the Caps kick off the 2026 season following a 2025 season that featured the TELUS Canadian Championship win plus a Western Conference title, with runs to the finals of the Concacaf Champions Cup and MLS Cup. They opened 2026 with Concacaf Champions Cup action vs. C.S. Cartaginés, significant ticket demand for the home opener, following a four-week preseason in Spain. Six new first-team players joined, including two Whitecaps FC 2 products and international signings, as they prep for a home-heavy start and MLS return. Preview notes underline the early schedule and strong expectations, with the home opener drawing solid interest and more than 21,000 tickets sold for the clash against Real Salt Lake on February 21. The Caps look to build on 2025 success, amid a packed calendar of MLS and CONCACAF fixtures, and a schedule that remains heavily weighted toward home games early on.