The 2021 Vancouver Whitecaps FC season is now done after some much needed MLS playoff experience. Cristian Dajome scored on a penalty kick in the 39th minute, the lone goal for the Whitecaps. Sporting Kansas City advanced with a 3-1 win over Vancouver.
The Canadian teams were at a significant disadvantage from the other MLS teams in 2021, starting the season in the United States. All 3 teams either started with a new coach (Montréal) or switched coaches in the middle of the season (Toronto, Vancouver).
Ryan Gauld and Brian White led the way, especially in the much improved second half of the season for Vancouver. Vanni Sartini went on a really nice run as the newest Whitecaps coach.
Sporting Kansas City outshot Vancouver 12-6.
Chins up#VWFC | @Bell pic.twitter.com/MAdcT2MaFi
— Vancouver Whitecaps FC (@WhitecapsFC) November 21, 2021
This was the best season for Vancouver since 2017, the only MLS season with a playoff win.
The Whitecaps made the MLS playoffs in a season where both Los Angeles teams were on the sidelines. The challenge will be tougher in 2022; having half of their games in Vancouver for the first time since 2019 will help out a lot.
Consider the surprise element of making the MLS playoffs for the first since 2017 (Vancouver) versus a team in the playoffs for the 10th time in 11 seasons (Sporting Kansas City).
.@WhitecapsFC finally end up on U.S. television thanks to @MLS playoffs. That was only helpful if your Spanish is muy bueno. @TUDNUSA normally has SAP in motion but not for the playoffs???
— Chad Rubel (@canadian_xing) November 21, 2021
Update on this: Univision isn’t doing an SAP feed for its playoff games this weekend because there are English-language broadcasts in the participating teams’ local markets.
— Jonathan Tannenwald (@thegoalkeeper) November 18, 2021
I assume (I’ll find out) that the free live stream on MLS’ website has an English feed. https://t.co/mCv7jmBdQc
MLS and its U.S. TV partners have worked together to eliminate Canadian teams from its national broadcasts during the regular season. Making the playoffs means access to U.S. television, though Vancouver drew a day where ESPN and Fox Sports 1 were not being used (as your humble narrator predicted).
The playoff game ran on Univision (Spanish) with an expected English language feed on TUDN. TUDN didn't have an English language feed for either playoff game. MLS points out that there was an English language feed on its Web site and app.
That doesn't help you if you were watching on TV or had a life and would watch the game at a later time. MLS handled this extremely poorly after getting things correct in previous seasons.
MLS allowed local feeds for the games on Univision and TUDN, but those were only for the local markets. The games specifically are on television, that is not on ESPN+. U.S. viewers outside of Seattle could see the final regular season game for the Whitecaps with the TSN feed. Access to the playoffs was considerably more difficult despite the game being on U.S. television.
The money saved by not having an English language feed is offset by the nasty taste of a public relations cluster[bleep].
Canadians could watch the game in English on TSN.
Even with a playoff appearance, the U.S. outlets almost certainly won't have Vancouver (or Montréal or Toronto) on TV in 2022. The only question will be whether those playoff appearances will have an English language feed.
2021 MLS playoffs preview: Vancouver Whitecaps FC as the #6 seed
Toronto FC, CF Montreal get to cross back into Canada
Romell Quioto had the lone goal in the 72nd minute to give CF Montréal the Voyageurs Cup as winners of the 2021 Canadian Championship. The win came at the expense of its primary MLS rival Toronto FC at Stade Saputo in Montréal.
Jordan Perruzza hit the goalpost for the Reds in the 90th minute, the closest Toronto FC came to a goal.
Quioto had 6 of CF Montréal's 23 shots compared to 4 for Toronto FC.
CF Montréal gets bragging rights and a 2022 Concacaf Champions League spot along with the New England Revolution, Colorado Rapids, Seattle Sounders, and the MLS Cup winner.
These teams met for the 2019 Voyageurs Cup as the then Montréal Impact won on a penalty shootout. The 2020 tournament came down to Toronto and Forge FC (Hamilton) that hasn't been scheduled.
CF Montréal had the edge over Toronto FC in the 2021 MLS regular season with 2 wins and a draw.
2021 MLS preview
CanadianCrossing.com soccer coverage
The biggest soccer news in Canada might have been the fact that Canada is now at the top of the CONCACAF World Cup men's soccer group after a 2-1 win over Mexico 2-1 last Tuesday. Cyle Larin scored both goals with the snow at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton.
Canada (4-0-4) with 6 more matches to play. The men haven't played in the World Cup since 1986. Canada is ahead of the United States by a point; 2 points over Mexico and Panama. The top 3 countries qualify for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Canada, the United States, and Mexico are hosting the 2026 World Cup.
'Caps #MLSCupPlayoff merch is here! 🎉#VWFC #BringItHome
— Vancouver Whitecaps FC (@WhitecapsFC) November 13, 2021
MLS Canadian teams playoffs results
| Year | Date | Teams | Winner | Score |
| 2021 | November 20 | Vancouver @ Sporting Kansas City | Kansas City | 3-1 |
| 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: MLS
Twitter captures: @WhitecapsFC; @canadian_xing; @thegoalkeeper; @WhitecapsFC
video credit: YouTube/OneSoccer
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