Vancouver FC announced the signing of free agent centre back Rocco Romeo today, ahead of the club's inaugural 2023 campaign in the Canadian Premier League.

Romeo became the club's sixth ever signing.

The 22-year old native of Toronto most recently represented Valour FC, having initially joined the club on loan from Toronto FC in 2021, before making the move permanent last year.

"I am grateful to Afshin [Ghotbi] and Rob [Friend] for their faith in me, as I begin this new chapter of my career in the Canadian Premier League with Vancouver FC," said Romeo.

Vancouver FC added 23-year old striker Nathaniel St. Louis, most recently of the University of Alabama at Birmingham, to their ever growing squad today.

"Nathaniel is an exciting young left-footed attacker who is goal dangerous with or without the ball thanks to his vertical movement," said Afshin Ghotbi, manager of Vancouver FC. "He has a bright future in the Canadian Premier League and beyond."

The native of Toronto led the Blazers in nearly all attacking categories in 2022, including goals, shots, and shots on goal.

On Thursday, Vancouver Football Club announced Kahlil John-Wentworth as the fourth player to sign with the club ahead of its inaugural campaign in the Canadian Premier League.

John-Wentworth, 21, most recently represented the Simcoe County Rovers in League 1 Ontario, where he logged 1,140 minutes and competed in the first two playoff matches in that club's history.

John-Wentworth scored one goal for Rovers in 2022, and was once named to the League 1 Ontario Team of the Week.

Vancouver Whitecaps announced the signing of Uruguayan centre back Mathías Laborda on Monday morning. The free agent's contract runs through the end of the 2025 season.

The 23 year old started 82 of his 101 apperances with Uruguayan Premera División side Club Nacional de Football, helping the club to win the 2019, 2020, and 2022 Premera División title, while earning the Uruguayan Supercopa in 2021.

He added six goals, and one assist, during his tenure with the club. Having graduated from Nacional's academy system, he has represented Uruguay at the U-17, U-20 and U-23 levels.

Vancouver Whitecpas FC are set to open their 2023 preseason camp on Friday in Vancouver, but will then travel to Marbella, Spain, on Tuesday, for a 12-day trip, which will include a friendly against German 2. Bundesliga side Hamburger SV on Wednesday, January 18. Kickoff at the Marbella Football Centre is set for 6 AM PST / 3 PM local.

Following their Spanish adventure, the 'Caps will train in Vancouver from January 25 to 28, before departing for Southern California, and the second phase of their preseason. They are set to play five matches over three weeks against Major League opposition at the 2023 Coachella Valley Invitational.

With Afshin Ghotbi at the helm, ably assisted by Niall Thompson, and Mark Village as goalkeeping coach, Vancouver FC added Surrey's own Jeevin Kang as the Manager of Football Operations, and Abbotsford native Cortlin Tonn as equipment manager, formerly of Vancouver Whitecaps FC.

Kang spent last year as Surry FC's full-time Director of Operations. He holds a Master of Business in Sport Management from Melbourne's Deakin University.

At the youth level, he managed Rowville FC and the Melbourne Victory Academy.

Brazilian Série A side Fortaleza EC, in concert with Vancouver Whitecaps FC, have decided to extend Alexandre Caio's loan through December 31, 2023. The new agreement includes an obligation to purchase if certain performance based triggers are met. The midfielder originally joined Fortaleza on loan in August.

"Caio expressed his desire to remain with Fortaleza, and all parties agreed that this is the right path for him," said Axel Schuster, Vancouver Whitecaps FC sporting director. "We will continue to follow his progress and we wish him all the best in the upcoming season."

Caio, 23, scored one goal, and started 11 of his 12 appearances with Fortaleza last season, helping them to secure a spot in the 2023 Copa Libertadores qualifying round.

Vancouver Whitecaps finally claimed their second Voyageurs Cup as Ryan Gauld, Brian White, Julian Gressel, and Andrés Cubas duly scored from the spot after the match ended one apiece after regulation time ended. Domenico Criscito, Jordan Perruzza, and Federico Bernardeschi scored for Toronto, with only Jonathan Osorio hitting the post.

This meant that it all came down to Tristan Blackmon, a defender. Score and Vancouver would be off to the CONCACAF Champions League. Anything else, and Toronto would have the opportunity to equalise. Unnerved by the stakes, the 25-year old cheekily sent it straight down the middle, as Alex Bono dove to the right.

