Vancouver FC team captain Callum Irving and head coach Martin Nash said the Langley-based pro soccer team has ‘nothing to lose’ in Wednesday’s match against Mexican powerhouse Cruz Azul as the 2026 Concacaf Champions Cup gets underway.
In a question-and-answer session with reporters before the game at Willoughby stadium, Nash described it as a great opportunity for VFC.
”We say we’ve got nothing to lose, but we’ll give everything we have,” Nash said.
”You know, just putting our best foot forward and having a go.”
He said staying organized was the “number one thing when you’re playing a team with the quality of Cruz Azul.”
Vancouver FC captain Callum Irving and head coach Martin Nash talk about facing Cruz Azul pic.twitter.com/cBopChFflE
— Langley Advance Times (@LangleyTimes) February 3, 2026
Irving made the same point in his comments at the Tuesday session.
“They [Cruz Azul] have the quality to kind of break you down in certain moments, so the best thing you can do is keep everybody in front of you organized, work together as a team,” Irving said.
“You can’t just go chasing the ball as individuals because they’ll pick us apart.”
Irvng indicated VFC doesn’t intend to play a defensive game.
”We don’t want to be sitting defending our own half for the whole game, and we don’t plan on doing that,” Irving commented.
”I come into every game with the same mindset which is organize as best as possible, limit their chances and try to make my day as easy as possible, but obviously Cruz are always a fantastic team, so it’ll be a challenge, but one that we’re up for.”
Vancouver FC is among 27 teams competing in the Concacaf (Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football) Champions Cup, which Cruz Azul won last year.
They will host 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.