Vancouver Whitecaps fans protest potential relocation outside of FIFA Congress

[p]About 100 fans chanted, sang and waved flags as delegates arrived for ‌FIFA's annual gathering in Vancouver, days after the ‌club said it had struggled to find a buyer committed ‌to keeping the team in the city.[/p][p]The Whitecaps said ‌on Monday that "stadium economics, venue access and revenue limitations" had made a sale more difficult, adding that the search for new ownership ‌had been underway for 16 months.[/p][p]"[b]I wanted ⁠to come down given ‌the threat of the team possibly moving,[/b]" said season ticket ​holder Derek Hawksworth, who joined the protest.[/p][p]"[b]It's a rich history with the Whitecaps in North America and ​I want to show support because I love the team, I love the sport. We want Vancouver to stay ⁠and not relocate.[/b][/p][p]"[b]The ​history is here and we want to continue with that history moving forward and fill the trophy cabinet.[/b]"[/p][embed guid="5f16a58b-fb46-441d-87e4-bbeb9cc70d7c" url="https://x.com/BenSteiner00/status/2049869261913706879?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]The club, founded in 1974, won the North American Soccer League title ‌in 1979 and has a long history in Vancouver soccer. Last season, the Whitecaps reached both the MLS Cup final and the CONCACAF Champions Cup final.[/p][p]Las Vegas and Phoenix are reportedly the top contenders to become the team's new home city if it relocates.[/p][p]Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim on Tuesday called on the provincial government, which owns the team's present stadium, to come to a "bridge deal" with ‌the Whitecaps to make the situation at BC Place ​viable while a new stadium is designed and built.[/p][p]The ‌team's lease at BC Place expires at the end of the year.[/p][p]On the field, Vancouver have been among the strongest teams in MLS this season. The Whitecaps are second in the Western Conference with 24 ⁠points from nine matches, three ⁠points behind the San ‌Jose Earthquakes.[/p]