Good Monday morning Caps fans. I hope you all are having a good start to the week and that the pain of Saturday has worn off at least somewhat.
While the 5-0 CCL final loss sucked, there’s no two ways about it — what happened Saturday was way more painful. While the Caps were always second best to Cruz Azul, they were the better team against Inter Miami for the majority of the match. In a postseason where Messi and Co. steamrolled all comers, the Caps had commanding control between when Edier Ocampo conceded an own goal and when Rodrigo de Paul gave Miami the lead for good.
Of course, being the better team doesn’t mean much when you have individual errors, and while Vancouver may have been able to get away with lingering on the ball too long against, say, San Diego, you can’t do that against a team with this level of elite talent. And, sometimes, the ball doesn’t bounce your way.
There is another world where Emmanuel Sabbi’s strike was inches more inside and the Caps would be 2-1 up with all the momentum. Or Jesper Sorensen withdrew a quiet Thomas Müller instead of Ali Ahmed (or Ahmed, who may have had a knock, could continue …). Those outcomes will haunt the Caps for some time.
The individual errors — Ocampo on the OG, Andres Cubas on the second goal, the misplayed passes while chasing the game late — and some tactical ones from Sorensen stand out. Those who want to focus on that are within their rights to do so. But that obscures the fact that the Caps were worthy adversaries for the most expensive team in MLS history. They were not awed, like they were in Mexico City, and responded brilliantly after the early setback. Ahmed and Sabbi were excellent out wide, and their combination play with Brian White changed the game. Defensively, Ralph Priso bodied Messi on multiple occasions, a sentence I never thought I’d write.
Most of us, I suspect, are still processing this one, however. It isn’t clear yet what the off-season has in store for some of the team’s stars, and while I stand by what I wrote Friday, that this season has changed this city’s conception of this team and this team’s conception of itself, nothing in the future is guaranteed. Still, I have faith that this organization can respond and be stronger because of Saturday. This team has an elite coach, an elite CSO, and lots of top-end players. They will be one of the favorites next season, and with good reason.
This has been one of the best seasons in MLS history from any team, MLS Cup or not. No team has made it to three finals in one calendar year, nor has any side been dominant in both continental and MLS play like the Caps were. Everyone involved with the organization should be proud. This was one of the most fun seasons of any sports team I’ve ever followed and I’d do it again 100/100, even knowing the heartbreak in the end. If Don Garber is willing, why don’t we meet back here in February and do it all over again — just with a slightly different ending.
Shameless Self Promotion
If you dare to relive the final, we have you covered with the final post-match report of the year.
Best of the Rest
Jesper Sorensen rightly talked about shedding proud tears after the game — despite the pain of coming up short.
The Province is reporting that the city and the Caps are nearing a deal to give them a shot at developing a stadium at Hastings Park and, ideally, avoiding any further stadium drama.
We now know which teams will be facing off in BC Place during the 2026 World Cup. Canada’s group, meanwhile, looks doable — if they avoid Italy qualifying.
ex- Cap coach, Vanni Sartini, going to Halifax — its the right move
Story by Gemma Karstens-Smith:
not surprisingly, i like to troll for current Cap news as it hits
Players going and players staying, at least for a few months:
Goalie, Isaac Boehmer, has been signed until 2027/option for 2028- i am shocked unless Takaoka is leaving and Isaac is given a real shot at being the starter for 2026
Vancouver’s other season-ending roster moves include exercising options on midfielders Ali Ahmed and Sebastian Berhalter, defenders Mathias Laborda and Ralph Priso, forward J.C. Ngando and goalkeeper Adrian Zendejas.- it might be that the Caps do sign players like Ahmed and Berhalter who can be cashed in on if they leave for Europe- i think the rest will be staying and Priso has probably been given a substantial raise which he has earned
The ‘Caps said in a release they are in ongoing contract talks with starting goalkeeper Yohei Takaoka and defender Belal Halbouni.— personally, i hope both get signed and stay for 2026-2027
Salty
Players on Options for 2026- in USD
1. Mattias Laborda- $900 000- a BIG salary for a defender
2. Seba Berhalter- $385 000- does he want to try Europe? its now or never IMO
3. Yohei takaoka- $760 000- does he want to go back to Japan
4. Daniel Rios- $147 600- i will miss his
5. Ali Ahmed- $150 000
6. Isaac Boehmer- $104 000
7. Belal Halbouni- $165 000
8. JC Ngando- $104 000
9. Ralph Priso- $104 000
10. Thomas Muller- $1.2 million (with a huge increase for the 2026 option)
Axel Schuster has a lot of work to do in the next 2-3 months in order to get the Team set for 2026- he will either have to sign them or, if the player wants to go to another club, sell them and get some cash for other player purchases – knowing him, he already knows which players will not be back for 2026 and his scouting staff is shaking the trade bushes
Salty
WHAT A GOOD PIECE OF WRITING !!
so much to be thankful for this season, especially when most- and myself included- didnt think the Caps would reach these heights, particularly when Ryan Gauld went down in March- the thought was- who would fill in for him?? of course, the answer is
THE TEAM
i never suspected that Ralph Priso would become one of my favorites- mo matter where he played, he was significant in that role, to the point where he had to be a starter; and of course, how Seba Berhalter rose to become a MLS star in MF; and who of us would have guessed that Jesper Sorenson would be the perfect head coach that would bring out the belief that every player of 26 would play a role in winning; and then the signing of Thomas Muller
and as i stated here weeks ago, the Stadium deal at Hastings Park will be completed soon when other pieces are agreed to, such as the rental lease for 3-4 years at BC Place Stadium, a Skytrain link and making the north part of Hastings Park an Entertainment Hub – yet, this is a bigger plan than that – its a massive investment from old and new Owners who must be excited about what has happened in the Lower Mainland towards the Whitecaps and the massive crowd and excitement vs LAFC was the clincher- this a gem of a soccer market and NO WAY will the Caps be leaving
we will hear more over the next 1-2 months- hold onto your hat!!
Salty
Scrambler
What a great season to be sure! Full marks to Axel for making it happen.
I agree with you about the gem of a soccer market, and it is not just Vancouver but all of B.C. and maybe the prairies as well ( There are a lot of keen soccer fans out there – some would remember the friendly in Edmonton in 1994, Canada vs Brazil ( Romario and Bebeto et al. ) that attracted over 50000 fans ). Don’t know if the Whitecaps keep track of how many out of town fans attend their matches, but maybe they should. We could become ” Western Canada’s Team ” , and with proper marketing and some attractive travel packages, maybe fill that stadium many times over.