Editor's note: This article has been updated to give the date and time of the Vancouver Whitecaps FC playoff game at Sporting Kansas City.
Vancouver Whitecaps FC spent longer in the United States than their Canadian counterparts, Toronto FC and CF Montréal, in 2021. Like Toronto FC, the Whitecaps had a coaching change. Unlike the Reds, the change brought a dramatic comeback and Vancouver will be the lone Canadian representative in the 2021 MLS playoffs.
The 1-1 tie with Seattle at BC Place earlier today gave the Whitecaps just enough points for a Western Conference playoff spot. This is the first playoff appearance for Vancouver since 2017, the season where the team earned its only playoff win as a MLS team.
Vancouver Whitecaps FC finished the regular season 12-9-13 for 49 points. The team went 10-4-3 in "home" games, 7-1-1 in Vancouver, and 2-5-10 on the road.
Head coach Marc Dos Santos had been the dean of Canadian team coaches (not saying much) until he and assistant coach Phillip Dos Santos were dismissed on August 27. Vanni Sartini (above) has been the interim head coach. The Whitecaps are 7-2-5 under Sartini.
While Toronto FC and CF Montréal got to return to Canada in mid-July, Vancouver didn't start up in Canada at BC Place until August 21. The Whitecaps played at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, Utah, outside Salt Lake City, Utah until July 31.
Thank you for standing by us 💙#VWFC pic.twitter.com/4pTFgGV8Er
— Vancouver Whitecaps FC (@WhitecapsFC) November 8, 2021
The Whitecaps (#6 seed) will travel to Sporting Kansas City (#3 seed). Sporting Kansas City went 9-3-5 at home. Each team won a game at home in the regular season: Sporting KC won 3-0 on May 16 while Vancouver won 2-1 on October 17.
The game will indeed be on November 20 at 5 pm Eastern from the state of Kansas. Univision and TUDN in the United States; TSN and TVA Sports in Canada will have the game. If you activate the SAP feed for TUDN, the game will feature audio in English, though the halftime and commercials will be en Espanol.
If the Whitecaps advance, Vancouver will face the winner of the Seattle Sounders vs. Real Salt Lake.
Kansas, we're coming 🌊
— Vancouver Whitecaps FC (@WhitecapsFC) November 9, 2021
Our first 2021 MLS Cup Playoff matchup has been announced ⬇️
🗓️ Saturday, November 20
🕑 2pm PT
🆚 @SportingKC
📍 Kansas City, KS
🏟️ Children's Mercy Park
📺 TSN
📻 AM730#VWFC
Toronto FC, CF Montreal get to cross back into Canada
2021 MLS preview
CF Montréal was still alive on Decision Day, needing a win over Orlando SC at Stade Saputo. The team was shut out in the final game.
CF Montréal started the season in Florida at Inter Miami CF's DRV PNK Stadium. The team lost a pair of home games in early July due to CONCACAF Gold Cup qualification. CF Montréal played "home" games (July 3) in its 2020 home in Harrison, NJ and in Orlando on July 7. CF Montréal returned to Stade Spauto on July 17.
CF Montréal finished 12-12-10 for 46 points, 10th in the Eastern Conference. The team finished 1-2-3 in the last 6 games. The lone win over Houston kept CF Montréal alive on Decision Day. The team went 9-4-4 in "home" games, 6-3-2 in Montréal, and 3-8-6 on the road.
Wilfried Nancy coached the team through the whole 2021 season.
Canadian MLS teams start an extended U.S. road trip
Toronto FC spent 3 months (April 17-July 16) in Orlando at Exploria Stadium. The Reds got to play home matches on July 17 and July 21 before getting clearance to host at BMO Field. Toronto FC changed coaches in mid-season: Chris Armas was the new coach until July 4, then Javier Pérez served as the interim coach. Former coach Greg Vanney led the LA Galaxy, a team that narrowly missed the playoffs.
Toronto FC finished 6-18-10 for 28 points, 13th in the Eastern Conference. The team went 4-6-7 in "home" games, 3-4-6 in Toronto, and 2-12-3 on the road.
