By Canadian Press

Whitecaps ready to embrace the challenge of facing Mexican powerhouse Pumas

Apr 2, 2025 | 4:01 AM

VANCOUVER — Defender Tristan Blackmon welcomes the challenge the Vancouver Whitecaps will face when they play Mexican powerhouse Pumas UNAM on Wednesday in the quarterfinals of the CONCACAF Champions Cup at BC Place Stadium.

“It’s not familiar territory for the club, but we’re going to embrace every moment,” Blackmon said after practice Tuesday. “Throughout the year we’ve shown what we can do as a team, no matter who is on the field.

“The experience that we’ve built as a team and as a collective is going to start to show in these bigger matches. You’re going to see that players have to step up, especially the players that have been in bigger games. We’re looking forward to this experience.”

The Whitecaps advanced to the quarterfinals with a victory over CF Monterrey, winning the two-game aggregate series 3-3 on away goals. It was the first time the Whitecaps advanced past a Mexican club in the CONCACAF Champions Cup.

This marks the first time since 2023 that Vancouver reached the quarterfinals stage of the tournament and the second time overall, having reached the semifinals back in 2017.

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Pumas, who compete in the Liga MX, the top division of Mexican football, bask in the same tradition of success as baseball’s New York Yankees and the NHL’s Montreal Canadiens. They have won seven Liga MX titles, three CONCACACF Champions Cups and a Copa Interamericana.

The Whitecaps and Pumas also have some history. Pumas defeated Vancouver 2-0 at BC Place in the 2024 Leagues Cup Round of 32, the first ever meeting between the two clubs.

Vancouver coach Jesper Sorensen said “it’s a privilege” for the Whitecaps to be one of the eight teams remaining in the tournament.

“We’re just happy to still be alive in this competition,” said Sorensen. “That’s something we should enjoy and look forward to.

“It’s a big game for us. We are against great opponents now. It’s not unknown territory for the club but it’s not usual territory. We should just be embracing the moment.”

Sorensen said Pumas employs a different style than Monterrey.

“They’re a little bit more physical,” he said. “They play with a high intensity. They have some great players that can do something special.

“We have to rely on ourselves and our strength.”

The Whitecaps began the season undefeated in eight games across all competitions. They suffered their first Major League Soccer defeat in a 3-1 loss to Chicago March 22 and settled for a 0-0 draw with Toronto on Saturday.

Vancouver continues to lead the MLS Western Conference with a 4-1-1 record.

“MLS is different than the Mexican league,” said Blackmon. “They bring a lot of intensity and a little bit more of an edge that most MLS teams. Through the pre-season and coming into these games we’ve shown that we have the bit of an edge as well.”

Vancouver also has five players injured including captain Ryan Gauld, who is out with a knee injury.

Sorensen said the Whitecaps have relied on their depth to remain competitive during their busy schedule.

“We know that whoever we bring n the pitch, we trust them,” he said. “Everybody is ready to go.

“We’ll have plenty of resources to be able to compete in this competition.”

The Whitecaps have been strong defensively this season, something Blackmon said the team must continue to do against Pumas.

“We’ve worked a lot as a defensive unit,” said the 28-year-old in his fourth season with Vancouver. “Every week we meet and talk about things we can continue to work on.

“You want to limit as many chances as you can. They have great players but we’re very confident in ourselves and what we’re going to be able to do.”

The second game of the series will be played April 9 at the 72,000-seat Estadio Olímpico Universitario in Mexico City.

The winner will move on to face MLS rivals Los Angeles FC or Inter Miami CF in the semifinals.

The CONCACAF Champions Cup features the best teams from North America, Central America, and the Caribbean to crown a regional champion, and to qualify for the next FIFA Club World Cup.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 2, 2025.

Jim Morris, The Canadian Press