Soccer <\/p>\n
For all their recent dominance in the Canadian Championship<\/a>, Vancouver Whitecaps FC<\/a> aren\u2019t taking anything for granted ahead of Wednesday\u2019s final against crosstown rivals Vancouver FC (10 pm ET | TSN, OneSoccer).<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n The three-time defending champions can make it a Voyageurs Cup four-peat in this unprecedented derby at BC Place that will feature a finalist from the Canadian Premier League for just the second time in tournament history.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a big night for us, but it\u2019s maybe even a bigger night for Vancouver FC,\u201d Whitecaps head coach Jesper S\u00f8rensen told reporters on Monday. \u201cI think it\u2019s a great achievement they\u2019ve reached the final.<\/p>\n \u201c\u2026 It\u2019s fair to say that they have a lot more to gain than to lose, but on the other hand, I think we have a lot to gain as well. So, I think it\u2019s up to us to make sure that big surprise will not be in this game.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Beyond the silverware at stake, the Canadian Championship also grants an automatic berth into the 2026 Concacaf Champions Cup<\/a>. The Whitecaps want nothing more than to secure their spot in the continental competition, following a runner-up finish this year.<\/p>\n The lessons learned from that remarkable run, which ended with a 5-0 loss<\/a> at LIGA MX titans Cruz Azul, will be visible when the Whitecaps take the pitch on Wednesday night.<\/p>\n \u201cThe approach, of course, will be maybe slightly different from the approach we had against Cruz Azul, where we were playing away and also playing up against both an opponent and also some circumstances, with playing in Mexico City and altitude stuff that we are not used to,\u201d said S\u00f8rensen.<\/p>\n \u201cNow we are more used to the pitch and to playing at home. We\u2019ll go for it and not wait any seconds to try and be the better team in the game. We will try to do that from the beginning.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Rivalry. Ambition. Greatness. Legacy. ????????????#VWFC<\/a> | #TELUSCanadianChampionship<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/y3OMkrOO4w<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 X – Vancouver Whitecaps FC (@WhitecapsFC) September 30, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote><\/div>\n What\u2019s less clear is how S\u00f8rensen will deploy his starting XI for the final. Ravaged by injuries all season long, the Whitecaps may once again have to rotate players \u2013 most notably leading scorer Brian White<\/a>.<\/p>\n The USMNT<\/a> striker exited Saturday\u2019s 2-2 draw<\/a> at Seattle Sounders FC<\/a> with an apparent hamstring issue, in just his second appearance since missing a month due to injury.<\/p>\n \u201cBrian, I don\u2019t have an update yet,\u201d S\u00f8rensen said. \u201cWe have to figure out how bad it was. Didn\u2019t seem that bad, but we have to see.\u201d<\/p>\n The good news is that captain Ryan Gauld<\/a>, sidelined since March with a knee injury, could make the matchday squad for the first time in over six months.<\/p>\n \u201cRyan, there\u2019s a possibility that he\u2019ll be able to be in the rotation, in the squad Wednesday,\u201d said S\u00f8rensen. \u201cWe have not ruled that out.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n \u2014 X – Vancouver Whitecaps FC (@WhitecapsFC) September 29, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote><\/div>\nBattle-tested<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n
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White, Gauld in the mix?<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n