Whitecaps FC Academy
| Founded | 2007 |
|---|---|
| Stadium |
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| Head coach |
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| League | League1 British Columbia (L1BC) |
| 2024 |
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| Vancouver Whitecaps FC teams | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Whitecaps FC Academy (sponsor name Whitecaps FC BMO Academy) is the youth system of the professional soccer club Vancouver Whitecaps, based in Vancouver, British Columbia. It fields a men's and women's team in the semi-professional League1 British Columbia.
Men's
The men's academy is officially named the Vancouver Whitecaps FC MLS Academy. It is a full-time, fully funded, player development program.[1] Originally known as the Vancouver Whitecaps Residency programs, they changed their name in 2018 to the Whitecaps FC Academy.[2] They have affiliations with youth soccer clubs across Canada, forming part of the Whitecaps FC BMO Academy.[3]
Seasons
| Season | League | Teams | Record | Rank | Playoffs | Top scorer | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | League1 British Columbia | 7 | 4–4–4 | 3rd | did not qualify | Gurman Sangha (6) | [4] |
| 2023 | 8 | 5–7–2 | 3rd | Champions | Michael Hennessy (7) | [4] | |
| 2024 | 7 | 5–4–3 | 3rd | Semi-finals | 3 players (4) | [4] |
Women's
The women's academy is officially named the Vancouver Whitecaps FC Girls Elite Academy. In 2015, the Canadian Soccer Association partnered with the BC Soccer Association and the Vancouver Whitecaps FC to launch its regional EXCEL program which will be run as part of the Whitecaps FC Academy.[5]
In 2021, it was announced that the program would join the semi-professional League1 British Columbia as a founding franchise for the 2022 season.[6][7] Their home games will take place at Ken Woods Field at the National Soccer Development Centre.[8] They played their debut match on May 22, defeating the Victoria Highlanders 5-1.[9]
During the 2022 regular season, the Whitecaps managed to finish second in the regular season standings and qualified for the Championship final, despite many of their university age players having to depart the team before the end of the season, leaving them with a roster composed of 14-17 year old players.[10][11] In the Championship Final, the Whitecaps Girls defeated Varsity FC to win the inaugural women's League1 British Columbia title.[12] In May 2023, the team participated in the 2023 Blue Stars/FIFA Youth Cup, winning the title.[13] In the 2023 L1BC season, they won the league double, capturing the regular season title and the playoff championship, advancing to the Women's Inter-Provincial Championship,[14] which they also won to become the overall League1 Canada champions.[15] In 2024, they once again won the League1 BC title to advance to the Inter-Provincial Championship again,[16] winning the overall League1 Canada title for the second consecutive year.[17]
Seasons
| Season | League | Teams | Record | Rank | Playoffs | National / continental | Ref | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | League1 British Columbia | 7 | 8–1–3 | 2nd | Champions | withdrew | [18] | |
| 2023 | 8 | 11–1–2 | 1st | Champions | Blue Stars/FIFA Youth Cup | Champions | [18] | |
| Inter-Provincial Championship | Champions | |||||||
| 2024 | 7 | 10–2–0 | 1st | Champions | Inter-Provincial Championship | Champions | ||
| CONCACAF W Champions Cup | Group stage | |||||||
Professional players from the Whitecaps FC Academy
- As of April 4, 2025[19]
External links
References
- ^ "Program Info". Vancouver Whitecaps FC. Archived from the original on August 8, 2020. Retrieved August 9, 2020.
- ^ "Residency program rebranded to Whitecaps FC Academy, rosters announced". Vancouver Whitecaps FC. September 4, 2018. Archived from the original on February 1, 2019. Retrieved September 24, 2018.
- ^ "Whitecaps FC BMO Academy Centres". Vancouver Whitecaps FC. Archived from the original on August 11, 2020. Retrieved August 9, 2020.
- ^ a b c "League1 British Columbia Standings". Canadian Soccer History Archive.
- ^ "Girls' Elite Academy". Vancouver Whitecaps FC.
- ^ "Canada Soccer Announces 2022 Club Competitions for National Development Centres". Canadian Soccer Association. Archived from the original on March 5, 2022. Retrieved August 31, 2024.
- ^ "League1BC welcomes the Vancouver Whitecaps as a founding License Holder". League1 British Columbia. October 22, 2021. Archived from the original on June 26, 2022. Retrieved August 27, 2024.
- ^ McColl, Michael (May 10, 2022). "The Grounds of League1 BC: Ken Woods Field, UBC, Vancouver – Home of Vancouver Whitecaps U19 and Girls Elite". Away from the Numbers. Archived from the original on June 16, 2024. Retrieved August 27, 2024.
- ^ Fossey, Maxim (May 22, 2022). "League1 BC: Women get the win, men earn a draw". Vancouver Whitecaps FC. Archived from the original on December 9, 2023. Retrieved August 27, 2024.
- ^ Fossey, Maxim (July 22, 2022). "League1 BC: 'Caps clinch a spot in the final!". Vancouver Whitecaps FC. Archived from the original on December 11, 2023. Retrieved August 27, 2024.
- ^ "'Caps excited for League1 BC final: "We saw what the young players were capable of"". Vancouver Whitecaps FC. July 29, 2022. Archived from the original on August 27, 2024. Retrieved August 27, 2024.
- ^ Fossey, Maxim (August 1, 2022). "Vancouver Whitecaps FC Girls Elite crowned League1 BC Finals champions!". Vancouver Whitecaps FC. Archived from the original on July 22, 2024. Retrieved August 27, 2024.
- ^ "Comeback Queens! A look back at the five trophies Whitecaps FC Girls Elite have won in the last year". Vancouver Whitecaps FC. August 8, 2023. Archived from the original on May 22, 2024. Retrieved August 27, 2024.
- ^ Mahmoudi, Nelson (August 6, 2023). "Cap-Italizing The Moment: Whitecaps Academies Claim Double L1BC Title". Northern Tribune. Archived from the original on June 18, 2024. Retrieved August 27, 2024.
- ^ "Inter-Provincial Championship: Girls Elite win national title!". Vancouver Whitecaps FC. August 13, 2023. Archived from the original on August 10, 2024. Retrieved August 27, 2024.
- ^ McGoldrick, Hayley (August 8, 2024). "L1C Women's Inter-Provincial Championship Preview: Whitecaps FC Girls Elite eye title defence". Canadian Premier League. Archived from the original on August 13, 2024. Retrieved August 27, 2024.
- ^ Vallejo, Felipe (August 11, 2024). "'Caps win second straight Women's Inter-Provincial Championship in a row". Vancouver Whitecaps FC. Archived from the original on August 12, 2024. Retrieved August 27, 2024.
- ^ a b "League1 British Columbia Women Standings". Canadian Soccer History Archive.
- ^ "Academy Alumni". Archived from the original on January 24, 2021. Retrieved October 13, 2020.