It’ll be an historic night when the Vancouver Whitecaps take on Vancouver FC in the Canadian Championship final at BC Place on Wednesday.
This is the first meeting between the two teams since the Langley-based club kicked off in the Canadian Premier League in 2023.
Anticipation has been building for the Vancouver derby, but it’s nowhere near what Thomas Müller experienced during his career with Bayern Munich. The German legend wants to see more enthusiasm and passion from the city and supporters of both Metro Vancouver clubs.
“I’m excited for the Vancouver derby,” Müller told reporters following training on Monday. “I’m not sure how important it is for the city. I wish it would be a little bit more important. We have in Munich two very big clubs, former rivals, but the fan bases are still rivals. It’s different because I did not recognize a lot of this rivalry. I wish it would be a little bit more, but I’m excited.”
Müller wants to shed Vancouver’s loser reputation
@WhitecapsFC/X
He landed at YVR for the first time just six and a half weeks ago, but Thomas Müller is already aware of the city’s less-than-stellar reputation with our pro sports teams. He even name-checked the Vancouver Canucks.
“When I talked to some people… they are [saying,] ‘we are never winning something.’ The Whitecaps are not winning, the Canucks are not winning. I have the feeling that Vancouver people, they accept not winning,” said Müller.
“I’m not used to that, I want to change that so people care a little bit more about winning or even if we do not win, that they care a little bit more.”
While the Voyageurs Cup may not carry the significance of some of other trophies on Müller’s resume, the Whitecaps star has an opportunity to become the most decorated footballer in German history with a win on Wednesday. Müller is tied with Toni Kroos for the most trophies won at the international and club level with 34 titles.
He could move past Kroos on Wednesday.
The Raumdeuter on the brink of history 📝
A win in Wednesday’s TELUS Canadian Championship Final would cement Thomas Müller as the most decorated German footballer in history 🏆🔥
Witness the legacy | 🎟️ https://t.co/E0pYCr5528
#VWFC | #TogetherWeDare | @esmuellert_ pic.twitter.com/KC2kExNDb9
— X – Vancouver Whitecaps FC (@WhitecapsFC) September 29, 2025
“Maybe it could be historic,” Müller admitted. “In my case maybe it’s my 35th title. I’m not playing for titles, I’m playing for competition to compete for titles, for sure in the end you want to do it, present to your fans… some silverware, and to have a party.
“In the end I’m not focused on making history. I’m focused on having this winning feeling, that we are strong, we progress as a team, and enjoy the game of football together. That’s what I’m focused on.”
Müller’s excited to play with Gauld
Anne-Marie Sorvin/Imagn Images
The inclusion of Ryan Gauld would be a massive boost to a Whitecaps team that has been without their captain since March 8. Jesper Sørensen recently revealed that Gauld would return this week in one of the next two Whitecaps matches.
“There’s a possibility that he’ll be able to be in the rotation in the squad,” Sørensen said. “We have not ruled that out yet. We have to see how he feels and if he’s ready to go we’ll bring him in.”
Müller has seen what Gauld can do on the training pitch, and was very complimentary of the Scottish international.
“I’m very excited to play with Gauldy,” Müller said. “Gauldy is the franchise player here for the last four years. He was one of the most important players in the last couple of years. If you train with him you can see his skills, his effort he’s putting in.”
“When I arrived here… I could see his face, it was still painful sometimes, but the last couple of weeks the smile was getting bigger and bigger. I think he’s ready to compete in the next couple of weeks.”
Brian White injured again
Anne-Marie Sorvin/Imagn Images
After coming in off the bench at halftime and giving Vancouver a lead Saturday in Seattle, Brian White was forced to exit the match in the 78th minute with a recurrence of his hamstring injury that sidelined him for a month.
“Brian, I don’t have an update yet,” Sørensen said. “We have to figure out how bad it was. It didn’t seem that bad, but we have to see.”
Saturday was the first time that Müller combined to set up White for a goal. The 29-year-old American leads Vancouver with 16 MLS goals this season.
“You can see that he’s a goal scorer,” Müller said. “He knows how to put it in the back of the net. We are happy for every player that’s coming back, but as I’m used to in team sports, you can see it in the last couple of weeks, we need everybody and not only maybe bigger names. Sometimes players you don’t have on your list pop up and then decide games.”
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