Whitecaps FC Introduce KÃŒÂ"Ê·amÃŒÂ"kÃŒÂ"ʷəmÃŒÂ"θət Musqueam Pitch at the National Soccer Development Centre

Published on September 23, 2026 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Vancouver Whitecaps FC News Release

VANCOUVER, BC - Vancouver Whitecaps FC and Musqueam Indian Band announced on Wednesday the new name for the grass training pitch at the Whitecaps FC National Soccer Development Centre (NSDC), located on the University of British Columbia (UBC) Vancouver campus: kÌ"Ê·amÌ"kÌ"Ê·É™mÌ"θət Musqueam Pitch.

kÌ"Ê·amÌ"kÌ"Ê·É™mÌ"θət Musqueam Pitch

Click HERE to listen to the pronunciation

Using the traditional hən'q'əmin'əm' dialect

The term kÌ"Ê·amÌ"kÌ"Ê·É™mÌ"θət is derived from kÌ"Ê·amÌ"kÌ"Ê·É™mÌ", meaning "strong"

The reflexive suffix, -θət, refers to "oneself"

Together this term translates to "you're making yourself strong" or "you're becoming strong yourself"

"We are honoured to work together with the Musqueam peoples on this meaningful partnership. "We recognize the significance of this land, and we selected the word kÌ"Ê·amÌ"kÌ"Ê·É™mÌ"θət because the idea of becoming stronger is a quality shared by both the club and Musqueam. It reflects the work we are putting in as a club each and every day, and we are proud to have that spirit represented at our training ground." - Axel Schuster, Vancouver Whitecaps FC CEO & Sporting Director

The training centre, on the UBC campus, is situated on the traditional, ancestral, unceded territory of the xÊ·məθkÊ·É™yÌ"É™m (Musqueam) peoples. Building on a longstanding collaboration, Musqueam and Whitecaps FC are proud to recognize the geographic and cultural significance of the land upon which the team comes together to train, hone their skills, and become stronger both individually and collectively.

"Giving the name kÌ"Ê·amÌ"kÌ"Ê·É™mÌ"θət to this pitch carries meaning and responsibility. Our hÉ™nÌ"qÌ"É™minÌ"É™mÌ" language comes from these lands, and seeing and hearing our language on our traditional territory at a place where athletes come together every day to train, learn and grow is important for our people. kÌ"Ê·amÌ"kÌ"Ê·É™mÌ"θət speaks to making yourself strong, which connects naturally to sport and to the strength and resilience of our community. Musqueam has a long history with soccer and sport as a way of bringing people together, and we are proud to continue building our relationship with Vancouver Whitecaps FC in a way that recognizes whose territory they train and play on and creates greater understanding of Musqueam culture, language and history." - Chief Wayne Sparrow, Musqueam Indian Band

Sports have long served as a powerful way to bring people together, including during times when Indigenous gathering was restricted under the Indian Act. Grounded in shared values, this partnership reflects a commitment to strengthen community, honour resilience, and create spaces where people can come together.

Language is a vital part of culture, providing a sense of identity and place. The revitalization of language provides the opportunity for First Nations to reclaim their cultural ties and connection to the land. Education is a fundamental component of reconciliation, and the new pitch's hÉ™nÌ"qÌ"É™minÌ"É™mÌ" name will increase public understanding of the cultural and historical significance of this area to Musqueam.

Pronunciation Guide

kÌ"Ê·amÌ"kÌ"Ê·É™mÌ"θət

kÌ"Ê· - similar to an English "k", but forceful, said with rounded lips

a - the "a" in father

mÌ" - similar to an English "m" but made by partially constricting the vocal cords during pronunciation

kÌ"Ê· - similar to an English "k", but forceful, said with rounded lips

É™ - like the "u" in but

mÌ" - similar to an English "m" but made by partially constricting the vocal cords during pronunciation

θ - "th" in think

É™ - like the "u" in but

t - like an English "t"

About hÉ™nÌ"qÌ"É™minÌ"É™mÌ"

hÉ™nÌ"qÌ"É™minÌ"É™mÌ" is the Downriver Dialect of a three-dialect language comprised of hÉ™nÌ"qÌ"É™minÌ"É™mÌ" (spoken throughout what is now Metro Vancouver), HÉ™lÌ•qÌ"É™minÌ"É™mÌ" (spoken on eastern Vancouver Island), and HalqÌ"eméylem (Upriver Dialect spoken from Mission into the Fraser Canyon).

