Photo Epic: 2025 Canadian Championship - Whitecaps FC vs Vancouver FC - Oct 1, 2025
VANCOUVER - The Vancouver Whitecaps faced Vancouver FC for the first time ever in the Canadian Championship - an all Vancouver matchup. Dubbed the "604 Derby", the Vancouver Whitecaps won the match 4 - 2 and hoisted their 5th Voyagers Cup as a club, and their 4th consecutive cup.
Ali Ahmed was named 2025's George Ross Memorial Trophy MVP winner, and Jayden Nelson was named the Best Young Canadian Player award, which goes to the best Canadian player of the tournament under 23.
The Canadian Championship is an all domestic championship organized by the Canadian Soccer Association, and contested by all Canadian Premier League teams, the four League1 division Champions, as well as all Canadian MLS teams. The Vancouver Whitecaps, as 2024 Canadian Champions, earned a bye into the quarter finals, and knocked off Valour FC, as well as Forge FC, to earn their place in the Final.
The Canadian Championship determines one of Canada's entries into the CONCACAF Champions Cup. Though they earned the win over Vancouver FC, the Vancouver Whitecaps have already earned a berth in the CONCACAF Champions Cup based on their MLS season standings alone, meaning the Vancouver FC team earned the Canadian Championship berth as runners up.
Words and Images Credits: Alex Bowen / Cascadia FC
Early warm ups, walk out, and the first glimpse at the prize to pay for; The Voyagers Cup. Image Credit: Alex Bowen / Cascadia FC
Image Credit: Alex Bowen / Cascadia FC
The Vancouver Whitecaps opened the scoring early, with Ali Ahmed opening the scoring in the 5th minute, off a sharp cross from Thomas Müller. Image Credit: Alex Bowen / Cascadia FC
First half motion and action; Whitecaps pushing hard. Image Credit: Alex Bowen / Cascadia FC
First half ended with the Whitecaps up 3-1 after Nicolás Mezquida fed Thierno 'Elage' Bah for Vancouver FC's only goal of the half, but the Whitecaps would maintain a 2 goal lead with a PK from Müller and a responding goal from Ahmed; his second of the match. Image Credit: Alex Bowen / Cascadia FC
The Return of the King; Ryan Gauld returns to the pitch after a lengthy stint on injury. Ryan would bring BC Place to it's feet, scoring the Whitecaps 4th goal of the night in front of the supporters section, a moment the fans had been hoping for all night. Image Credit: Alex Bowen / Cascadia FC
Image Credit: Alex Bowen / Cascadia FC
2025 Canadian Champions, Vancouver Whitecaps. Image Credit: Alex Bowen / Cascadia FC
Final festivities. Image Credit: Alex Bowen / Cascadia FC
