Latest news with #CanadianChampionship
Hamilton Spectator
2 days ago
- Sport
- Hamilton Spectator
Canadian midfielder Mathieu Choiniere joins Los Angeles FC on loan from Swiss club
LOS ANGELES - Canadian international midfielder Mathieu Choiniere is returning to Major League Soccer, joining Los Angeles FC on loan from Grasshopper Club Zurich through the end of the year. The 26-year-old from St-Alexandre, Que., made 18 appearances for the Swiss club, including eight starts, since arriving last August on a transfer from CF Montreal. 'Mathieu is a proven performer in our league whose experience, intelligence, and versatility in midfield will be a tremendous asset to our group,' LAFC co-president and GM John Thorrington. 'We're thrilled to welcome him to LAFC as we strengthen our roster in pursuit of more trophies.' Choiniere, whose older brother David plays for Forge FC in the Canadian Premier League, has won 17 caps for Canada. Mathieu Choiniere was the first player in CF Montreal franchise history to have progressed through every stage of the academy, which he joined in 2011. He signed his professional contract on July 17, 2018, making his first-team debut the next day in a 1-0 Canadian Championship win over the Vancouver Whitecaps. Over seven seasons with Montreal's first team, he played 139 games across all competitions and was named to the MLS all-star team in 2023 and 2024. Choiniere was named the club's Most Valuable Player in 2023. —- This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 28, 2025
Winnipeg Free Press
2 days ago
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
Canadian midfielder Mathieu Choiniere joins Los Angeles FC on loan from Swiss club
LOS ANGELES – Canadian international midfielder Mathieu Choiniere is returning to Major League Soccer, joining Los Angeles FC on loan from Grasshopper Club Zurich through the end of the year. The 26-year-old from St-Alexandre, Que., made 18 appearances for the Swiss club, including eight starts, since arriving last August on a transfer from CF Montreal. 'Mathieu is a proven performer in our league whose experience, intelligence, and versatility in midfield will be a tremendous asset to our group,' LAFC co-president and GM John Thorrington. 'We're thrilled to welcome him to LAFC as we strengthen our roster in pursuit of more trophies.' Choiniere, whose older brother David plays for Forge FC in the Canadian Premier League, has won 17 caps for Canada. Mathieu Choiniere was the first player in CF Montreal franchise history to have progressed through every stage of the academy, which he joined in 2011. He signed his professional contract on July 17, 2018, making his first-team debut the next day in a 1-0 Canadian Championship win over the Vancouver Whitecaps. Over seven seasons with Montreal's first team, he played 139 games across all competitions and was named to the MLS all-star team in 2023 and 2024. Choiniere was named the club's Most Valuable Player in 2023. Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. — This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 28, 2025
Vancouver Sun
5 days ago
- Sport
- Vancouver Sun
MLS 'misrepresenting' Whitecaps' stadium availability: B.C. Place
Two days after being publicly criticized about how often B.C. Place is available for the Vancouver Whitecaps, the authority that runs the stadium is pushing back. Major League Soccer commissioner Don Garber criticized the stadium on Wednesday for offering the Whitecaps a limited selection of playing dates saying they made only 17 dates available for home matches and also for forcing the Whitecaps to play a 'home' playoff game last fall on the road. Not so fast, B.C. Place officials are saying. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. 'The statement from the Major League Soccer commissioner that the Whitecaps only receive 17 days to play matches at B.C. Place is a misrepresentation of how many days are made available to the organization,' read a statement provided to Postmedia on Friday morning, attributed to B.C. Place as an organization. According to B.C. Place, on average more than 40 days are made available each season to the Whitecaps. 'The Vancouver Whitecaps FC are a valued long-term partner of B.C. Place, and the stadium works closely with the club to ensure their matches and events are a scheduling priority,' the statement continued. 'Every year, B.C. Place and the Whitecaps collaborate to establish a calendar that accommodates regular season matches, playoff matches, CONCACAF tournaments and other qualifying competitions.' The Whitecaps have called the downtown stadium home since late 2011, their first year in MLS. At the moment, the Whitecaps are scheduled to play 23 games this year at B.C. Place, although if they defeat Forge FC in their two-legged Canadian Championship semi-final, they will host the final, giving them 24 game days. On top of those games, B.C. Place points out, the stadium also hosts practices and other media events at the stadium. Those push the Caps beyond 40 events per year. 