Ryan Gauld wants to play meaningful soccer again.

It91裸聊视频檚 been more than four months since the Vancouver Whitecaps were eliminated from the Major League Soccer playoffs, a layoff too long for the captain91裸聊视频檚 liking.

Lucky for Gauld, the games are about to begin in a big way.

Vancouver91裸聊视频檚 2025 campaign begins with five games across 16 days starting Thursday when the Whitecaps visit Costa Rican side Deportivo Saprissa in the first game of a two-legged CONCACAF Champions Cup series.

91裸聊视频淚 think everyone91裸聊视频檚 looking forward to it. Having such a long off-season, it feels like it91裸聊视频檚 been a long time since we played a meaningful game,91裸聊视频� Gauld said. 91裸聊视频淪o the fact that they91裸聊视频檙e coming thick and fast right from the start, it91裸聊视频檚 what we all want, and it91裸聊视频檒l get the match sharpness up straight away.91裸聊视频�

Following the game in Costa Rica, the 91裸聊视频楥aps travel to Portland, Ore., where they91裸聊视频檒l kick off the MLS season against their regional rivals, the Timbers, on Sunday.

A busy start to the season isn91裸聊视频檛 unusual for newly minted Whitecaps head coach Jesper Sorensen. The travel the team faces, though, is a bit of a change from what he experienced coaching in Denmark.

91裸聊视频淭o be honest, it91裸聊视频檚 difficult. Because I don91裸聊视频檛 have the experience from what we91裸聊视频檙e used to. I have experience with games coming up close to each other, but not by flying seven hours to Costa Rica and then directly to Portland and stuff like that,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淪o it91裸聊视频檚 new to me. And that91裸聊视频檚 why it91裸聊视频檚 very important that I also have people around me that have the experience in these kind of situations.91裸聊视频�

The 91裸聊视频楥aps have already logged some big kilometres this year.

The team gathered in Vancouver in mid-January before heading to Marbella, Spain for three weeks of pre-season preparations, including four games against international competition. Players and staff returned to B.C. last week before heading to Costa Rica on Tuesday.

Over those four pre-season tilts, the team got better and better at executing the system Sorensen is trying to implement, said veteran defender Ranko Veselinovic.

91裸聊视频淲e worked from the day one. We understand what he wants from us,91裸聊视频� he said.

91裸聊视频淥f course, there91裸聊视频檚 a big space for improvement also. But yeah, we91裸聊视频檒l try to be as good as possible in the first game. It91裸聊视频檚 not going to be perfect, and we know that.91裸聊视频�

Vancouver finished last season with a mediocre 13-13-8 regular-season record. The club won a third straight Canadian Championship title but limped through the end of the MLS season and was ousted from the playoffs in the first round by Los Angeles FC.

Thursday91裸聊视频檚 game against Saprissa will be a test of Sorensen91裸聊视频檚 changes.

The Whitecaps have never faced the Costa Rican club in any competition and Veselinovic has been asking around about the opposition.

91裸聊视频淚 heard they91裸聊视频檙e a pretty good team. I spoke even with some friends that know them. They91裸聊视频檙e pretty aggressive. They like to play direct,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淪o, yeah, it91裸聊视频檚 going to be super hard game because it91裸聊视频檚 gonna be hot weather. They91裸聊视频檙e good fans, and they91裸聊视频檝e even played like six or seven games already in the season. So we need to be ready for that and to have a positive result before coming back home.91裸聊视频�

Vancouver earned its spot in the tournament by winning last year91裸聊视频檚 Canadian Championship, while Saprissa won a play-in series against Comunicaciones FC.

The 91裸聊视频楥aps know they91裸聊视频檙e facing some obstacles heading into Thursday91裸聊视频檚 matchup. Saprissa has already started their season, and used to playing in the sweltering conditions expected in San Jose. The Costa Rican side has also won the CONCACAF Champions Cup three times, most recently in 2005.

They91裸聊视频檙e all challenges Vancouver is looking forward to, said striker Brian White.

91裸聊视频淲hen you get to play in these kind of games, these kind of competitions, it91裸聊视频檚 another level,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淎nd I think everyone91裸聊视频檚 going to be excited, everyone91裸聊视频檚 going to be up for it. It91裸聊视频檚 going to be a tough challenge, obviously, and a bit of a different climate than we91裸聊视频檙e playing in right now. But it91裸聊视频檒l be a fun challenge.91裸聊视频