Metro Vancouver-area soccer fans had plenty to chew on last weekend with Whitecaps FC losing the MLS Cup to Inter Miami and 2026 FIFA World Cup matches announced for BC Place Stadium next summer.
The Whitecaps battled viliantly Saturday (Dec. 6) but fell 3-1 in Florida to the Lionel Messi-led Miami squad at Chase Stadium.
It’s a very short break for the Whitecaps who have a “report date” of Jan. 13 for the next MLS season, which kicks off at home Feb. 21 against Real Salt Lake.
Surrey-raised midfielder Jeevan Badwal is among 26 players under contract for 2026 including seven whose options have been club-exercised (Ali Ahmed, Sebastian Berhalter, Mathías Laborda, Thomas Müller, J.C. Ngando, Ralph Priso, Adrían Zendejas).
“We’ve been building this team over several years, and the majority of our players will return in 2026 to build on the strong foundation we’ve established,” said Axel Schuster, Whitecaps FC sporting director, said Monday, when he was named MLS Sporting Executive of the Year.
The club declined the contract option on goalkeeper Max Anchor, defender Mark O’Neill and forward Nicolas Fleuriau Chateau, and declined the purchase option on forward Daniel Ríos.
The Whitecaps won’t exercise defender Belal Halbouni’s 2026 contract option, although contract talks continue with him and goalkeeper Yohei Takaoka, whose contract is up at year’s end. Okanagan-raised keeper Isaac Boehmer, 24, signed a contract through 2027, with a club option for 2028.
In FIFA World Cup news Friday (Dec. 5), Team Canada discovered who they’ll battle in the opening round of the 2026 soccer tournament next summer, following a star-studded “final draw” in Washington DC.
Qatar will play Canada in Vancouver on June 18, and Switzerland will battle the home squad here six days later, among seven games to be played at BC Place Stadium in June and July (details on vancouverfwc26.ca and bcplace.com). A FIFA Fan Festival site will be at the new PNE Amphitheatre, with event announcements in early 2026.
Canada is in Group B along with Qatar, Switzerland and the winner of UEFA Playoff A — either Italy, Wales, Northern Ireland or Bosnia and Herzegovina, with that team decided in March.
Six of 48 national squads at World Cup 2026 have yet to be determined for games in Canada, the U.S. and Mexico. In total, 104 games in 12 groups will be played in 16 host cities. Mexico vs. South Africa is confirmed as the tournament-opening match in Mexico City on Thursday, June 11, 2026.