The Vancouver Whitecaps extended their unbeaten streak to three matches in all competitions after settling for a scoreless draw against the visiting New England Revolution at BC Place on Sunday night. Revolution goalkeeper Djordje Petrović was forced to make six saves, while Cody Cropper had a far quieter night, devoting much of his time to trying to maintain his concentration. Curiously, New England held almost 60% possession, despite only creating two shots on target.

Lucas Cavallini started as the lone target man up front, coming close to breaking the deadlock in the dying minutes of the match. Andrés Cubas put in his first 90-minute shift for Vancouver, having come on as a substitute in Seattle, before starting against York and Dallas. Marcus Godinho, Leonard Owusu, Cristian Dájome, and Brian White each had a chance to separate things, but Petrović stood tall between the sticks.

If Vancouver Whitecaps FC's goalless draw with New York City FC is to be remembered, it will be for the "Stop the War Now" and "We Stand with Ukraine" efforts put on display Saturday night.

Prior to kickoff, Vancouver players wore white t-shirts bearing the blue and yellow flag of Ukraine, captioned with "WE STAND WITH UKRAINE" in bold black lettering. The coaching staff wore similar white t-shirts with multicoloured "STOP THE WAR NOW" superimposed over the blue and yellow flag of Ukraine.

New York City FC Captain Sean Johnson, and his Vancouver counterpart, Russell Teibert, proudly walked in carrying Ukrainian flags, and sporting Ukrainian armbands.

Vancouver Whitecaps FC have confirmed the sale of Theo Bair to Scottish side St Johnstone FC. The move continues Canadian striker's globetrotting, as he recently helped Hamarkameratene earn promotion to the Eliteserien, while on loan in Norway.

Bair featured 38 times for Vancouver, netting three goals, but had seen an uptick in form while at HamKam, where he scored four goals in only 17 matches. He will provide much needed firepower to the Saints, who are desperate to avoid relegation from the Premiership.

Bair will arrive in Perth, Scotland, later this week, and train with his new teammates ahead of Saturday's home match against Dundee United.

Former Vancouver Whitecaps FC manager Carl Robinson was sacked by Western Sydney Wanders on Sunday.

Robinson began the season under immense pressure after failing to guide the Wanderers to the playoffs last term.

"The Wanderers would like to thank Carl for his time at the club over the last one and half seasons, and wish him all the best in his future endeavours," read the statement from the A-League side.

"The club will shortly make an announcement regarding the head coach position for the rest of the season."

Vancouver Whitecaps FC announced on Friday that Jamaican International Javain Brown has extended his contract though through the 2024 Major League season, with the customary "club option" for an additional year.

"We are very pleased to extend Javain's contract, and at the same time reward him for a successful first year," said Axel Schuster, Whitecaps FC sporting director. "He is a great example, and reference of encouragement, for our 2022 SuperDraft selections. Throughout last season, Javain worked hard, stayed humble, and improved along the way. We look forward to helping him continue his growth as a member of our club."

Maxime Crépeau, who has arguably been Vancouver Whitecaps FC's most consistent and influential player since his arrival, is now a member of the Los Angeles Football Club. Sporting Director Axel Schuster has described the circumstances as a "very special personal situation," but did not elaborate much further.

"It was big enough, serious enough, that we understood we had to work on a solution together with him," said Schuster on Thursday after the trade was announced.

"He had to leave Vancouver to solve this problem."

In a statement, Crepeau thanked the club for working with him to find a solution.

A second half own goal from Ranko Veselinovic was enough to give the visiting Portland Timbers all three points at BC Place on Friday night. The loss snapped Vancouver's 10-match unbeaten streak in the Major League, while extending Portland's clean sheet streak to three.

The win also put the Timbers atop the three-club Cascadia Cup table.

Austin FC dominated the first half, outshooting Vancouver Whitecaps FC 7 - 1, with the home side's singular shot failing to find the target. Austin FC took a deserved lead on the stroke of halftime when a Cecilio Domínguez pass found Sebastián Driussi, who promptly headed it past goalkeeper Thomas Hasal, giving both sides something to talk about as they headed into the dressing room.

