VANCOUVER, BC - Vancouver Whitecaps FC confirmed on Thursday their 2017 preseason plans, which will include their first-ever trip to Wales at the start of camp in January and their fourth consecutive visit to Oregon for the annual Portland Timbers preseason tournament in February.
In addition to the MLS regular season, this year the preseason will build around the lead-up to Vancouver's CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinal series against New York Red Bulls, starting with the first leg on February 22 in Red Bull Arena.
"This will be a tough, competitive training camp right from day one," said head coach Carl Robinson. "It's been made very clear to all players and staff what our expectations are come January. We require nothing less than full dedication to our club and our supporters, and that starts in preseason. We have a great opportunity in front of us and everyone will be ready for the Champions League and the start of our MLS season."
Players will depart for the United Kingdom on Monday, January 23.
The 11-day training camp, based in the county borough of The Vale of Glamorgan, will include a series of matches which will be announced in the coming weeks.
Back in North America, the 'Caps will be in Oregon from February 7 to 16. In addition to hosts Portland Timbers, Vancouver will face Real Salt Lake and expansion side Minnesota United FC.
Individual tickets for the Timbers preseason tournament, which allow entry to both matches each day, start at $10 USD and are currently on sale online at timbers.com.
Following the five-week preseason, Vancouver will look to make history on Wednesday, February 22, 2017 in the first leg of the Champions League quarterfinals at New York Red Bulls (5 p.m. PT kickoff). The two-leg series will then shift to BC Place the following week for the decisive second leg on Thursday, March 2 (7 p.m. PT).
The MLS regular season schedule will be announced at a later date.
2017 Whitecaps FC Season Ticket Memberships are on sale now. For more information, visit whitecapsfc.com/tickets.
Important dates (all times are local):
January 7-12: adidas MLS Player Combine in Los Angeles, CA
January 13: MLS SuperDraft in Los Angeles, CA
January 23: Travel to the United Kingdom
February 3: Travel to Vancouver, BC
February 7: Travel to Portland, OR
February 9: Minnesota United FC vs. Whitecaps FC at Providence Park (5 p.m. PT)
February 12: Real Salt Lake vs. Whitecaps FC at Providence Park (2:30 p.m. PT)
February 15: Portland Timbers vs. Whitecaps FC at Providence Park (7:30 p.m. PT)
February 16: Travel to Vancouver, BC
February 20: Travel to New York, NY
February 22: New York Red Bulls vs. Whitecaps FC at Red Bull Arena
March 2: Whitecaps FC vs. New York Red Bulls at BC Place
