The Vancouver Whitecaps unveiled a special edition kit on Thursday that honours the city’s football history.
“The Archive Kit” takes inspiration from the 40th anniversary of the Vancouver 86ers and will be worn on Wednesday against the Houston Dynamo.
Founded in 1986, the 86ers played in the Canadian Soccer League. The name was chosen to honour the city’s founding in 1886, as well as Expo ‘86, which was held in Vancouver, and the Canada men’s team’s first-ever World Cup qualification. From 1988 to 1989, the team, managed by Bob Lenarduzzi, went on an unprecedented 46-game unbeaten run.
With the CSL folding in 1992, the team moved to the American Professional Soccer League, which would eventually become the USL. In 2001, the 86ers were rechristened as the Whitecaps in honour of the North American Soccer League side that played from 1974 to 1984. In 2010, the Whitecaps began play in MLS.
“I have been fortunate to be a part of professional soccer in Vancouver for nearly five decades,” former Canada striker and 86ers player Carl Valentine said in a statement. “The 86ers have such a special place in our club history. There is a real vibrancy in these colours, and I think when fans see these kits in action, they are really going to fall in love with them.”
The kits are royal blue with yellow and red accents. Gone is the sponsor logo from the regular uniforms and in its place is a “Vancouver” wordmark ribbon taken from the original 86ers badge. The bottom of the shirt also features an 86ers jock tag.
The Whitecaps, MLS Cup finalists in 2025, currently sit atop the Western Conference standings on 34 points from 17 matches. They are next in action on Sunday with a visit to the ninth-place Seattle Sounders.
