Two major U.S. cities have emerged as frontrunners to land a Major League Soccer franchise if the Vancouver Whitecaps decide to relocate from Canada, according to a Monday report from The Athletic.
Las Vegas and Phoenix top the list of potential new homes for the soccer club, though Major League Soccer officials refused to provide comment on the speculation.
According to the report, a special committee consisting of MLS team owners convened earlier this month to discuss what lies ahead for the Whitecaps organization, with relocation being one possibility on the table. Other cities including Indianapolis and Sacramento have also shown interest in attracting an MLS team.
League officials have already held discussions with a Las Vegas group seeking to establish a soccer club in the city, the report indicates. Additionally, a different investment group called Starr Vegas has announced an ambitious $10 billion development project for the Las Vegas Strip that would feature a 50,000-capacity soccer venue, though this group has not yet initiated talks with MLS.
The Whitecaps face a deadline pressure as their current agreement to play at BC Place expires at the conclusion of 2026, forcing the organization to secure alternative stadium arrangements in Vancouver.
“Since December 2024, ownership has prioritized finding a buyer committed to keeping the team in Vancouver, and to date, no solution has been found,” the Whitecaps said in a club statement provided to The Athletic.
Any potential move would require approval from MLS ownership and involve both a purchase price and relocation fees. San Diego FC, the league’s newest member as of last season, paid $500 million in expansion fees, and the report suggests any incoming group would face costs exceeding that half-billion dollar threshold.
The Whitecaps entered into exclusive discussions with Vancouver city officials last December, establishing a negotiation window extending through 2026 to explore building a new stadium and entertainment complex at Hastings Park. However, no progress updates have emerged since the club and city signed their Memorandum of Understanding.
The franchise boasts a rich history dating to 1974 when it launched in the North American Soccer League, competing there until the league’s dissolution in 1984. The team then moved through various leagues including the Canadian Soccer League starting in 1986, plus the American Professional Soccer League, United Soccer League, and USSF Division 2 Pro League before joining MLS in 2011.
Despite the uncertainty, Vancouver has achieved recent success as four-time defending Canadian Championship winners and following their historic first MLS Cup final appearance, where they fell 3-1 to Inter Miami CF. The team has started the 2026 season strongly, trailing the Supporters’ Shield leader by just three points after nine games while posting a 7-1-0 record at BC Place.