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Watching Canadian teams in MLS action required ESPN+ on the U.S. side. Even having Canadian teams on U.S. soil could not draw any of the English and Spanish outlets to carry any Canadian team.
The only time, other than local outlets, they appeared on U.S. TV was Fox Sports 2's coverage of the Canadian Championship. The outlet didn't cover all the games. CF Montréal was on twice: CF Montréal handled the HFX Wanderers 3-1 in the quarterfinal on September 22 in Halifax. The other contest was the semifinal 0-0 (8-7) with Forge FC in Hamilton on October 27.
Toronto FC and CF Montréal will play for the Canadian Championship at a date to be determined.
CanadianCrossing.com soccer coverage
Vancouver Whitecaps FC have only made the playoffs 4 times since 2011. The Whitecaps were eliminated in 2012 (LA Galaxy) and 2014 (Dallas) by 2-1 scores. Vancouver suffered a tie and a loss to Portland, going scoreless in the 2015 MLS playoffs. The 2017 postseason produced a home win (San Jose 5-0) before a tie and loss to Seattle, going scoreless in that round.
MLS Canadian teams playoffs results
| Year | Date | Teams | Winner | Score |
| 2021 | November 20 | Vancouver @ Sporting Kansas City | TBD | TBD |
| 2020 | November 24 | Nashville @ Toronto | Nashville | 1-0 (ET) |
| 2020 | November 20 | Montréal @ New England | New England | 2-1 |
| 2019 | November 10 | Toronto @ Seattle | Seattle | 3-1 |
| 2019 | October 30 | Toronto @ Atlanta | Toronto | 2-1 |
| 2019 | October 23 | Toronto @ New York City FC | Toronto | 2-1 |
| 2019 | October 19 | D.C. United @ Toronto | Toronto | 5-1 (ET) |
| 2017 | December 9 | Seattle @ Toronto | Toronto | 2-0 |
| 2017 | November 29 | Columbus @ Toronto | Toronto | 1-0 |
| 2017 | November 21 | Toronto @ Columbus | Tie | 0-0 |
| 2017 | November 5 | New York Red Bulls @ Toronto | NY Red Bulls | 1-0 |
| 2017 | November 2 | Vancouver @ Seattle | Seattle | 2-0 |
| 2017 | October 30 | Toronto @ New York Red Bulls | Toronto | 2-1 |
| 2017 | October 29 | Seattle @ Vancouver | Tie | 0-0 |
| 2017 | October 25 | San Jose @ Vancouver | Vancouver | 5-0 |
| 2016 | December 10 | Seattle @ Toronto FC | Seattle | 0-0 (5-4 PK) |
| 2016 | November 30 | Montréal @ Toronto FC | Toronto FC | 5-2 (ET) |
| 2016 | November 22 | Toronto FC @ Montréal | Montréal | 3-2 |
| 2016 | November 6 | Montréal @ New York Red Bulls | Montréal | 2-1 |
| 2016 | November 6 | Toronto FC @ NYCFC | Toronto FC | 5-0 |
| 2016 | October 30 | NYCFC @ Toronto FC | Toronto FC | 2-0 |
| 2016 | October 30 | New York Red Bulls @ Montréal | Montréal | 1-0 |
| 2016 | October 27 | Montréal @ D.C. United | Montréal | 4-2 |
| 2016 | October 26 | Philadelphia @ Toronto FC | Toronto FC | 3-1 |
| 2015 | November 8 | Portland @ Vancouver | Portland | 2-0 |
| 2015 | November 8 | Montréal @ Columbus | Columbus | 3-1 (ET) |
| 2015 | November 1 | Vancouver @ Portland | Tie | 0-0 |
| 2015 | November 1 | Columbus @ Montréal | Montréal | 2-1 |
| 2015 | October 29 | Toronto FC @ Montréal | Montréal | 3-0 |
| 2014 | October 29 | Vancouver @ Dallas | Dallas | 2-1 |
| 2013 | October 31 | Montréal @ Houston | Houston | 3-0 |
| 2012 | November 1 | Vancouver @ LA Galaxy | LA Galaxy | 2-1 |
photo credit and Twitter captures: @WhitecapsFC
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