Cascadia Derby Head-to-Head | Seattle Sounders vs Vancouver Whitecaps History & Stats

The Cascadia Derby between Seattle Sounders and Vancouver Whitecaps is one of the oldest cross-border rivalries in North American football, and Seattle hold the historical edge. In 189 competitive meetings across the NASL, A-League, USL, MLS and Concacaf competition, Seattle have won 81, Vancouver have won 62 and 46 have been drawn.

Dating back to the NASL era of the 1970s, the fixture predates Major League Soccer and reflects a contest shaped by geography, supporter culture and shifting competitive balance. While Portland Timbers form the third side of the wider MLS Cascadia triangle, the Seattle and Vancouver strand has its own identity, built on frequent league meetings, playoff tension and long spells of dominance that have swung between the clubs. The atmosphere has evolved from modest NASL crowds to modern sell-outs at Lumen Field and BC Place, but the intensity has not.

Seattle Sounders vs Vancouver Whitecaps all-time head-to-head record

Across all recognised competitive meetings since the clubs first faced each other in the NASL in 1974, Seattle and Vancouver have played 189 times, making this one of the most-played fixtures in North American football. The totals below include league play, playoffs and recognised competitive tournaments.

The overall record points to a historical edge for Seattle, driven largely by strong spells in the A-League and USL years and by sustained success during long unbeaten runs in MLS. Vancouver's best periods came in the early NASL years and in shorter MLS phases where defensive compactness and quick transitions frustrated the Sounders. The sheer volume of matches underlines how deeply embedded the fixture is in Pacific Northwest football.

When do Seattle Sounders and Vancouver Whitecaps play next?

The meeting at BC Place closes out the regular-season series. Vancouver have taken the Cascadia Cup already, so the fixture carries playoff seeding rather than regional bragging rights, though the derby rarely needs the extra motivation.

Last 10 Seattle Sounders vs Vancouver Whitecaps results

The ten most recent completed meetings show how fine the margins have become in the modern era. Seattle have won four, Vancouver three, with three draws, and the goals are split almost evenly at 14 to 13 in Seattle's favour.

The pattern that stands out is an inversion of normal home advantage. Seattle have won just one of their last six at Lumen Field in this fixture, while winning three of their last four visits to BC Place. Low scores are the norm: four of the last ten meetings finished under 2.5 goals and only four saw both teams score.

Head-to-head record by venue

Vancouver have gone six matches without defeat at Lumen Field in this fixture, a run that includes the Cascadia Cup clincher in August 2026. Seattle, meanwhile, have found BC Place far more productive than their own ground, winning there in three of their last four visits and keeping two clean sheets in the process. Travel, surface familiarity and crowd intensity all shape results, but the recent evidence runs against the usual assumptions.

The Cascadia Cup: who has won the most?

The Cascadia Cup is the supporter-created trophy that sits above the individual derby fixtures. Founded in 2004 by the Emerald City Supporters, the Vancouver Southsiders and the Timbers Army, it is awarded each season to whichever of the three Pacific Northwest clubs takes the most points from their head-to-head regular-season matches. It began in the USL First Division, continued between Portland and Vancouver alone while Seattle were in MLS, and returned to a three-club competition in 2011.

Vancouver's ninth title in 2026 set a new record for the competition, and their back-to-back wins in 2025 and 2026 represent the strongest Whitecaps spell since the mid-2010s. Seattle's longest run came between 2018 and 2021, when they took three consecutive Cups either side of the cancelled 2020 edition. The trophy was contested only by Portland and Vancouver in 2009 and 2010, while Seattle were competing in MLS and the other two remained in the lower divisions.

Key players and rivalries by era

NASL and early professional era

The original NASL clashes were shaped by physical forwards and commanding defenders. Seattle figures such as Alan Hinton and Mike England contrasted with Vancouver stalwarts like Bob Lenarduzzi and Willie Johnston. These players set the tone for a rivalry built on aerial duels, robust tackling and direct play, with battles between creative wide men and hard-nosed full-backs defining many early meetings.

A-League and USL era

During the A-League and USL years the rivalry became more tactical. Seattle's influence through players like Leighton O'Brien and Taylor Graham was countered by Vancouver leaders such as Jeff Clarke and Martin Nash. Midfield control became crucial, with captains dictating tempo and defensive organisation playing a bigger role than in earlier decades.

MLS modern era

In MLS, marquee names elevated the derby's profile. Seattle icons Clint Dempsey, Nicolas Lodeiro and Stefan Frei brought star quality, while Vancouver relied on figures like Pedro Morales, Ryan Gauld and Kendall Waston. Notable duels included Dempsey against Waston in physical penalty-box battles, and Lodeiro against Morales in creative midfield contests that often decided momentum.

The spread of players shows how the rivalry has moved from physical battles to technically nuanced contests. Each era produced leaders whose influence extended beyond individual matches, shaping both tactical approaches and supporter memory.

Key stats and performance insights

Statistically, the Cascadia Derby is a rivalry where margins are fine and trends move over eras rather than season to season.

• Seattle have won 42.9% of all 189 meetings, Vancouver 32.8%, with 24.3% drawn.
• Three of the last ten meetings ended level, in line with the long-term draw rate.
• Four of the last ten produced fewer than three goals, and two finished goalless or with a single goal.
• Both teams scored in only four of the last ten, so clean sheets are more common than shoot-outs.
• Seattle have won one of their last six at Lumen Field, but three of their last four at BC Place.
• Vancouver have won the last two Cascadia Cups and hold the record with nine overall.

Memorable matches and iconic moments

Several fixtures have become reference points in the history of the derby, remembered for atmosphere as much as scoreline.

• June 1974: one of the earliest NASL meetings, laying the rivalry's foundations.
• May 2011: the first MLS-era league clashes, reigniting cross-border tension.
• October 2017: playoff meetings that added knockout drama to the fixture.
• June 2022: a dominant Seattle home performance underlining a long unbeaten run.
• July 2023: a 3-2 Seattle win at BC Place showcasing late-game swings.
• March 2026: a Concacaf Champions Cup tie, the first time the derby was contested on the continental stage.
• 17 August 2026: Vancouver won 2-0 at Lumen Field to clinch a record ninth Cascadia Cup.

Evolution of the rivalry

The Seattle Sounders and Vancouver Whitecaps rivalry has evolved from a regional curiosity into a flagship MLS derby. Changes in league structure, squad investment and supporter culture have all influenced its character. Where the NASL era emphasised physicality and novelty, the modern version is defined by tactical detail, sports science and global recruitment. The 2026 Concacaf Champions Cup double-header added a further layer, taking the fixture beyond MLS for the first time. Yet the emotional core is unchanged: pride, proximity and the desire to assert regional supremacy still drive every meeting.

For the other two strands of the Pacific Northwest rivalry, see our head-to-head guides to Seattle Sounders vs Portland Timbers and Portland Timbers vs Vancouver Whitecaps. Elsewhere in the league, our Texas Derby and Florida Derby guides follow the same format, and full club records are available for Seattle Sounders and Vancouver Whitecaps.

How we compile these figures

Frequently asked questions