In the second half, Whitecaps interim manager Vanni Sartini made several adjustments, bringing Déiber Caicedo on for Bruno Gaspar, moving Janio Bikel to left back, and Cristian Dájome to right wingback.

The changes proved fortuitous as fifteen minutes into the second half, a Dájome cross found Érik Godoy, who levelled things at one apiece with a mighty header.

Having dismissed manger Marc Dos Santos after an embarrassing 4 – 3 loss to Canadian Premier League side Pacific FC in the Voyeurs Cup on Thursday, Vancouver Whitecaps FC were gifted with an ideal opponent to help lift their spirits. Real Salt Lake limped into Vancouver minus the services of Andrew Brody, Aaron Herrera, Damir Kreilach, Zac MacMath, David Ochoa, and Bobby Wood. Like Vancouver, they also had a manager with the interim label.

Sensing blood in the water, Vancouver took full advantage. But the match was not nearly as dominant as the score line might suggest, anymore than the 4 – 3 loss was reflective of a close match against Pacific. It wasn't.

The difference is that Salt Lake had no bite. They actually had an advantage in possession, passes, passing accuracy, and duels won. But once they got into the attacking third, they disappeared. Salt Lake only had one corner to Vancouver's ten, yet the shots and shots on goal were much closer.

Home advantage is something that has been sorely lacking for Vancouver Whitecaps FC these past 539 days. It's hard to have home advantage when you don't actually play in your home city, province, or even country. It has been so long since the 'Caps last took to the pitch at BC Place, that for many of them, tonight was their first actual match in Vancouver, and certainly their first match in front of the often touted 'best sporting atmosphere in Vancouver'.

On nights like these, it can be easy to drink the Kool-Aid, to think that yes, maybe, just maybe, the 'Caps might climb out of the cellar, and challenge for cup competition. The league, well, that was gone a long time ago. But yes, the League Cup is still on the table.

But ask yourselves this: Is simply qualifying for a place in the League Cup what you really want?

In what should prove to be Vancouver Whitecaps FC's final "home" match in Salt Lake City, the hoops managed to snatch a stoppage time equaliser with Minnesota United FC thanks to a controversial penalty decision awarded by referee Lukasz Szpala.

In the 92nd minute, Cristian Dájome appeared to come from behind to foul Ethan Finlay, as Dájome initiated contact by wrapping his left leg around Finlay's right leg, sending both tumbling to the ground in the box. Neither player had possession at the time, and Finlay did have position on Dájome.

However, Szpala immediately pointed to the spot, meaning that VAR (Video Assistant Referee) could only overturn it if it were clear and obvious, something that video replays leaned towards, but may not have reached quite that standard.

On August 21st, 2021, barring any further developments, Vancouver Whitecaps FC will take the pitch at BC Place against Los Angeles FC. It will be the first time in 339 days, nearly a full calendar year, since the last time Vancouver Whitecaps FC took the pitch at BC Place, that one being a 3 – 1 victory over the then Montreal Impact. It has been so long that Montreal Impact changed its name to CF Montreal in the interim.

The Whitecaps will play their remaining 2021 home matches at BC Place after the Public Health Agency of Canada and the Minister of Immigration approved a National Interest Exemption that outlines stringent health and safety protocols allowing for all MLS players to participate in cross-border matches.

A pair of first half goals from Déiber Caicedo and Cristian Dájome were enough to get Vancouver a point, but not the win, in a 2 – 2 draw with Lo Angeles FC on Saturday in Southern California.

Caicedo took the lead in the 25th minute thanks to a defensive error by Los Angeles after a Dájome cross into the box. When the ball popped looe, Caicedo pounced for an easy tap-in. Dájome doubled the lead in the 38th minute, heading it into the far post off a Cristián Gutiérrez free kick.

The Black and Gold cut that lead just two minutes later, thanks to brilliant effort by Carlo Vela. Originally ruled offside, the decision was later reversed by VAR (Video Assistant Referee). Later in the second half, José Cifuentes levelled things at two apiece.

Five minutes into the match, it would not be remiss to think that the Whitecaps were the away team, as they sat back, while Toronto, the actual away team, were the ones doing all the pressing. Vancouver was fortunate not to concede an early goal, as Toronto's running was breaking them apart.

It was all Toronto. The Reds had clear leads in terms of possession, corners, shots, both total and on target, crosses, passes, overall, in the opponents half, and the final third. The Whitecaps did have an answer, but it's not the kind of answer that is likely to lead to long term success.

