them push us through those tough moments in the game really got us to the end with the win, for sure.”

The result marked Vancouver’s fourth straight victory and capped a five-game homestand where the Whitecaps went 4-1-0.

Hundreds of people marched to the stadium behind a giant banner reading “Save the Caps.”

Once inside, more than 2,000 fans held signs with the same “Save the Caps” message as players walked out onto the field.

The paper signs were placed by Vancouver’s supporters groups before the game.

Others brought their own visual messages of support, including a giant banner reading “We will fight for our club and we will win” next to an image of a fist.

Chants of “Save the Caps!” also rang out through the stadium after Ema Lake sang the American and Canadian national anthems.

Hearing and seeing the support was “emotional,” said Whitecaps head coach Jesper Sorensen.

“It’s a declaration,” he said. “It’s love from the fans to the team and to the players and to all of us. And it’s a strong message.”

The message comes amid persistent rumours that the team will soon be moved to an American market.

The 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.

“We’ve known for a little while now that the team is up for sale. But our job at the end of the day is to get results on the pitch,” said defender Tristan Blackmon. “We don’t have that much of an influence on what goes on big picture in terms of where the team goes, if it stays.

“All we can do as players is put on good performances like we did tonight. … The most we can do as players is try to represent the community and everybody who comes out here really well. So we’re going to keep on trying to do that.”

Earlier this month, Vancouver’s star midfielder Thomas Müller called on fans to show their support by coming out to home games.

“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. “I want to have the feeling that it’s packed.”

The fans were “incredible” on Saturday, Blackmon said.

“They’ve been so good to us, especially this year,” he said. “Of course, at the end of last year, we saw everybody showing up and showing out for us when we were making the playoff push. And, like I said, this year, so far, it’s been incredible the support we’ve got from the community, and we definitely felt that, especially today …. We felt every single fan today.”

The ‘Caps will play their next five meetings on the road before the league breaks for the World Cup.

This report by Gemma Karstens-Smith, The Canadian Press, was first published April 25, 2026.