Vancouver Whitecaps beat Vancouver FC, win fourth straight Canadian Championship

By Canadian Press on October 1, 2025.

VANCOUVER — The Vancouver Whitecaps hoisted the Voyageurs Cup for the fourth year in a row on Wednesday.

Ali Ahmed scored twice as the ‘Caps, who play in Major League Soccer, downed Canadian Premier League side Vancouver FC 4-2 in the Canadian Championship final.

Thomas Muller contributed a goal and an assist for the Whitecaps, and Ryan Gauld — playing his first game in more than six months — scored in the 83rd minute.

Thierno Bah and Nicolas Mezquida each had a goal and an assist for Vancouver FC.

The Whitecaps controlled 74 per cent of possession across the game and outshot the visiting Vancouver FC 19-4, with a 7-3 edge in on-target shots.

Toronto FC is the only other team that has won four straight Canadian Championship titles, accomplishing the feat between 2009 and 2012.

Founded in 2008, the tournament featured just three teams until 2011, when FC Edmonton joined. The format expanded in 2019 with the addition of six CPL teams, and this year’s iteration includes 15 teams across six leagues.

The Whitecaps asserted their dominance early on Wednesday, with Ahmed opening the scoring in the fifth minute.

Muller sliced the ball to the Canadian midfielder, who dribbled it in from the top of the penalty area and blasted a sharp-angled shot into the bottom right corner of the net.

The home side doubled its lead less than five minutes later after VFC’s Kunle Dada-Luke was called for taking Ahmed out at the top of the six-yard box.

Referee Drew Fischer was quick to point at the spot and Muller stepped up to take the kick. The German soccer legend sent a right-footed shot in off the post to give the ‘Caps a 2-0 advantage.

The strike marked the 300th goal of Muller’s storied career. He also won the 35th trophy of his career, breaking a tie with Toni Kroos for the most decorated German player of all time.

Vancouver FC got on the board in the 35th minute after Mezquida, a former Whitecaps midfielder, sent Bah a pass and the defender went flying down the field on a breakaway.

Whitecaps ‘keeper Isaac Boehmer came well off his line to challenge but Bah got a shot past him, sending the ball rolling into the wide-open net and cutting VFC’s deficit to 2-1.

The ‘Caps regained their two-goal cushion minutes later.

Midfielder Sebastian Berhalter floated a ball in toward the goal and VFC ‘keeper Callum Irving punched the shot away. The ball popped out to the six-yard box, where Ahmed knocked it in for his second goal of the game.

Cheers rang out around B.C. Place in the 79th minute when Whitecaps captain Gauld came on for Muller.

It was the attacking midfielder’s first game action since March 8 when he suffered a knee injury in an MLS game against CF Montreal.

Four minutes later, the crowd rose yet again when Gauld, stationed at the top of the area, sent a right-footed shot bouncing into the bottom of the net.

VFC replied in the 85th minute when Bah sent the ball to Mezquida and he popped a shot in past Boehmer to seal the score at 4-2.

NOTES: The game marked the first time the Whitecaps and Vancouver FC have ever faced one another. … An announced crowd of 18,372 took in the final.

UP NEXT:

Whitecaps: Host the San Jose Earthquakes in MLS play on Sunday.

Vancouver FC: Return to CPL action Saturday against Forge FC in Hamilton.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 1, 2025.

Gemma Karstens-Smith, The Canadian Press