Traditional hÉ™nÌ"qÌ"É™minÌ"É™mÌ"-speaking communities are xÊ·məθkÊ·É™yÌ"É™m (Musqueam), sÉ™lilÌ•wÉ™tÌ•aÊ"ɬ (Tsleil-Waututh), qÌ"icÌ"É™yÌ" (Katzie), qÌ"Ê·a:nÌ"Æ›Ì"É™nÌ" (Kwantlen), KÊ·ikʷəƛÌ"É™m (Kwikwetlem), and scÉ™wÌ"aθən (Tsawwassen). Many people already know the anglicized forms of these hÉ™nÌ"qÌ"É™minÌ"É™mÌ"-speaking communities' names without realizing.

Additionally, several words and names used in everyday English have been borrowed from HÉ™lÌ•qÌ"É™minÌ"É™mÌ"-hÉ™nÌ"qÌ"É™minÌ"É™mÌ"-HalqÌ"eméylem languages. For example, Sasquatch is the anglicized form of sesqÌ"É™c, sockeye is the anglicized form of sθəqÉ™yÌ", and coho is the anglicized form of kÊ·É™xʷəθ.

Visit this First Nations Languages of British Columbia map to learn more about languages spoken across the province.

About the Whitecaps FC National Soccer Development Centre

Located on UBC's Vancouver campus, the facility is home to the Vancouver Whitecaps FC first team, as well as the club's MLS NEXT Pro, U-18, U-16, and U-15 Whitecaps FC BMO Academy teams, as well as Northern Super League (NSL) club Vancouver Rise FC. In total, there are approximately 200 players, coaches, and staff operating out of the building on a regular basis.

The fieldhouse offers a comprehensive high-performance environment, including a two-story weight room with panoramic views of the kÌ"Ê·amÌ"kÌ"Ê·É™mÌ"θət Musqueam Pitch and surrounding mountains, dedicated player lounge areas, individualized nutrition facilities, and a sports science wing equipped with hydrotherapy and recovery services.

Major League Soccer Stories from September 23, 2026

• Two Chicago Fire FC Players Named to Youth National Team Rosters for Upcoming FIFA International Window - Chicago Fire FC
• Red Bull New York Goalkeeper Tobias Szewczyk and RBNY II Midfielder Deven Cadigan and Defender Josh Munson Called to U-17 USYNT Camp - Red Bull New York
• Whitecaps FC Introduce K̓ʷam̓k̓ʷəm̓θət Musqueam Pitch at the National Soccer Development Centre - Vancouver Whitecaps FC
• Inter Miami CF Academy Product Diego Lagos Joins Lobos UPNFM - Inter Miami CF
• Whitecaps FC Surpass 24,000 Tickets Sold for Saturday's Home Match at BC Place - Vancouver Whitecaps FC
• Sounders FC Hosts Real Salt Lake Wednesday Night at Lumen Field - Seattle Sounders FC
• Anders Dreyer and CJ Dos Santos Named to MLS Team of the Matchday - San Diego FC
• "We Want to Just Keep Winning": Dean Smith Wins 50th Match for Charlotte FC - Charlotte FC

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.

Other Recent Vancouver Whitecaps FC Stories

• 'caps Remain On Top Of The Western Conference With Eight Matches Remaining
• Whitecaps FC Sign BMO Academy Product Johnny Selemani to MLS Contract
• Whitecaps FC Introduce K̓ʷam̓k̓ʷəm̓θət Musqueam Pitch at the National Soccer Development Centre
• Whitecaps FC Surpass 24,000 Tickets Sold for Saturday's Home Match at BC Place
• Diaby Gets His First Goal And Assist With The 'caps