The Third Sub Episode 262: The 2026 CCC dream is dead but the MLS show rolls on for the Whitecaps

Welcome back to another episode of the Third Sub Podcast!In this episode, Alex and Sam are back, as usual, this time to chat about all things Vancouver Whitecaps. To begin, they take a look at the latest results for the Whitecaps, who have been flying in MLS play, but came crashing down to earth in Concacaf Champions Cup action. Starting with the CCC, that's where the Whitecaps unfortunately fell to their Cascadia rivals, the Seattle Sounders, 5-1 on aggregate in their Round of 16 tie. While that scoreline certainly flattered the Sounders, it was far from an undeserved result for the Seattle-based outfit, who showed their experience across the 180 minutes of action. That's not to say that it's all bad for the Whitecaps after their CCC elimination, as it'll free up their schedule for the next few months, but it's a loss that will sting regardless, as they had eyes on another deep run in that competition after reaching the final in 2025. Meanwhile, the Whitecaps will keep their focus on MLS play, where they've started the year with four wins, scoring 14 goals and conceding just one. While they never seemed to get going in CCC play, that's not been the case in MLS play, as they've gotten better with each match, leading to a 4-1 win vs. the Portland Timbers and a 6-0 win vs. Minnesota United in their last two league outings. Can they have another big performance against the San Jose Earthquakes this upcoming weekend? It won't be easy, as the Earthquakes are also off to an excellent start to the MLS season, which should make this a fascinating matchup to watch unfold. Make sure to check out The Third Sub Podcast on Twitter, @thirdsubpod, as well as on Instagram, @the3rdsub_.