Jesper Sorensen believes that the Vancouver Whitecaps' tough start to their CONCACAF Champions Cup campaign will help them in the opening weeks of their MLS season. 

The Whitecaps progressed to the last 16 of the competition with a 2-0 aggregate win over Costa Rican side Cartagines in midweek following a goalless draw in the first leg. 

Both of those games in the competition came either side of their season-opening win at home to Real Salt Lake last time out, with Aziel Jackson's goal proving to be decisive. 

Vancouver face rivals Toronto FC in their second league game of 2026, and Sorensen is confident that his players are in the perfect position to make it back-to-back wins.

"I think it's great," Sorensen said. "We also have to look at the alternative. It would have been a huge disappointment for us if we had gone at the first stage of the competition. 

"We're only seven days into the season and we have already played three games. It was tricky because they have been playing for a while, and we had only just started. 

"For me, it's very tricky going into this kind of scenario after a long break. I'm happy about the win because I think it will build the squad and the roster for all of our players."

Toronto, meanwhile, were on the wrong end of a five-goal thriller in their first match of the new season as they went down 3-2 against FC Dallas at Toyota Stadium. 

Djordje Mihailovic had cancelled out Petar Musa's opening goal before Logan Farrington restored Dallas' lead just before the break.

Derrick Etienne Jr. restored parity for Toronto in the 67th minute, but Musa made sure of all three points seven minutes later as he finished neatly past Luka Gavran. 

Toronto had an expected goals (xG) total of 0.99 from 12 shots to Dallas' 1.61 from 13 attempts, though Robin Fraser fumed at his team's defending in the defeat. 

"It was very much about how we defended in that game," Fraser said when asked about what his pre-match preparations consisted of ahead of their trip to BC Place. 

"That doesn't necessarily mean that was just aimed towards the defenders in particular, but it was how we defended as a group. We were too poor against Dallas. 

"That is certainly one thing that we have spoken about together as a collective and the way that we can prevent that moving forward, particularly against Vancouver."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Vancouver Whitecaps – Aziel Jackson

Aziel Jackson scored Vancouver's lone goal in his Whitecaps MLS debut last time out, and he will want to continue his impressive start to life with the club.

He is the fourth different Whitecaps player to score on his league debut for the club since the start of last season (Antoine Coupland, Tate Johnson, Jayden Nelson).

Toronto FC – Djordje Mihailovic

Djordje Mihailovic scored Toronto's opening goal of the season in the 15th minute on Saturday.

Since returning to MLS in 2024, Mihailovic has totalled 46 goal contributions (25 goals, 21 assists), 12 more than any other American in that time (Brian White – 34).

MATCH PREDICTION: VANCOUVER WHITECAPS WIN

Vancouver are unbeaten in eight straight meetings with Toronto in all competitions (W4 D4) after having never gone more than two in a row without defeat before. They have kept clean sheets in three straight against them after managing two shutouts in the first 27 all-time meetings.

The Whitecaps have also not tasted defeat in 10 straight matches against fellow Canadian MLS sides in all competitions (W6 D4). They have allowed a total of four goals in those 10 matches, keeping six clean sheets, including three in a row.

Toronto, meanwhile, have won only one of their last 13 matches dating back to the end of last season (D8 L4) after opening 2026 with a 3-2 loss at FC Dallas on Saturday. Toronto's last away win came in July, a 1-0 victory at San Diego FC.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Vancouver Whitecaps – 66.4%

Draw – 18.3%

Toronto FC – 15.3%