The Vancouver Whitecaps are vacating their training facility at the University of British Columbia to make way for Canada Soccer during the FIFA World Cup. Postmedia has confirmed that the Whitecaps, along with their Next Pro team and the Rise, will relocate to facilities at St. George's School, a private school on Vancouver's west side.
Training Relocation Details
The move affects the National Soccer Development Centre (NSDC) at UBC, which the Whitecaps have used since 2017. The Whitecaps are on a league hiatus during the World Cup but will resume training in late June. The Next Pro team and the Rise will continue playing over the next two months.
According to a school source, the entire operation will be split between two St. George's facilities: Thunderbird Arena, previously used by the school's hockey academy and formerly by the Whitecaps, and the school itself. The teams will train on the school's grass fields, use fitness facilities, and convert classrooms into office space. Players will also have access to kitchens and dining areas.
Thunderbird Arena spaces will be transformed into changing rooms, treatment areas, and additional office space. With the school year ending and the hockey team off the ice, accommodating the Whitecaps is manageable for St. George's, which has hosted top-flight teams before, including Wrexham in 2024 and teams during the Canada Sevens.
Canada Soccer's World Cup Base
At the NSDC, Canada's national team will take over all Whitecaps spaces, including training rooms, changing areas, and dining halls. Canada's first group stage match is in Toronto on June 12 against Bosnia and Herzegovina, who will be based at Real Salt Lake's facilities in Utah. Canada's second match (June 18 vs. Qatar) and third (June 24 vs. Switzerland) will be in Vancouver.
The Canadian team will stay at the Hilton Bayshore downtown and travel by coach to training and B.C. Place for matches. If Canada wins Group B, they will play at B.C. Place for a round of 32 match on July 2. A win would keep them in Vancouver for the round of 16 on July 2. If Canada finishes second in the group, they will play in Los Angeles for the round of 32, with a potential move to Houston. If they finish third and are among the best third-placed teams, they will play in Massachusetts or the Bay Area.
