Vancouver FC Kicks off Second Season on April 14 at Home against Valour FC
January 18, 2024 - Canadian Premier League (CPL)
Vancouver FC News Release
Langley, BC - Vancouver FC will open its second season at Willoughby Community Park on Sunday, April 14, 2024 at 4 p.m. PT against Valour FC, the club announced on Thursday.
The Eagles' full regular season schedule, presented by WestJet, will be announced on Tuesday, January 23. Tickets to Vancouver's 2024 home opener can be purchased through this link.
"I will speak for everyone at VFC that we cannot wait to step onto the field on Apr. 14 and begin our journey towards the CPL summit this season," said Afshin Ghotbi, Head Coach, Vancouver FC. "We have assembled an exciting selection that's bubbling with quality, experience and youth, and a perfect mixture of the local best and inspired international players."
Vancouver's 2024 season opener match will be the first game in franchise history played in April at Willoughby Park. VFC began its inaugural season in 2023 with a four-game road trip, which included the club's lone Canadian Championship competition.
Vancouver's season opener will also be a long-awaited homecoming for the Eagles' new signing, East Vancouver native Ben Fisk, as well as a chance for fans to catch up-and-coming local talents such as Taryck 'TJ' Tahid, James Cameron, and the club's most recent addition, Grady McDonnell. Thirteen familiar faces and fan favourites from VFC's inaugural season will also be back in action starting on Apr. 14, including goalkeeper Callum Irving; defenders Kadin Chung, Rocco Romeo, Ibrahim Bakare, Tyler Crawford, and Anthony White; midfielders Elliot Simmons, Vasco Fry, and Renan Garcia; and forwards Alejandro 'Wero' Díaz, Mouhamadou 'Mamadou' Kane, Gabriel Bitar, and Mikaël Cantave.
Vancouver and Valour spent much of the 2023 season neck and neck in the CPL standing, but a strong finish to the season by the Eagles, who won four of their final six matches, saw them overtake Valour in the standings. Vancouver took five points from its four matches against Valour in 2023, including earning a victory in their last meeting, which saw 'starboy' Tahid notch his third goal of the season before heading the FIFA Under-17 World Cup. The match could see the return of Vancouver's first-ever goal scorer, Shaan Hundal, to Willoughby Park. Hundal joined Valour as a free agent this off-season.
"We miss our fans and we look forward to seeing them in person at our home opener on Apr. 14," said Ghotbi.
Tickets are on sale now for Vancouver's home opener on Apr. 14 against Valour and can be purchased online here or by emailing memberservices@vancouverfc.com.
VFC supporters won't need to miss a moment of the Eagles in action in 2024 thanks to WestJet, the league's Official Airline and Vacation Partner, who will issue an exclusive offer for travelling supporters when the full 2024 regular season schedule is announced on Tuesday, Jan. 23. WestJet is continuing its commitment to bringing soccer fans across the country closer to the game with this limited time offer, making it easier for Vancouver's supporters to take their passion on the road and cheer on VFC this year.
Ahead of Vancouver's season opener, the squad will begin its pre-season training on Feb. 20, 2024 at the Langley Event Centre. VFC will host open training sessions during pre-season for members of the media, with details of those sessions being shared upon request via email to media@vancouverfc.com or katelyn.white@vancouverfc.com. Interviews may be conducted immediately following open training sessions upon approved request by a member of VFC's Communications Department.
Part of Vancouver's pre-season training will include friendly matches against local and MLS clubs with match dates and times yet to be determined. More information on these friendlies will be made available in February.
For fans who want to catch the action at Willoughby Park all season long, 2024 Season Memberships can be purchased through this link or by emailing memberservices@vancouverfc.com.
• Discuss this story on the Canadian Premier League message board...
Canadian Premier League Stories from January 18, 2024
- York United FC to Face Rivals Forge FC in 2024 Home Opener - York United FC
- Halifax Wanderers Host Atlético Ottawa in Home Opener on April 27 - HFX Wanderers FC
- Cavalry FC to Host Pacific FC in 2024 Regular Season Home Opener - Cavalry FC
- Forge FC Take on Cavalry FC in the 2024 CPL Season Opener Presented by Carstar - Forge FC
- Atlético Ottawa to Kick-Off 2024 Canadian Premier League Season at TD Place - Atletico Ottawa
- Vancouver FC Kicks off Second Season on April 14 at Home against Valour FC - Vancouver FC
- Quest to Lift Canadian Premier League Shield Begins with 2024 Home Openers - CPL
- Canadian Premier League and Westjet Re-Sign Multi-Year Partnership - CPL
- Atlético Ottawa Says Goodbye to All-Time Appearance Leader, Defender Miguel Acosta - Atletico Ottawa
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
