Soccer City: Vancouver - fog on the Fraser

THE FUTURE of association football in Vancouver is somewhat uncertain; despite playing host to seven games in the 2026 World Cup to near-capacity crowds, the city could lose its Major League Soccer club to a US city if issues over its current stadium are not resolved. North American sports are not afraid of the concept of a shifting franchise, something that European football simply wouldn't tolerate, but Vancouver's football fans have been kicking and screaming about the possibility of the Whitecaps being forced out of the attractive and modern city on the Fraser river.

Football has stiff sporting competition in Vancouver and some of it can be found next door to the BC Place stadium where they play. All major North American cities like to have their local teams in Baseball, Basketball, NFL and Ice Hockey if they can and Vancouver has the Canuks, who are currently propping-up the National Hockey League (NHL).

But they draw around 17,500 to their games at the Rogers Arena, which is a stone's throw from the football stadium. The Canuks arguably, have greater visibility than the Whitecaps, who are riding high at the top of the MLS Western Conference and are attracting crowds of 25,000 to BC Place.

But as many team owners have found out, good crowds, strong results and a robust brand do not guarantee anything in US/Canadian sports. You need billionaire owners for that sort of certainty.

Vancouver, with a population of 662,000 (2.7 million metropolitan area),is a vibrant metropolis, with eye-catching architecture and a pleasant waterside ambience. At the same time, it has its social problems, such as rising homelessness and a surprisingly open drug culture that often shocks visitors to the city.

Locals are clearly embarrassed by the problem, which is fuelled by poverty, rising rents, housing shortages and an unemployment rate of approximately 6%. Despite its social issues, Vancouver is frequently listed among the best cities in the world from a quality of life perspective.

The Whitecaps' current situation regarding their home ground comes just a year after they reached the MLS Cup final against Inter Miami. They were beaten by Lionel Messi's team 3-1 at the end of what was their most successful season since 1979 when they won the North American Soccer League (NASL).

That was a time of ageing greats from English football making their way to the NASL. The Whitecaps' team that beat Tampa Bay Rowdies in the final included England 1966 World Cup winner Alan Ball, Derby County's all-time leading scorer Kevin Hector and Scottish international Willie Johnston.

The Whitecaps were not among the teams forming the first NASL in 1968. That honour fell to Vancouver Royals, a club that was rebranded from the Vancouver Royal Canadians.