It has been said that the more things change, the more they stay the same. Today was day 479th of the Marc Dos Santos era, and thus far, the 'Caps can boast if that is the word, an 8-11-16 record in all competitions, having scored 39 times, conceded 64, for a goal differential of -25. Meanwhile, 23 players have come in, 24 left, as well as an additional 12 who have both arrived and already departed, over the course of those 479 days. To say that that there has been significant turnover would be an understatement of the highest order.

And yet, despite this, little has changed. Just look at a sampling of what the supporters had to say on social media after the match.

With training camp well underway, Vancouver Whitecaps FC added another figure to the puzzle in Ghanaian midfielder Leonard Owusu, who arrives from Israeli Premier League side FC Ashdod through the use of Targeted Allocation Money.

"Leonard is focused on improving and moving forward in his career step-by-step," said Whitecaps sporting director Axel Schuster. "He is from a very good academy in Ghana, performed well playing aboard in Israel, and now is the right time for him to take on a new challenge in Vancouver. His characteristics - strong, powerful, (and) dynamic - fit the profile we look for in his position. We are looking forward to having Leonard join our group."

Lucas Cavallini, who signed with Vancouver Whitecaps in December, had some interesting things to say at Media Day in Los Angeles on Friday.

"I liked everything, I really loved it, it was sad to leave because it was an incredible league where many doors opened to me, people have treated me and my family very well, it was a very nice experience and I hope one day I can return there," Cavallini said of former club Puebla FC.

"But the return of life is unknown and I will be grateful to Mexico and also to Puebla, a city where two of my three children were born. I will always take it to Mexico in my heart," he added.

Vancouver Whitecaps FC made their second signing in as many days, adding Colombian left winger Cristian Dájome to the mix, where it's hoped he can link up with Chilean-Canadian left back Cristián Gutiérrez, who signed on Thursday. This represents the third signing of the close season for Vancouver, who added Argentine-Canadian Lucas Cavallini back in December.

"Cristian fits our profile, he is excited about this new challenge, and he really wants to be here in Vancouver. We are thrilled to officially welcome him, and his family, to our club and city," said Whitecaps sporting director Axel Schuster. "He is an experienced player, he has played close to 30 games in each of the last six seasons, and throughout the signing process we continued to hear how professional and positive he is both on and off the pitch."

In recent times, the position of Vancouver's left back has been something of a revolving door, with Sam Adekugbe, Marcel de Jong, Alphonso Davies, and Derek Cornelius among others, vying for the role that for six and half seasoned belonged to Jordan Harvey. On Thursday, Cristián Gutiérrez's name was added to the list. Will he become the next Jordan Harvey, or just add his name to the pile.

To be fair, Alphonso Davies was an unqualified success, earning his way to perennial German champions Bayern Munich, where he has already played 25 times, with 20 of them coming in the Bundesliga, 3 in the UEFA Champions League, and 1 each in the DFB-Pokal and DFL-Supercup.

Vancouver Whitecaps FC announced on Wednesday morning that the club and Captain Jon Erice had agreed to a mutual contract termination.

Erice joins Anthony Blondell, Doneil Henry, Brett Levis, Zac MacMath, Brendan McDonough, Sean Melvin, David Norman Jr., PC, and Scott Sutter, who have all departed, whether by transfer, option declined, or out of contract this close season.

Blondell went to Chilean side C.D. Huachipato for an undisclosed fee, Henry went to Korean side Suwon Samsung Bluewings, also for an undisclosed fee, while MacMath stayed in the league with Real Salt Lake giving Vancouver $50,000 in Targeted Allocation Money, and Norman Jr. joined expansion side Inter Miani for a conditional 2022 draft pick.

"I'm really excited," Ryan Raposo said after being drafted by Vancouver Whitecaps FC with the fourth overall pick in the 2020 draft. "Vancouver is the place I wanted to end up and I got my wish. I'm happy to be staying here in Canada and help to grow the game here; not only in Hamilton, not only in Ontario, but now all over the nation."

"It was signing a pro contract or nothing," said the 20-year old midfielder. "At a young age, a lot of other kids I saw – some had that passion but not as much as me. I've always been the most competitive person. So whether it's playing cards or [football] or anything, I'll try and beat you at that."