VANCOUVER WHITECAPS are on the verge of extinction with Thomas Muller staring down the barrel of a 1,200-mile move.
and legend Muller, 36, made a late-career switch to only last year.
Thomas Muller joined the Vancouver Whitecaps last summer Credit: Getty Images
The Whitecaps’ lease at BC Place expires at the end of 2026 Credit: MLS via Getty Images
But less than 12 months on he is facing the possibility of a drastic relocation from green, mountainous to the bright lights of .
That is because the Whitecaps’ future as an MLS franchise is in serious doubt.
MLS chiefs, who have ultimate authority on the way each franchise is run, met up earlier this month to discuss the possibility of relocating the team, according to The Athletic .
The Whitecaps’ current owners have been trying to sell since 2024, while the lease on their stadium, BC Place, expires at the end of this year.
A statement from the club read: “Over the past 16 months, we have had serious conversations with more than 100 parties, and to date, no viable offer has emerged that would keep the club here.”
Las Vegas was the primary option discussed at the meeting as investors are showing interest in joining the league.
Phoenix is another ‘top contender’, with Indianapolis and Sacramento also floated as ideas.
The Whitecaps added: “It remains the strong preference of this ownership group to find a solution in Vancouver. If there is a local ownership group with the vision and resources to chart a path forward, we urge them to come forward.”
Las Vegas investors are interested in launching an MLS franchise Credit: Getty
Muller, who had never played for a non-German club, has scored 13 goals in 26 games for the Canadian outfit.
His Whitecaps contract expires at the end of 2026, allowing him to either stick with the team for their potential relocation – assuming they offer him an extension – or look for a new challenge as a free agent.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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