The Vancouver Whitecaps return to the pitch on Saturday night at BC Place when they host the MLS-leading Philadelphia Union. This will be the first match for the Whitecaps following a rare three-week break in their MLS schedule.
All eight Whitecaps players that were called up during the international window have returned healthy and will be available for selection, including Ali Ahmed, who returns following his Man of the Match performance in Canada’s win in Romania.
Ali Ahmed’s future
It’s been a busy month for Ali Ahmed. Prior to representing Canada in a pair of international friendlies, the 24-year-old was linked to a potential move to 2 Bundesliga club Schalke 04 before the close of the German summer transfer window.
Ahead of the World Cup next year, what kind of ambitions does Ahmed have for his career path?
“Schalke 04 is a massive club for sure,” Ahmed said in an exclusive interview with Daily Hive following training on Friday. “If you’re asking me if I have ambitions to play in first divisions in the world, in the biggest leagues around the world, I think any young professional, if they said no to you… they would be lying.”
Ahmed, who earns a salary of $159,375, is signed through to the end of the season with a Whitecaps club option for 2026. A potential move to a big European club could bring a substantial life-changing salary for Ahmed and his family, who grew up in the Lawrence Heights neighbourhood of North York, Ontario.
But the Whitecaps also have an opportunity to sign Ahmed to a lucrative long-term contract extension.
“I haven’t really thought about too much salaries and moving,” Ahmed said. “To be honest of course, a bigger contract would help me take care of my family for sure.”
The Whitecaps are currently third in the Western Conference with a 14-6-7 record, with seven matches remaining in the regular season. As the playoffs begin next month, Ahmed’s primary focus is to help Vancouver win the ultimate MLS prize.
“We’ve got three-to-four months left here,” Ahmed said. “I’m trying to lock in with that and just compete with my teammates. I think we have a great shot at MLS Cup and after that we can start to think about that.
“Right now I’m just trying to win an MLS Cup.”
Ryan Gauld injury update
Ryan Gauld has returned to partial training with his teammates.
The Designated Player, who has been sidelined since March 8 with a left knee capsule sprain, has been training while sporting a knee brace. Gauld has been in good spirits as he works his way back to full health.
“He’s progressing fine and stable in his progression,” Whitecaps head coach Jesper Sørensen told reporters earlier this week. “He’s had some periods where he’s looked good, been out on the pitch, and he had some setbacks. He looks stable and he does more and more.
“He’s obviously happy that things are picking up for him now. We all know what Ryan has done since he came here and how important of a player he is for the team both on and off the pitch. Everybody is happy for Ryan that it looks like he’s progressing forward to playing with us again.
“That’s good news.”
Müllermania
Thomas Müller has clearly made an impact at the box office, as the Whitecaps are expecting another big BC Place crowd on Saturday — which will also mark his 36th birthday. Perhaps we’ll see a third-straight lower-bowl sellout.
Müllermania continues to create a buzz outside the Whitecaps training facility as well.
Müller stopped to take selfies and sign autographs with two dozen fans from as far away as China and Germany on Friday.
#VWFC’s Thomas Müller stopped to take some selfies with fans today.
About two dozen fans waited from Germany, China, Calgary, and Toronto. #MLS pic.twitter.com/FhGJ3q2pT2
— Har Journalist (@HarJournalist) September 12, 2025
Injuries piling up again
Injuries have taken a toll on the Whitecaps throughout the season and that continues into the stretch drive to the playoffs.
#MLS player status report for #VWFC
Sam Adekugbe – Achilles (Out)
Ryan Gauld – Knee (Out)
Joedrick Pupe – Hamstring (Out)
Sebastian Schonlau – Achilles (Out)
Ranko Veselinović – Knee (Out)
Brian White – Hamstring (Out)#VANvPHI
— Har Journalist (@HarJournalist) September 12, 2025
Brian White won’t play on Saturday as he works through a hamstring injury. Whitecaps defensive additions Sebastian Schonlau and Joedrick Pupe will also be unavailable. Schonlau has an Achilles injury and Pupe has a hamstring knock.
Playoff clinching scenarios
What a season it has been for Vancouver.
With 49 points and still seven matches to go, the Whitecaps are just four points away from tying the club record for points in a season. That record was set in 2015, when the Whitecaps finished second in the West with 53 points.
Vancouver is also on the verge of clinching an MLS playoff spot for a third straight year, which would be a first for the club.
A win or draw by Vancouver will clinch a playoff spot for the Whitecaps. They can also clinch with a loss or draw by San Jose or Real Salt Lake, or a loss by Colorado.
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