'The stadium also supports the club in hosting a variety of other activities, such as watch parties, season ticketholder events, stakeholder meetings, film shoots, and other supporting events,' the statement noted. As for last year's playoff game which saw the Caps have to play in Portland, even though they were the home team, because of a previously booked motocross event at B.C. Place, stadium officials again pushed back. The league had proposed the Whitecaps host the Portland Timbers on Oct. 23, but that was unavailable because of preparations for the World Supercross Championships, set to take place Oct. 26 at the stadium. That the Whitecaps had to play a game on the road that they had earned the right to host was an example Garber cited on Wednesday of why B.C. Place is an 'unviable' venue going forward. According to B.C. Place, they negotiated with officials for the supercross and would have been able to host the Whitecaps vs. Timbers match on Oct. 22. B.C. Place said the club supported the proposed date. 'Unfortunately, the proposed solution was not approved by MLS, and the Whitecaps were required to play the match on the road,' B.C. Place said. 'B.C. Place is proud to be the home of Vancouver Whitecaps FC and remains committed to supporting the club's growth and success now and into the future.' In a statement on Thursday, the Whitecaps re-iterated that they continue to talk with the City of Vancouver about building a soccer-specific stadium on the grounds of the PNE at Hastings Park. The team hasn't specifically pointed to the current site of Hastings Racecourse, but the lease for the horse-racing operation there expires next May and most expect that the city will look toward a different use for the property which has hosted horse racing since the 1890s. 'Vancouver Whitecaps FC can confirm that discussions with the City of Vancouver regarding potential stadium development at the PNE fairgrounds site are progressing,' the team said in its statement. 'While the club is taking all necessary action to keep moving this process forward, it is a complex undertaking that can take considerable time. Our objective is to continue to move the project forward as quickly as possible, working with the city, the province, and MLS. At this time, the club has no further updates to share on these conversations with the city.' If the Whitecaps are able to secure an agreement to build a stadium on the site, they will still need to secure funding for construction — and they still need a new owner. Plus, stadium construction would take several years, so the team will need somewhere to play in the interim, presumably at B.C. Place. The Whitecaps have not commented on the state of negotiations with PavCo. 'Meanwhile, it is business as usual for Whitecaps FC. We remain focused on extending the great momentum of the season and continuing to invest in and grow the club and Canadian soccer. Whitecaps FC remains grateful for the passionate support of our fans and the broader Vancouver soccer community,' the Whitecaps statement concluded. The City of Vancouver issued a short statement as well: 'The city recognizes the Vancouver Whitecaps as an important part of our community's cultural and economic vibrancy and is supportive of the Whitecaps staying in Vancouver and exploring feasible options. At this time, the city cannot disclose specific information regarding potential land-use matters or ongoing discussions related to Hastings Park or the Hastings Racecourse property.' pjohnston@
Vancouver Sun
7 days ago
- Sport
- Vancouver Sun
'Massively exciting time for soccer in Vancouver': meet Martin Nash, new head coach of Vancouver FC
I never thought the day would come when I would be back in my hometown coaching a professional soccer team in our own domestic league, with a chance to make history in the Canadian Championship, all less than a year before the World Cup rolls into town. My family has made Vancouver our permanent home since 2004 when I came back to join the Whitecaps from Montreal after playing in England the previous four years. Our kids went to school here, so after growing up on Vancouver Island, this city is now our home, it's where I want to be. The chance to become head coach of Vancouver FC in the Canadian Premier League is a challenge I am honoured to take on. A daily roundup of Opinion pieces from the Sun and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Informed Opinion will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. Soccer was always the main sport in our family. I played with kids a year older, so