The Vancouver Whitecaps haven’t made the MLS Cup playoffs since 2017; with eleven games remaining in their 2021 season, the playoffs are within reach for the Caps. Vancouver currently sits in 9th place in the Western Conference, two spots out of a playoff position. The Caps’ 29 points are just one point away from Real Salt Lake, which currently occupies the West’s 7th and final playoff spot. Vancouver is only 2 points away from the 6th seeded Minnesota. With the playoff race being so close this season in the Western Conference, it wouldn’t surprise me if the Vanni Sartini coached side found themselves in a playoff spot come that time of year. Despite coming off a 1-0 loss to Portland, the Caps have been in good form over recent games. Before their loss last Friday, Vancouver had won four straight games beating teams such as Real Salt Lake and LAFC, who are currently ahead of the Caps in the standings. Looking back further, before their loss on Friday, the Whitecaps hadn’t lost an MLS game in over two months. You read that correctly; the White Caps have only lost one game in the past two months of MLS action.

Vancouver got off to a rocky start this season, but their recent form has put them in a prime position to reach the playoffs. Over their next eleven games to close the season out, Vancouver will play only against Western Conference opponents meaning they have the opportunity to take down the teams ahead of them in the standings themselves. The Caps will decide the fate of the Caps. Notable upcoming games for Vancouver include this Sunday’s game at DGS Park against third-place Colorado before facing off against the top two teams in the conference on back-to-back weeks, the Seattle Sounders and Sporting KC. If Vancouver’s playoff push comes down to their very last games, it will undoubtedly be entertaining; Vancouver will face fellow playoff hopefuls, Minnesota and LAFC, before ending their season in BC Place stadium against their arch-rivals, Seattle Sounders.