Vancouver Whitecaps FC have officially kicked off their fourth consecutive preseason in Spain, holding their first training session on Sunday at the Sotogrande Football Center, part of the renowned Marbella Football Center network in southern Spain.
The team departed Vancouver on Friday and arrived in Cádiz on Saturday, which will serve as their home base for the next 24 days. During their stay in Europe, the Whitecaps are scheduled to play between four and five preseason matches across the Andalusia region, with match details set to be confirmed in the coming days. The club is expected to return to Vancouver on February 11.
One of the key storylines of the European camp is the full integration of Thomas Müller, one of the club’s newest signings. The experienced midfielder is participating in his first complete preseason with Vancouver Whitecaps, joining the squad in Spain as the team intensifies preparations for the 2026 MLS season and the Concacaf Champions Cup.
Müller is part of a group of eight first-team players taking part in their first full Whitecaps preseason in Spain, alongside Kenji Cabrera, Joedrick Pupe, Sebastian Schonlau, Oliver Larraz, Emmanuel Sabbi, and WFC2 graduates Rayan Elloumi and Nelson Pierre. His arrival adds experience and depth to an already competitive roster.
In total, 37 players are participating in the preseason camp, including 28 first-team players. The squad features a strong core of returning talent, with 25 players back from last season, as well as academy graduates Nikola Djordjevic and Mihail Gherasimencov, and recent signing Oliver Larraz.
The Whitecaps enter the new season with a solid veteran foundation. Nine first-team players have been with the club for three or more MLS seasons, including goalkeeper Isaac Boehmer, defender Ranko Veselinović, midfielders Sebastian Berhalter and Andrés Cubas, and attacking leaders Ryan Gauld and Brian White.
Player development remains a central pillar of the club’s identity. A total of 16 players from the Whitecaps FC BMO Academy are training with the group, highlighting the organization’s long-term commitment to youth development and internal progression.
Several players are set to join the squad in the coming days following international duty. Jeevan Badwal, Rayan Elloumi, and Ralph Priso will report after completing a Canada men’s national team camp, while Giuseppe Bovalina will arrive after representing Australia’s U-23 national team at the AFC U-23 Asian Cup.
After completing the preseason in Spain, Vancouver Whitecaps FC will shift focus to official competition. The club opens its Concacaf Champions Cup campaign on February 18 with a first-leg matchup against Club Sport Cartaginés, followed by the MLS season opener on February 21 against Real Salt Lake at BC Place.
