With less than two weeks to go before Vancouver FC faces Mexico’s Cruz Azul, the Langley team took a flight to Phoenix, Arizona for a pre-season training camp on Jan. 22.
It was a lot warmer, 19 Celsius under sunny skies as of Sunday.
Back in Langley, at the VFC home stadium in Willoughby, it was also a sunny Sunday, but just four degrees.
As part of their preparation, VFC was scheduled to have two “friendlies” – tune-up games against United Soccer League side Phoenix Rising FC – before their return to Langley and their date with Cruz Azul.
They are among 27 teams competing in the Concacaf (Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football) Champions Cup, which Cruz Azul won last year.
Phoenix, we’ve arrived.
Travel day in the books as the 2026 #CPLTrainingCamp, presented by @westjet , continues.
Paris Gee on takeover duty for the next few days.Follow along for more from Phoenix.
#VancouverFC #ValleyIsHome #GrowTheGame pic.twitter.com/rY9UEta5e0
— Vancouver FC (@vanfootballclub) January 22, 2026
According to long-range forecasts, it will likely be warmer, around 14 degrees, when the two teams meet in Langley on Wednesday, Feb. 4, with a strong likelihood of rain.
Meanwhile, Willoughby stadium was close to a complete sellout, with the team announcing three sections were done and a fourth, zone 1, was 80 per cent gone.
Vancouver FC president Rob Friend has described the match, the result of a random draw to select Concacaf match-ups as “David versus Goliath,” pitting the current number-one ranked champions against the low-ranked VFC.
Friend has also called it a potential “turning point” for the team, drawing fans to a stadium the team has struggled to fill.
Vancouver FC will host defending Concacaf champions Cruz Azul at Willoughby stadium on Wednesday Feb. 4 at 7 p.m. then travel to Mexico for their second match on Thursday, Feb. 12.
Eagles earned their place by competing in the 2025 Canadian Championship final against Vancouver Whitecaps FC.
As runners-up, Vancouver FC’s qualification depended on the Whitecaps’ path through MLS Cup and the Canadian Championship. Once their rivals secured their own berth, the final qualification spot officially opened, granting VFC its first-ever entry into the tournament.
Cruz Azul is a powerhouse of Mexican football, with a record-setting seven Concacaf Champions Cup titles.
Their most recent triumph was last year’s 5–0 win over Vancouver Whitecaps FC in Mexico City.