It’s not an official trophy, but Vancouver Whitecaps FC have their first taste of silverware in a year they dream of much more.
With a 2–2 away draw against Seattle Sounders FC, the Whitecaps secured the club’s eighth Cascadia Cup, a supporter-created trophy awarded to the best team in matches between Vancouver, Seattle and the Portland Timbers.
Although it doesn’t count as an official title, it sets the tone for a fall that could lead to more silverware––with the Canadian Championship final looming on Wednesday against Canadian Premier League side Vancouver FC, and hopes of a run to MLS Cup in December.
“It’s great [to win] and it’s fantastic that all the fans made the trip down. It was great afterwards, also to share a moment with them, and we hope there will be many more to come,” said head coach Jesper Sørensen, addressing his first Cascadia title and the travelling support. “We could hear them all through warm up… we hope for many more occasions like this.”
While the draw likely dashed Vancouver’s hopes of contending for the Supporters’ Shield, falling six points back of the leading Philadelphia Union, it brought a gritty performance in a heated contest.
Whitecaps leading scorer and U.S. men’s national team striker Brian White opened the scoring in the 52nd minute on an assist from Thomas Müller, only for Seattle’s Jackson Ragen to level the match in the 54th minute, before Albert Rusnák fired the hosts into the lead a minute later.
The Whitecaps eventually tied the game through Mathías Labroada at its final scoreline in the 69th minute.
With the point, the Whitecaps drew level with San Diego FC atop the Western Conference and secured a top-four seed, ensuring home advantage in the first-round best-of-three series in the 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs.
