Vancouver FC: CPL’s 9th Club

In the evening on Wednesday, November 2nd, 2022, Vancouver FC, a team Canada knew was coming, was unveiled as the 9th Canadian Premier League club for the 2023 season. The press conference held by former Canadian international Rob Friend’s company SixFive Sports & Entertainment unveiled the new club’s name, branding and Head Coach Afshin Ghotbi.

Friend, with fellow former Canadian international Josh Simpson, was instrumental in the founding of 2021 CPL Champions Pacific FC, but he’s always had his eye on a club for Lower Mainland Vancouver. It’s taken 5 years, but Vancouver FC is here.

We don’t know much about Vancouver FC beyond the introduction of their new Head Coach and what their branding will look like, however, if we look at the philosophies, methodologies and overall approach that Friend and Simpson took with Pacific FC, we can expect a lot of good things. A team built around young Canadian players, playing dynamic, high-energy football, and perennially competitive. Another team in the Canadian Premier League that adds a competition and opportunities for talented young Canadians is definitely a good thing.

Unfortunately, Brampton, where all the best Canadian footballer players tend to come from, is a bit far from BC… …so we assume that Friend and Ghotbi are going to have to make a few trips out to our neck of the woods to unearth Canada’s next, Brampton soccer gems.