We are just one month away from the start of the regular season for the Vancouver Whitecaps, and that also means it’s preseason time! I want to apologize for being AFK for the latter portion of the last and most offseason. I can promise things will be much more consistent from now on.
Vancouver Whitecaps Preseason Games
Vancouver Whitecaps FC confirmed the club would play four preseason games in San Diego, California. The team will depart for San Diego on February 5 for an 11-day camp in Southern California.
The first match will see the ‘Caps face a mix of Club Tijuana’s first team and reserve players on February 6. After, Vancouver will play their second match on February 9 against the USL side, New Mexico United. They also play at Triton Soccer Stadium.
In the third match, the Whitecaps will face USL side in San Diego Loyal SC at Torero Stadium on February 12. Finally, Vancouver will wrap up the trip with a closed-door scrimmage against LA Galaxy at Dignity Health Sports Park on February 16.
Following the Galaxy match, the team will return to Vancouver and resume training at the WFC NSDC at UBC to prepare for their 2022 MLS regular-season opener against Columbus Crew on Saturday, February 26.
Image via 90plus Podcast on Twitter
Whitecaps Preseason Roster Updates
Players reported for the start of the 2022 preseason camp this weekend, with the first on-field session kicking off on Monday at the Whitecaps FC National Soccer Development Centre.
The’ Caps current first-team roster includes a club record of 27 returning players and one new addition, as well as three players away on loan. The 28 MLS roster players have an average age of 24 years and 45 days. This includes 13 players 23-years-old or younger. The team will also feature 12 Canadians and 14 players from different birth countries.
Tristan Blackmon and five 2021-midseason acquisitions in Ryan Gauld, Marcus Godinho, Florian Jungwirth, Pedro Vite, and Brian White are taking part in their first preseason camp in Vancouver.
Javain Brown is currently away with Jamaica as they get set to play an international friendly in Peru. In addition, Caio Alexandre, Evan Newton, and Ranko Veselinovic will arrive in Vancouver in the coming days.
Maxime Crepeau is away for personal reasons, although the current rumor is that he is going to LAFC for a reported $1 million in GAM. Finally, Janio Bikel is in Europe while the club explores loan or transfer options.
Source confirms LAFC finalizing trade for Canadian international GK Max Crepeau from the Vancouver Whitecaps. @SoccerInsider 1st.
Hearing the deal will be for around $1m GAM. Crepeau, 27, among best GKs in MLS. Has made 57 apps with the Whitecaps.
— Tom Bogert (@tombogert) January 20, 2022
Breaking! Update regarding Janio Bikel. #VWFC are in advanced talks with Serie B side Vicenza over a loan-to-buy deal. Club announced earlier that Bikel is already in talks with the new club. Announcement is expected soon.
— Manuel Veth (@ManuelVeth) January 17, 2022
The seven unsigned camp invitees include two members from last year’s roster in Isaac Boehmer and Tosaint Ricketts. In addition, the four SuperDraft selections, Giovanni Aguilar, Simon Becher, Théo Collomb, and Luis Felipe Fernandez-Salvador, will also join the team. Lastly, Kwame Awuah, who was most recently with Forge FC of the Canadian Premier League, will be the final invitee.
Preseason Roster
Goalkeepers (3): Isaac Boehmer, Thomas Hasal, Evan Newton
Centre Backs (7): Tristan Blackmon, Matteo Campagna, Gianfranco Facchineri, Érik Godoy, Florian Jungwirth, Jake Nerwinski, Ranko Veselinović
Fullbacks/Wingers (6): Kwame Awuah, Javain Brown, Cristian Dájome, Marcus Godinho, Cristián Gutiérrez, Ryan Raposo
Midfielders (10): Giovanni Aguilar, Caio Alexandre, Michael Baldisimo, Janio Bikel, Luis Felipe Fernandez-Salvador, Ryan Gauld, Kamron Habibullah, Leonard Owusu, Russell Teibert, Pedro Vite
Forwards (8): Theo Bair, Simon Becher, Déiber Caicedo, Lucas Cavallini, Théo Collomb, David Egbo, Tosaint Ricketts, Brian White
Players away on loan:
Simon Colyn – Jong PSV
Derek Cornelius – Panetolikos FC
Damiano Pecile – Venezia FC
