2025 has been a record-breaking year for Vancouver Whitecaps FC.
The 'Caps have had their best season in MLS, and have been one of the top teams in the entire Concacaf region.
So what has made this Whitecaps FC team so good? And how do they compare to the LAFC team that they will face in the Western Conference Semifinal on November 22 at BC Place?
Here are five stats that may help tell the story.
You may have thought to yourself that these 'Caps have regularly "outplayed" their opponents, and sometimes even dominated matches.
Beyond the eye test, the numbers back up the performances over the course of the season.
xGD (expected goals difference) measures the expected number of goals that a team is expected to score based on the chances created, in comparison to their opponents.
Per American Soccer Analysis, this Whitecaps FC team finished the MLS regular season with the fifth highest xG difference since the stat has been tracked. That verifies what many have been thinking, that this team has been playing at a genuinely elite level.
But before anyone looks too far ahead, you will notice a team just behind these 'Caps. That would be 2025 LAFC, their upcoming opponent in the Western Conference Semifinal.
This will truly be a battle of two of the best teams we've seen play in MLS.
Side Note: Has this been the greatest season in MLS history? Incredibly, eight of the top 11 all-time attacking teams per xGF (expected goals for) are from this 2025 season!
While LAFC saw their two-man show of Denis Bouanga and Son Heung-Min score an MLS record 18 straight goals for their team (and 22 of the last 28 goals), the 'Caps set a much different MLS record with 21 different goalscorers in league play this season, including playoffs.
Across all competitions, 24 different Whitecaps FC players have at least one goal this year. Impressively, 20 goals for the 'Caps have come from defenders.
1. Brian White - 22
2. Thomas Müller - 9
3. Emmanuel Sabbi - 8
4. Sebastian Berhalter - 8
5. MathÃas Laborda - 5
6. Pedro Vite - 5
7. Tristan Blackmon - 5
8. Daniel RÃos - 4
9. Ali Ahmed - 3
10. Jayden Nelson - 3
11. Ryan Gauld - 3
12. Édier Ocampo - 3
13. J.C. Ngando - 3
14. Sam Adekugbe - 3
15. Rayan Elloumi - 2
16. Kenji Cabrera - 2
17. Tate Johnson - 1
18. Belal Halbouni - 1
19. Nelson Pierre - 1
20. Jeevan Badwal - 1
21. Ralph Priso - 1
22. Damir Kreilach - 1
23. Bjørn Inge Utvik - 1
24. Antoine Coupland - 1
Including playoffs, Whitecaps FC have scored first in MLS play 19 times this season, and 19 times they have gotten a result. In fact, only three teams managed to take a point from the 'Caps, as the Blue and White held a record of 16W-0L-3D when scoring first.
Vancouver are also unbeaten in MLS play when holding a lead at halftime with a record of 13W-0L-2D.
Jesper Sørensen's team has only conceded four equalizing goals when leading all MLS season, while scoring 12 equalizers themselves. They have defended a lead 83% of the time (19/23), and have managed to equalize themselves 63% of the time (12/19).
As for LAFC, their record when scoring first is comparable at 16W-1L-4D, and 12W-0L-3D when leading at halftime. They have conceded seven equalizers and defended their lead 73% of the time (19/26), while equalizing themselves 60% of the time (12/20).
During Round One of the MLS Cup Playoffs, MLS Season Pass analyst Dax McCarty commented that the 'Caps "seem to get stronger as the game goes on".
He was not wrong. But to be more precise, it appears Whitecaps FC get stronger as each half goes on.
Statistically, the highest scoring 15-period of MLS matches for Whitecaps FC are the final 15 minutes of each half.
While this is true of the 'Caps, it is also true of LAFC.
Whoever wins these 15-minute periods may end up winning the Western Conference Semifinal.
Time Period | VAN Goals | LAFC Goals |
0-15 | 7 | 11 |
16-30 | 11 | 9 |
31-45 | 15 | 16 |
46-60 | 10 | 8 |
61-75 | 10 | 6 |
76-90 | 16 | 21 |
Across all competitions for the 'Caps, there is an even greater goalscoring output in the final 15 minutes.
Time Period | VAN Goals |
0-15 | 12 |
16-30 | 16 |
31-45 | 16 |
46-60 | 15 |
61-75 | 12 |
76-90 | 27 |
Both Whitecaps FC and LAFC made blockbuster summer signings, and both clubs have reaped the rewards.
Thomas Müller
- Appearances: 10 (all competitions)
- Record: 6W-1L-3D
- Goals: 9
- Assists: 4
That one loss came when the 'Caps went down to 10 men after an early red card against FC Dallas on Decision Day.
Son Heung-Min
- Appearances: 12 (including playoffs)
- Record: 8W-1L-3D
- Goals: 10
- Assists: 4
Will one of these two superstars make the diference on November 22?
