Will the Whitecaps soon no longer be playing in Vancouver? The owners of Thomas Müller’s MLS club want to sell – and can’t find a local buyer.
Following his departure from Munich, Thomas Müller could soon be facing his next move – because a relocation of his Vancouver Whitecaps is becoming increasingly likely in the event of a potential sale. This was confirmed by the Canadian MLS franchise on Tuesday night.
“The club has faced well-documented structural challenges in the areas of stadium economics, venue access and revenue constraints. These circumstances have made it difficult to attract buyers committed to keeping the team in Vancouver,” it said in a statement.
A move – perhaps even to the USA – is therefore not out of the question for the Whitecaps. The franchise is owned by a group of four investors who now want to sell: Greg Kerfoot, Steve Luczo, Jeff Mallett and NBA legend Steve Nash. However, the Whitecaps are still hoping for a local buyer in Vancouver.
“Over the past 16 months, we have held serious discussions with more than 100 interested parties, but to date no viable offer has emerged that would ensure the club remains at the site. It remains the strong desire of the current ownership group to find a solution within Vancouver,” the statement continued. “Should there be a local ownership group with the vision and financial resources to pursue a forward-looking path, we urge them to contact us.”
Fans protest against relocation
The MLS club’s fans had recently protested against the impending move, with supporters organizing a protest march to the stadium around the home game against the Colorado Rapids (3:1) under the slogan “Save the Caps” and making their opinion clear with banners and chants. Meanwhile, franchise relocations are not uncommon in US sport.
In sporting terms, however, things are going very well for Müller, who has been playing in Vancouver since summer 2025 after his career at FC Bayern, and his team: the Whitecaps, who lost last year’s MLS final 3-1 to Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami, are in second place in the Western Conference after ten matchdays.