Game by game of Whitecaps’ season
Club to break out retro kit to mark 40th anniversary of ’79 Soccer Bowl title
The Vancouver Whitecaps look like they will open the 2019 season with more question marks than signed players, and don’t expect any answers to those questions until later in the year.
The new-look squad — and that includes the retro kit the team will wear as it celebrates the 40th anniversary of its Soccer Bowl win — likely won’t be complete until the next transfer window opens.
The first half of the season will see the bulk of the games at B.C. Place Stadium, before a murderous stretch from June 26 to Aug. 28 that will see Vancouver on the road for nine of 12 games, before finishing the season playing four out of five at home — with the one road trip a short jaunt to L.A. to face the Galaxy.
Here’s a look at the complete schedule, with a few highlights:
Saturday, March 2, 3 p.m. — Minnesota United FC (TSN)
The Loons cleaned house after a dysfunctional 2018, parting ways with 13 players this season, though they did sign a new DP in Jan Gregus. With the Caps losing Alphonso Davies and missing the playoffs last year, the season and home-opener couldn’t be more important.
Saturday, March 9, 3 p.m. — at Real Salt Lake (TSN)
A first-half injury-time goal and one in the 88th cost the Caps last season in their visit to Rio Tinto.
Saturday, March 16, 12 p.m. — at Houston Dynamo (TSN, CTV)
The Caps recorded their first win in Houston and first road victory of the year in Game 2 of last season.
Saturday, March 30, 7 p.m. — Seattle Sounders (TSN)
The first of two meetings against the Sounders this year. Their rivalry stretches back 45 years.
Friday, April 5, 7 p.m. — L.A. Galaxy (TSN)
Zlatan! Zlatan! Zlatan … probably won’t play on the turf.
Friday, April 12, 5:30 p.m. — at Chicago Fire (TSN)
Bastian Schweinsteiger will be back with the Fire, though they had the fourth-worst record in MLS last season.
Wednesday, April 17, 7 p.m. — LAFC (TSN)
The black and gold left the Caps blue to the tune of 2-0 in their last visit.
Saturday, April 20, 12 p.m. — at Orlando City SC (TSN, CTV)
The Caps get their longest road trip of the season out of the way early. New Caps D/M Victor “PC” Giro will face his former team for the first time.
Saturday, April 27, 2 p.m. — Philadelphia Union (TSN)
The Caps had a six-game unbeaten streak demolished in a 4-0 loss to the Union after going down to 10 men in their last meeting.
Friday, May 3, 6 p.m. — at Colorado Rapids (TSN)
Circle this one. It’s the first time the Caps will see Kei Kamara this season, after parting ways with the popular and high-scoring striker.
Friday, May 10, 7 p.m. — Portland Timbers (TSN)
The Caps’ second Cascadia Cup game. Phonzie torched the Timbers for two goals in the last game of 2018. But there’s no Davies this year.
Fun fact: Marc Dos Santos beat Timbers coach Giovanni Savarese in the 2017 NASL Soccer Bowl.
Wednesday, May 15, 7 p.m. — Atlanta United FC (TSN)
Brek Shea signed with Atlanta in the off-season as a left back. The Five Stripes will likely have figured out he can’t defend by this point of the season.
Saturday, May 18, 5:30 p.m. — at Sporting Kansas City (TSN)
A return to the scene of the Mile High Massacre. Caps tormentor Johnny Russell is still around, though he has been linked to Celtic in Scotland. Could former Cap Erik Hurtado see any action?
Wednesday, May 22, 5 p.m. — at New York Red Bulls (TSN)
Hello, Tim Parker. Will he try to woo Jake Nerwinski back home, too?
Saturday, May 25, 4 p.m. — FC Dallas (TSN)
When Matt Hedges headed in an 87th goal against Vancouver, it was the beginning of the end for the Caps last year. The 2-1 loss cost Carl Robinson his job, and the team couldn’t pull out of the dysfunction that followed.
Friday, May 31, 7 p.m. — Toronto FC (TSN)
A win over “Canada’s Team” would be a good way to head into the international break.
Saturday, June 22, 7 p.m. — Colorado Rapids (TSN)
Kamara and Nico Mezquida return to B.C. Place. Who will get more applause at this point of the season? Them or the Caps?
Wednesday, June 26, 6 p.m. — at FC Dallas (TSN)
An own goal and the latest penalty kick in MLS history saved the Caps in their last visit to Dallas.
Saturday, June 29, 7 p.m. — at Seattle Sounders (TSN)
Hopefully the Caps have two Cascadia wins under their belt by this point.
Saturday, July 6, 7:30 p.m. — at LAFC (TSN)
In their last visit to Banc of California Stadium, the Caps trailed 2-0 after 15 minutes, but rallied to tie in their penultimate game.
Saturday, July 13, 7 p.m. — Sporting Kansas City (TSN)
Prediction: Rufio gets the start and scores for KC.
Wednesday, July 17, 4 p.m. — at New England Revolution (TSN)
Bob Kraft will not be lending the Caps his charter jet for this trip.
Saturday, July 20, 7 p.m. — San Jose Earthquakes (TSN)
As hard as last year was for the Caps, it was worse for San Jose, who finished dead last in MLS.
Saturday, July 27, 5 p.m. — at Minnesota United FC (TSN)
Davies danced his way to two highlight-reel goals last time the Loons came. Did we mention Phonzie isn’t here anymore?
Saturday, Aug. 3, 5 p.m. — at FC Cincinnati (TSN)
The first meeting between new/old friends. The expansion side is led by former Caps residency coach Alan Koch, and counts formerly disgruntled centreback Kendall Waston in its numbers, along with Darren Mattocks and Spencer Richey.
Saturday, Aug. 10, 8 p.m. — at Portland Timbers
Hopefully the Caps are still in the Cascadia Cup race.
Saturday, Aug. 17, 7 p.m. — DC United (TSN)
Wayne Rooney’s last visit to an airport didn’t go so well.
Saturday, Aug. 24, 7 p.m. — at San Jose Earthquakes (TSN)
Hopefully San Jose’s Chris Wondolowski has scored the two goals he needs to pass Landon Donovan for the MLS all-time lead.
Wednesday, Aug. 28, 5 p.m. — at Montreal Impact, (TSN)
A return home for the Montreal-born Dos Santos, a former Impact head coach (USL).
Saturday, Aug. 31, 7 p.m. — New York City FC (TSN)
This game will commemorate Vancouver’s 1979 NASL Soccer Bowl triumph, even if it came against the Tampa Bay Rowdies.
Next best thing: Playing a New York team nearly 40 years to the day after dumping the New York Cosmos in a wild, two-leg semifinal series at Giants Stadium.
Saturday, Sep. 14, 7 p.m. — Houston Dynamo (TSN)
Conference opponent? Check. Near the end of the season? Check. This could be a massive game for the Caps.
Saturday, Sep. 21, 2 p.m. — Columbus Crew SC (TSN)
The Crew make their first visit to B.C. Place in over two years.
Sunday, Sep. 29, 4:30 p.m. — at LA Galaxy (TSN)
Zlatan! Zlatan! Zlatan … will probably play, if the game means anything to Los Angeles
Sunday, Oct. 6, 1 p.m. — Real Salt Lake (TSN)
Two points separated the Caps and RSL, who scooped the last playoff berth last year. This game could be the biggest of the year for both, if they follow a similar trajectory.