“He’s back.”
Those are the words of Vancouver Whitecaps FC on social media, announcing the highly anticipated return of captain Ryan Gauld. The Scottish international hasn’t played since March 8 due to a knee injury.
Gauld will be in the lineup for a rather unique match at BC Place on Wednesday.
The ‘Caps are in the Canadian Championship Final, facing Vancouver FC, a Canadian Premier League club that plays out of Langley. It’s the first-ever meeting between the two teams, with the match being dubbed the “604 Derby.”
We asked, you voted 🫡
The 604 Derby was the most popular name for this Wednesday’s TELUS Canadian Championship Final! 🏆
Do you agree? 👀
🎟️ | https://t.co/UMsIzdcza9#CanChamp | @vanfootballclub | @onesoccer pic.twitter.com/TpVFDQXKoU
— X – Vancouver Whitecaps FC (@WhitecapsFC) September 30, 2025
Vancouver FC features a number of former Whitecaps FC players, including their interim head coach, Martin Nash. Nicolás Mezquida also plays for Vancouver FC, as do nine graduates from the Whitecaps FC academy system.
Whitecaps FC are looking to lift the Voyageurs Cup for a fourth consecutive year. If they do, it would put the club into the 2026 Concacaf Champions Cup — the continental championship that the ‘Caps reached the final of earlier this year.
“Limited tickets” remain for the match at BC Place, Whitecaps FC have announced. The club says that $1 from every ticket sold will go to BC Soccer, in support of the future of the sport in the province.
It’s also free T-shirt night, as the first 5,000 fans get a “4 Ever ‘Caps” commemorative T-shirt, a nod to Whitecaps FC making four-straight Canadian Championship Finals.
Bob Frid/Vancouver Whitecaps FC
Tickets have been flying off the shelves for Whitecaps FC matches ever since Thomas Müller signed with the club, and that momentum appears to be continuing down the stretch. More than 22,500 tickets have already been sold for each of the final two MLS home matches at BC Place — Oct. 5 against San Jose Earthquakes and Oct. 18 against FC Dallas.
There is a bit of history on the line for Müller, who was hyping up the Canadian Championship on Monday. The German superstar won his 34th trophy of his career on Saturday, when Whitecaps FC won the Cascadia Cup in Seattle. The Voyageurs Cup would mark his 35th trophy, breaking Toni Kroos’ record as the most decorated German soccer player of all-time.
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