how to see: Watch on OneSoccer
Home Opener: More than 21,000 tickets have already been sold for the home opener against Real Salt Lake on February 21.
Home Opener: More than 21,000 tickets have already been sold for the home opener against Real Salt Lake on February 21.
Vancouver, B.C. – ‘Caps are back. After spending nearly four weeks in Spain for the preseason, Vancouver Whitecaps FC are set to return to action this week, kicking off their 2026 campaign. The opening match of the year will take place this Wednesday, February 18 in CONCACAF Champions Cup action, where the Blue and White will face Costa Rican team CS Cartaginés in the first leg of round one. Kickoff from Estadio Felo Meza in Cartago, Costa Rica is scheduled for 7 pm PT. The ‘Caps will host the second leg at BC Place next Wednesday, February 25, with tickets still available at whitecapsfc.com/tickets.
- CS Cartaginés vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC
- Wednesday, February 18, 2026 – 7 PM PT
- Estadio Felo Meza – Cartago, Costa Rica
- broadcast
Online/TV: Watch on OneSoccer, FuboTV, or TELUS channel 980 - Matchup History:
Wednesday’s clash will be the first meeting between ‘Caps and Cartaginés. This will be the third time the ‘Caps will face a Costa Rican team, having previously faced Deportivo Saprissa in the same round of their 2025 Concacaf Champions Cup campaign.
Back for 2026: After a four-week preseason camp in Spain, Vancouver Whitecaps FC is set to return to action this week with a pair of matches to kick off their 2026 campaign. The team will look to build on a historic 2025 season that saw them capture their fourth consecutive TELUS Canadian Championship title, their first-ever Western Conference title, and appearances in the finals of both the Concacaf Champions Cup and MLS Cup. The ‘Caps will compete in those three competitions once again in 2026, as well as the League Cup at the end of the year. This year’s roster is led by German veteran Thomas Muller, MLS era leading goalscorer Brian White, reigning MLS Defender of the Year Tristan Blackmon, Paraguayan international Andrés Cubas and MLS Best XI selection Sebastian Berhalter.
Continental journey begins: The road to continental glory begins this Wednesday when the Caps face Costa Rican side CS Cartaginés in the first leg of Round One of the CONCACAF Champions Cup at the Estadio Felo Mejía in Cartago, Costa Rica. Last year’s edition of the Blue and White tournament reached the final, defeating Deportivo Saprissa, CF Monterrey, Pumas UNAM and Inter Miami CF before losing against Cruz Azul. This year, the ‘Caps will look to return to the finals for a chance to compete at the FIFA Club World Cup and become the first Canadian team to win the prestigious tournament. The second leg of Round One will be played on Wednesday, February 25 at BC Place, with the winner of both legs advancing to the Round of 16 to face Seattle Sounders FC.
Home Opener: Whitecaps FC will soon turn their attention from CONCACAF action to MLS regular season play, as the club begins its 16th season in the league on Saturday, February 21 with its home opener against fellow Western Conference team Real Salt Lake. The contest, which is a rematch of the 2023 home opener, will also mark the ‘Caps’ 500th match in an MLS regular season game. Last season, Vancouver won both of its meetings with the claret and cobalt, winning 2–1 at BC Place and a 3–2 comeback victory at America First Field. Overall, the ‘Caps have posted a 12W-5L-1D record in home matches against Salt Lake. Additionally, they will be looking to achieve back-to-back wins in the home opener for the first time since 2014.
The ‘Caps welcomed six new signings to the first team during the offseason, including Whitecaps FC 2 (WFC2) products Nikola Djordjevic and Mihail Gherasimenkov, former Colorado Rapids midfielder Oliver Larraz, Ecuador youth international Bruno Caicedo, veteran MLS forward Azeel ‘Eze’ Jackson, as well as AFCON winner and Senegal international Cheikh Sabali Gone. Learn more about the new signings in their player biographies section below:
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