Vancouver Whitecaps could be forced to relocate as CEO confirms $40m deficit

Tom Weber

• 6 Feb 2026 19:00 CST
• 4 min read

News

The Whitecaps need to secure major new revenue streams to avoid facing difficult discussions about the franchise's long-term future in Vancouver, according to CEO Axel Schuster.

The Caps are coming off the most successful season in franchise history, at least purely in sporting terms. Vancouver finished the 2025 regular season second in the Western Conference. Despite equal points and a worse goal difference, San Diego came top due to the wins tiebreaker.

Vancouver ultimately had the last laugh, though, as they beat the expansion side in the conference final to set up a dream MLS Cup clash with Inter Miami that pitted summer signing Thomas Muller against Lionel Messi.

The Argentine megastar prevailed as the Herons beat the Whitecaps 3-1 in Fort Lauderdale, but it was nevertheless a huge achievement for a team that had struggled to be successful in their 14-year MLS history.

What's more, the Caps also finished runners-up in the CONCACAF Champions Cup and retained their Voyageurs Cup for the third year running. It was a spectacular season and really put the franchise on the map internationally, helped by the arrival of Muller in the summer.

Whitecaps need more revenue streams

Speaking after the final defeat to Miami, Muller, who is now a Designated Player after playing the first six months on a reduced salary, insisted that the Caps would be back in 2026. Excitement for the new season is certainly palpable, but behind the scenes, the situation is far from rosy.

CEO Axel Schuster admitted at a recent media roundtable that the Caps are lagging as much as $40 million CAD behind the income of the average MLS team. This would be problematic for any club, but it is even worse for one that is officially up for sale.

One Soccer points out that this deficit has scared off prospective buyers, and it also complicates the stadium question. The Caps were only able to secure a new short-term lease for BC Place - a 2026 World Cup venue - due to "significant concessions" from PavCo, the government entity in charge of the stadium.

The Whitecaps want to build their own home and signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the city last year, but negotiations over this potential new ground are unlikely to be finalised anytime soon. A lot of time - and money - still needs to be sacrificed by all parties to make this a reality.

The new stadium would, of course, boost the franchise's revenues, but in order to make money, you need to invest money. Building a new stadium would also mean leasing BC Place for several more years or finding an alternative, temporary venue.

The worst-case scenario for the Caps, if they are unable to get their ducks in a row, is that they could be forced to relocate from Vancouver entirely. However, the situation is nowhere near as dire - yet.

For now, Schuster believes that the club can alleviate the financial worries by taking "25-30 little steps," like securing new major sponsors and other revenue streams. The franchise's long-term future, though, remains shrouded in uncertainty.

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