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Whitecaps FC to Host LAFC on Wednesday, April 5 at BC Place in First Leg of 2023 Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League Quarterfinals

March 17, 2023 - Major League Soccer (MLS) - Vancouver Whitecaps FC News Release


VANCOUVER, BC - Vancouver Whitecaps FC will host Los Angeles FC in the first leg of the 2023 Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League quarterfinals on Wednesday, April 5 at BC Place. Kickoff will be at 7 p.m. PT.

Whitecaps FC season ticket members will be sent information on how to opt-in for the Champions League and keep their seats at a discounted member rate.

The second leg will be played on Tuesday, April 11 at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, with kickoff at 7:15 p.m. PT.

The winner will move on to face either 2022 MLS Cup runners-up Philadelphia Union or LIGA MX side Atlas FC in the semifinals.

ALL-TIME SERIES

All-time, the 'Caps have tallied a 4W-4L-3D record against LAFC in MLS regular season action. The Blue & White have a 4W-1L-0D record at home, which includes a 2020 win in Portland. At BC Place the 'Caps are 3W-1L-0D, with the lone defeat coming in the first ever meeting in 2018.

The most recent match between the two sides came at BC Place last July, with the 'Caps capturing a 1-0 victory thanks to Andrés Cubas' first MLS goal.

CLOSE CONNECTIONS

Whitecaps FC defender Tristan Blackmon spent the first four years of his professional career with LAFC, making 79 appearances across all competitions. That included starting the 2020 Concacaf Champions League final for the club against UANL Tigres.

LAFC goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau played three seasons with the 'Caps, accumulating 61starts across all competitions. LAFC assistant coach Marc Dos Santos was also with Whitecaps FC, leading the team as head coach during the same period from 2019 to 2021.

HOW WE GOT HERE

Whitecaps FC qualified for the Champions League after defeating Toronto FC last July in front of a record Canadian Championship crowd in Vancouver, claiming a 5-3 penalty shootout victory to win their second-ever Voyageurs Cup.

The 'Caps advanced to the quarterfinals of the Champions League by beating Real España by a combined aggregate score of 7-3 through two legs, winning the first match 5-0 at BC Place and falling 3-2 at the Estadio Olímpico Metropolitano in San Pedro Sula, Honduras on Wednesday.

LAFC earned their Concacaf Champions League qualification as 2022 MLS Supporters Shield and MLS Cup champions.

In the Round of 16, the Black & Gold fended off Costa Rican side L.D. Alajuelense by a combined aggregate score of 4-2, winning the first leg in Costa Rica 3-0 and falling 2-1 at BMO Stadium on Wednesday night.

CONCACAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

The Concacaf Champions League is a 16-team, knockout competition to crown the best club in North America, Central America, and the Caribbean, similar to the UEFA Champions League in Europe or the Copa Libertadores in South America.

The winner of the tournament qualifies for the FIFA Club World Cup, where they'll face the top teams from Africa, Asia, Europe, Oceania, and South America. Earlier this week, FIFA announced an expanded 32-team FIFA Club World Cup in 2025, with the Concacaf Champions League winners from 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024 all qualifying.

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