I got to play with my brother Steve on the same team a lot of the time. And he was an excellent player, provincial high school MVP, while my sister Joann was captain of the University of Victoria Vikings soccer team. Our dad was also a semi-pro player, so the three of us had soccer in our blood and two of us went quite far in the sport. Obviously Steve went in a different direction becoming one of the NBA's all-time great basketballers. But soccer was the first sport we ever played and my first love that I was lucky enough to gain a pro career out of. But when I grew up there was no pathway for young Canadian players to move up the ladder as a professional. Luckily I made the Vancouver 86ers of the old CSL as a teenager. From there, to keep my career going, I had to go overseas. I went on tryouts, which is tough to do as a young kid leaving the country. I went on a series of trials before I stuck as most players do — you don't usually just go to one club and stick. I spent six weeks at Tottenham Hotspur as a 17-year-old and played in a first-team friendly but wasn't able to catch their eye, and then it was on to the next club, which was a smaller London club called Watford. That didn't pan out either, so it was off to Southend where I was close to signing but it didn't happen so I went home. A year later I gave it another go and went back on trial at Stockport County and was able to catch on after three weeks of trials. So they took their time to make their decisions and it wasn't always easy but it was something you had to go through those days if you wanted a career. You had to really want it bad and put in the sacrifice. For me the sacrifice was worth it. I earned 38 caps with Canada from 1997 to 2008, including winning the Gold Cup in 2000, but my first cap didn't come until pretty much the same day I signed that contract with Stockport in England. That shouldn't be the required path to selection for the national team for any of our young players. What Vancouver FC has been doing as a franchise is giving young players a chance to have a pro career here, promoting them, being able to secure transfers for a few. It's a phenomenal experience to be able to offer that opportunity and something I want to be a part of. Before 2019 and the formation of the Canadian Premier League we were the only developed country in the world without a Tier 1 domestic league, and now with the likes of VFC working with organizations such as Langley United and the Fraser Valley Soccer League it's exciting to see a Canadian soccer ecosystem developing. A wide pathway is emerging and already there aren't anywhere near as many players slipping through the cracks. I know a lot of players are getting chances either as a youth, after coming out of university, or getting a second chance coming back from another pro environment like one of the MLS teams. Vancouver FC gives a chance to both rising stars and late bloomers in Metro Vancouver, the rest of B.C. and beyond, and obviously the coaches are going to help and do everything they can, but players still have to want it. Sacrifice is a good word for it. You have to dive in and give everything you have. It's one thing having the opportunity but you need to have the will and put in the effort and do everything you can. Nothing will come easy, you must put in the work. That's a message I will be making clear to our young squad over the coming weeks and months. The timing is perfect with a World Cup coming to Vancouver next summer. If you had asked me even 10 years ago I'd have never thought it would be a possibility. For the next generation to watch the biggest sporting event in the world and see the biggest stars in our city is going to be a special opportunity. The impact of the tournament should be massive on soccer in the region, and in particular on that domestic pathway and the CPL. There was once a time back when I was playing with Canada when half the team was from Vancouver. That's not so anymore, but with this league I believe we can get back to that. I want to help young players take the next step, but winning is part of development. I want to have a team that has the belief to make the playoffs. Right now we have a first-ever Canadian championship semifinal to prepare for on Aug. 13 at Willoughby Stadium. The chance to be the first CPL team in the final where we could potentially have a city derby against the Whitecaps is something to look forward to. It's the biggest pro soccer tournament in the country — if you win this event you get a berth in the CONCACAF Champions League. So I'm really looking forward to it, to getting better, growing and developing myself. Everyone needs to be on the same page in the club and in the community at this massively exciting time for soccer in Vancouver. Let's get started.
