THINGS TO SEE ON CASCADIA: After winning their third straight Canadian championship in midweek, the Vancouver Whitecaps FC will soon return their focus to the MLS regular season as they begin a streak of four consecutive home games in MLS. First up is a Cascadia rivalry game against the Portland Timbers on Saturday. The ‘Caps are currently in first place in the Cascadia Cup standings with seven points and a record of 2W-1L-1D. A win on Saturday would help them secure the Cascadia Cup for the second year in a row. Saturday is the third meeting of the season against the Timbers and the second at BC Place, with the Caps coming off a 3-2 win in March. Vancouver will continue its winning streak with another Cascadia clash on Wednesday, October 2nd against Seattle Sounders FC.

RACE TO THE PLAYOFFS: With a win or a draw and a few more results on Saturday, the Caps could secure their spot in the 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs. A win would require the ‘Caps to have FC Dallas lose or draw against Orlando City SC, while a draw would require a Dallas loss along with an Austin FC loss or draw against Real Salt Lake. Vancouver is currently in seventh place in the Western Conference with 46 points heading into matchday 35, just five points behind second-place Real Salt Lake. Saturday’s victory would mark the third time in the last four seasons that the Caps have reached the MLS postseason and the seventh time ever.