Vancouver FC


Vancouver Football Club is a Canadian professional soccer club that competes in the Canadian Premier League, the top tier of the Canadian soccer league system. The club is based in Langley, British Columbia and plays their home matches at Willoughby Stadium.

History

On November 10, 2021, the Canadian Premier League announced that it had awarded an expansion club in Vancouver to SixFive Sports and Entertainment LP. More details were announced on April 13, 2022, when the CPL and SixFive announced that the new club would play in Langley, British Columbia, at Willoughby Stadium, adjacent to the Langley Events Centre.
On November 2, 2022, the club held its official launch event where it announced its name; revealed its branding; and presented Afshin Ghotbi as the club's first head coach. The CPL announced that the club would begin league play for the 2023 season.
In March 2023, Eugene Martínez was called up to the Belize national team for 2022–23 CONCACAF Nations League B matches against Guatemala and the Dominican Republic. In the process he became the first Vancouver FC player to be called for international duty as a member of the club.

First seasons

Vancouver FC played its first league match on April 15, 2023, away to provincial rivals Pacific FC. The match ended in a 1–0 victory for Pacific with Manny Aparicio becoming the first-ever goalscorer against Vancouver. On matchday two, Vancouver defeated York United FC 2–1 for the club's inaugural victory. Shaan Hundal scored the first-ever goal for the club, while Gael Sandoval scored the eventual game-winner.
The club faced Cavalry FC in its first home match at the newly-constructed Willoughby Stadium at Langley Events Centre in front of a sell-out crowd of over 6,500 fans on May 7, 2023. Despite playing a man-down for over an hour after a red card was shown to Rocco Romeo, the club managed a 1–1 draw. First-ever Vancouver FC scorer Shaan Hundal scored the equalizing goal which was also the first home goal in club history.
Vancouver participated in the 2023 Canadian Championship for the first time but lost in the opening round to York United. The club ended their inaugural CPL season in seventh place out of eight – with a record of 8 wins, 5 draws, and 15 losses – and missed the playoffs by nine points. In 2024, Vancouver once again lost in the first round of the Canadian Championship and finished second last in the CPL. Vancouver started the season strong and sat in 2nd place at the end of June but then won only two of their final sixteen matches to fall out of playoff contention.
On July 23, 2025, Vancouver FC relieved manager Afshin Ghotbi of his duties. Despite still being active in the semifinals of the 2025 Canadian Championship at the time of the coaching change, the club sat in last place in the CPL with only 8 points through 15 matches played. Over Ghotbi's two-and-a-half year tenure, the club held a combined 16–22–38 record. Under interim manager Martin Nash, the team earned 13 points in their final 13 games but still finished the season in last place in the CPL. The team did reach the finals of the Canadian Championship where they were defeated by their crosstown rivals Vancouver Whitecaps FC by a score of 4–2. Despite the loss in the final and their regular season record, Vancouver FC qualified for the 2026 CONCACAF Champions Cup.
In December 2025, former head coach Afshin Ghotbi filed a civil claim in the Supreme Court of British Columbia against Vancouver FC’s ownership group, SixFive Sports & Entertainment, alleging the club failed to repay a $500,000 loan he provided in July 2023 to assist with the team’s cash flow. The lawsuit states that Ghotbi agreed to advance the funds after discussions with club directors, with repayment originally due by July 14, 2024 at an interest rate of 12 % per annum and secured by a security interest in SixFive’s assets. The claim further alleges that the loan terms were varied with a higher interest rate and repayment on demand, but that Ghotbi was later informed his security interest was subordinate to other creditors, contrary to earlier representations. After Ghotbi’s departure in July 2025, he sought repayment of the principal plus accrued interest, by then totalling over $700,000, and is seeking damages for breach of contract and misrepresentation. The defendants have disputed the allegations and stated they will contest the claim through the legal process, and that the matter will not affect the club’s ongoing operations. The lawsuit was publicly reported by CBC News and other outlets in late 2025.

Crest and colours

The primary crest is circular and features the name of the club and year of establishment in the outer ring. In the centre is a stylized eagle in the shape of the letter V. The club colours are black, grey, and red.
PeriodKit manufacturerShirt partner
2023–2024MacronCIBC, Carlsberg
2025–presentMacronCafe Artigiano, Carlsberg

Stadium

Vancouver FC play in a new stadium at Willoughby Stadium at Langley Events Centre. It has a capacity of 6,560 seats in its initial configuration, with potential for further expansion. The construction operations began in February 2023 and involved the usage of modular prefabricated elements.

Players and staff

Roster

Staff

Head coaches

Club captains

Records

Year-by-year

International competition

YearCompetitionRoundClubHomeAwayAggregate
2026CONCACAF Champions CupRound One

All-time top scorers

Note: Bold indicates active player
Note: 4 Others tied at 4 goals

All-time top assists

Note: Bold indicates active player

All-time most appearances

Note: Bold indicates active player

Awards

Canadian Premier League Awards