The Province
7 days ago
- Sport
- The Province
'Massively exciting time for soccer in Vancouver': meet Martin Nash, new head coach of Vancouver FC
Guest column: New VFC coach Martin Nash believes in his vision for helping grow the game. Martin Nash. Jim Wells/Postmedia Reviews and recommendations are unbiased and products are independently selected. Postmedia may earn an affiliate commission from purchases made through links on this page. I never thought the day would come when I would be back in my hometown coaching a professional soccer team in our own domestic league, with a chance to make history in the Canadian Championship, all less than a year before the World Cup rolls into town. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors My family has made Vancouver our permanent home since 2004 when I came back to join the Whitecaps from Montreal after playing in England the previous four years. Our kids went to school here, so after growing up on Vancouver Island, this city is now our home, it's where I want to be. The chance to become head coach of Vancouver FC in the Canadian Premier League is a challenge I am honoured to take on. Soccer was always the main sport in our family. I played with kids a year older, so I got to play with my brother Steve on the same team a lot of the time. And he was an excellent player, provincial high school MVP, while my sister Joann was captain of the University of Victoria Vikings soccer team. Our dad was also a semi-pro player, so the three of us had soccer in our blood and two of us went quite far in the sport. Essential reading for hockey fans who eat, sleep, Canucks, repeat. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Obviously Steve went in a different direction becoming one of the NBA's all-time great basketballers. But soccer was the first sport we ever played and my first love that I was lucky enough to gain a pro career out of. But when I grew up there was no pathway for young Canadian players to move up the ladder as a professional. Luckily I made the Vancouver 86ers of the old CSL as a teenager. From there, to keep my career going, I had to go overseas. I went on tryouts, which is tough to do as a young kid leaving the country. I went on a series of trials before I stuck as most players do — you don't usually just go to one club and stick. I spent six weeks at Tottenham Hotspur as a 17-year-old and played in a first-team friendly but wasn't able to catch their eye, and then it was on to the next club, which was a smaller London club called Watford. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. That didn't pan out either, so it was off to Southend where I was close to signing but it didn't happen so I went home. A year later I gave it another go and went back on trial at Stockport County and was able to catch on after three weeks of trials. So they took their time to make their decisions and it wasn't always easy but it was something you had to go through those days if you wanted a career. You had to really want it bad and put in the sacrifice. For me the sacrifice was worth it. I earned 38 caps with Canada from 1997 to 2008, including winning the Gold Cup in 2000, but my first cap didn't come until pretty much the same day I signed that contract with Stockport in England. That shouldn't be the required path to selection for the national team for any of our young players. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. What Vancouver FC has been doing as a franchise is giving young players a chance to have a pro career here, promoting them, being able to secure transfers for a few. It's a phenomenal experience to be able to offer that opportunity and something I want to be a part of. Before 2019 and the formation of the Canadian Premier League we were the only developed country in the world without a Tier 1 domestic league, and now with the likes of VFC working with organizations such as Langley United and the Fraser Valley Soccer League it's exciting to see a Canadian soccer ecosystem developing. A wide pathway is emerging and already there aren't anywhere near as many players slipping through the cracks. I know a lot of players are getting chances either as a youth, after coming out of university, or getting a second chance coming back from another pro environment like one of the MLS teams. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Vancouver FC gives a chance to both rising stars and late bloomers in Metro Vancouver, the rest of B.C. and beyond, and obviously the coaches are going to help and do everything they can, but players still have to want it. Sacrifice is a good word for it. You have to dive in and give everything you have. It's one thing having the opportunity but you need to have the will and put in the effort and do everything you can. Nothing will come easy, you must put in the work. That's a message I will be making clear to our young squad over the coming weeks and months. The timing is perfect with a World Cup coming to Vancouver next summer. If you had asked me even 10 years ago I'd have never thought it would be a possibility. For the next generation to watch the biggest sporting event in the world and see the biggest stars in our city is going to be a special opportunity. The impact of the tournament should be massive on soccer in the region, and in particular on that domestic pathway and the CPL. There was once a time back when I was playing with Canada when half the team was from Vancouver. That's not so anymore, but with this league I believe we can get back to that. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. I want to help young players take the next step, but winning is part of development. I want to have a team that has the belief to make the playoffs. Right now we have a first-ever Canadian championship semifinal to prepare for on Aug. 13 at Willoughby Stadium. The chance to be the first CPL team in the final where we could potentially have a city derby against the Whitecaps is something to look forward to. It's the biggest pro soccer tournament in the country — if you win this event you get a berth in the CONCACAF Champions League. So I'm really looking forward to it, to getting better, growing and developing myself. Everyone needs to be on the same page in the club and in the community at this massively exciting time for soccer in Vancouver. Let's get started. Read More Vancouver Canucks Local News Sports Homes NBA
