November 3 – The Canadian Premier League formally announced Vancouver FC as the league’s ninth club, ahead of its inaugural season in 2023.
The club’s name, logo and colours were launched at the Langley Events Centre in Langley. Based in the Vancouver area, the team will play at the Willoughby Community Park in Langley, B.C.
Vancouver will be a host city for the 2025 World Cup.
“We are delighted to officially announce Vancouver FC as part of the Canadian Premier League family,” said CPL Commissioner Mark Noonan.
“Expanding into new markets across Canada is critical to the growth of the CPL, but we do not take the responsibility of launching a new team lightly. A successful expansion requires a dedicated ownership group, the backing of the local communities and corporate sponsors, and top-class infrastructure.”
The club’s logo features a V-shape design, a silhouette traditional to many sports organizations on British Columbia’s South Coast. The design evokes a bald eagle, as the South Coast is home to the largest gathering spot for the animal in the world.
“Honouring our sporting past, celebrating our region and uniting the South Coast are among our key objectives as we introduce soccer fans on the Lower Mainland to Vancouver FC,” said Rob Friend, Owner, Vancouver FC, and a former Canadian national team player.
“We look forward to sharing the region’s existing passion for the game with the rest of the Canadian Premier League through its support for our club and, together with our fans, building an even stronger soccer culture on and off the field that serves as a point of connection for all of our local communities.”
Iranian Afshin Ghotbi, will be the club’s first head coach.
The CPL plans to expand to 12 teams by 2025.
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