The Vancouver Whitecaps are one step away from a historic moment. After knocking out FC Dallas in the best-of-three first-round series, the Canadian side secured a spot in the Western Conference semifinals of the MLS Cup for the first time since 2017. The team, which won Game 1 3-0 at home and took Game 2 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in Texas, now waits for the winner between Los Angeles FC and Austin FC to decide who moves on to the final. The match is set for November 22 at BC Place in Vancouver.
A team that learned how to hold on
The win over FC Dallas had everything you’d expect from a mature, resilient team. Playing on the road, the Whitecaps fell behind early. Petar Musa opened the scoring for the Texans in the 25th minute, running onto a long pass from Ramiro Benetti and chipping goalkeeper Yohei Takaoka. Dallas controlled the tempo, but Vancouver never lost focus. Takaoka, in fact, was key to keeping his team alive with a string of important saves, especially against Musa.
The comeback came deep in stoppage time. In the 93rd minute, Thomas Müller found space in the box and set up the play after a corner from Sebastian Berhalter, and Ralph Priso buried the rebound to make it 1-1. The goal brought relief to a team that had pushed to the end and stayed composed under pressure.
In the penalty shootout, the Whitecaps didn’t miss a single one of their four attempts. Dallas, on the other hand, failed twice, and the 3-2 win sealed Vancouver’s place in the next round. The celebration said it all: beyond advancing, the club showed mental toughness and composure in a hostile setting.
BC Place, the difference-maker
The opponent isn’t known yet, but the setting is familiar. If the matchup ends up being against Los Angeles FC, it would be the third straight year the two clubs meet in the MLS Cup playoffs. They’ve faced each other 14 times over the past three years in all competitions, underlining how intense the rivalry has become. In 2025, Vancouver held the edge in the regular-season meetings, earning a 2-2 draw in May and a 1-0 away win at BMO Stadium in June. In their most recent playoff clash in Vancouver, the Whitecaps defeated LAFC 3-0 at BC Place.
If the opponent turns out to be Austin FC, the numbers still favor the Canadians. Since 2021, when Austin joined the league, the two sides have met ten times. The Whitecaps have six wins, three draws, and only one loss.