VANCOUVER, BC – After an incredible turnaround, Vancouver Whitecaps FC will open their run in the 2021 Audi MLS Cup Playoffs on Saturday, November 20 at Sporting Kansas City. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. PT, live on TSN and AM730 radio.
Head-to-head, Whitecaps FC and Sporting KC split their two encounters this season. SKC took the first match at Children’s Mercy Park with a 3-0 result on May 16, but the ‘Caps returned the favour with a 2-1 victory at BC Place on October 17.
The winner of the match between third ranked Sporting KC versus sixth ranked Whitecaps FC will face the winner of the match between second ranked Seattle Sounders FC and seventh ranked Real Salt Lake. The Conference Semifinal for this matchup will be played on Sunday, November 28 at either 12 p.m. PT or 2:30 p.m. PT.
Conference Finals will then be played on December 4 and 5, with MLS Cup scheduled for December 11.
Due to border restrictions, the ‘Caps spent the first four months of the season away from home, living in Utah and playing their first eight home matches at Real Salt Lake’s Rio Tinto Stadium. On August 8, the team was in last place in the Western Conference with a record of 3W-7L-7D and 16 points at the halfway point of the season.
Since that point, the team lost only twice in the second half of the season. Dating back over the last 22 MLS matches, the ‘Caps had a record of 10W-2L-10D for a total of 40 points – the best mark in the Western Conference, and second only to Supporters Shield winners New England Revolution.
The Blue & White head into the playoffs on a six-match unbeaten streak, going into their playoff battle as one of the toughest teams in the league to beat – home or away. The ‘Caps have lost only once in their past 12 road matches, going 2W-1L-9D.
The ‘Caps surged into the playoffs in big part due to their home support upon returning to BC Place. In their nine matches in Vancouver, the team had a league best .833 winning percentage at their home venue with a record of 7W-1L-1D, including a playoff clinching 1-1 draw against Seattle Sounders FC in front of 25,117 on Decision Day.
Whitecaps FC came from behind 12 times during the season, securing five wins and seven draws for 22 points – the most in the league. The team also went undefeated when scoring first, going 7W-0L-4D. When leading at halftime, they went 5W-0L-3D.
Under acting head coach Vanni Sartini, Whitecaps FC played to a 7W-2L-5D record in 14 matches.
Audi 2021 MLS Cup Playoffs Schedule
Round One (Six Games)
(The No. 1 Eastern Conference seed and the No. 1 Western Conference seed will have a Round One bye. The No. 2 seed will host the No. 7 seed, the No. 3 seed will host the No. 6 seed, and the No. 4 seed will host the No. 5 seed)
Saturday, Nov. 20 Doubleheader
11:30 a.m. PTÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Philadelphia Union (2) vs. New York Red Bulls (7)For more information about the Audi 2021 MLS Cup Playoffs, visit www.MLSsoccer.com.Â
(Univision / TUDN / local English-language broadcast / MLSsoccer.com / MLS App / TSN / TVA Sports)
2 p.m. PTÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Sporting Kansas City (3) vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC (6)
(UniMás / TUDN / local English-language broadcast / MLSsoccer.com / MLS App / TSN / TVA Sports)
Sunday, Nov. 21 Doubleheader
12 p.m. PTÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â New York City FC (4) vs. Atlanta United (5)
(ABC / ESPN Deportes / TSN / TVA Sports)
2:30 p.m. PTÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Portland Timbers (4) vs. Minnesota United FC (5)
ESPN / ESPN Deportes / TSN / TVA Sports)
Tuesday, Nov. 23
5 p.m. PTÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Nashville SC (3) vs. Orlando City SC (6)
(FS1 / FOX Deportes / TSN / TVA Sports)
7:30 p.m. PTÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Seattle Sounders FC (2) vs. Real Salt Lake (7)
(FS1 / FOX Deportes / TSN / TVA Sports)
Conference Semifinals (Four Games)
(The No. 1 seed will play the winner of No. 4 vs. No. 5. The winner of No. 2 vs. No. 7 will play the winner of No. 3 vs. No. 6, with the higher-seeded club hosting)
Thursday, Nov. 25 (Thanksgiving Day)
1:30 p.m. PTÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Colorado Rapids (1) vs. Winner of Portland Timbers (4) vs. Minnesota United FC (5)
(FOX / FOX Deportes / TSN / TVA Sports)
Sunday, Nov. 28 Doubleheader
12 p.m. PTÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â To be confirmed following Round One matches
(ABC / ESPN Deportes / TSN / TVA Sports)
2:30 p.m. PTÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â To be confirmed following Round One matches
(ESPN / ESPN Deportes / TSN / TVA Sports)
Tuesday, Nov. 30
4:30 p.m. PTÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â New England Revolution (1) vs. Winner of New York City FC (4) vs. Atlanta United (5)
(FS1 / FOX Deportes / TSN / TVA Sports)
Conference Finals (Two Games)
Saturday, Dec. 4
3:30 p.m. PT (FS1 / FOX Deportes / TSN / TVA Sports)
Sunday, Dec. 5
12 p.m. PT (ABC / ESPN Deportes / TSN / TVA Sports)
MLS Cup (One Game)
Saturday, Dec. 11
12 p.m. PT (ABC / UniMás / TUDN / TSN / TVA Sports)
