VANCOUVER — Thomas Muller’s Major League Soccer debut was almost perfect.
Almost.
The German soccer icon came off the bench for the Vancouver Whitecaps on Sunday and put the ball into the back of the net just minutes later.
Then the offside flag went up.
“I think the moment when I scored the goal was amazing. The noise in the stadium and then also the reaction of my teammates, that was a great start for me,” Muller said. “In the end, the result was a little bit disappointing. But that’s the game. That’s the game.”
The Whitecaps (13-6-7) settled for a 1-1 draw with the Houston Dynamo (7-11-8).
Hours before kickoff, hundreds of fans gathered at Terry Fox Plaza outside B.C. Place to welcome Vancouver’s newest star.
Many in the crowd were clad in crisp new Whitecaps jerseys emblazoned with Muller’s No. 13, while others wore the red kit he formerly sported at Bayern Munich. At least two people wore lederhosen, a nod to the World Cup winner’s Bavarian roots, and several German flags lined the barriers.
Muller signed with the Whitecaps on Aug. 6 after playing 17 seasons for Bayern in the German Bundesliga. There, he became a household name, scoring 250 goals across all competitions and helping the club to 33 titles, including 13 league championships.
He also excelled on the international stage, winning the 2014 World Cup with Germany and taking home the Golden Boot from the 2010 tournament after notching five goals and three assists.
The 35-year-old attacking midfielder joined the ‘Caps after his contract with Bayern was not renewed. He will remain with the club through the 2025 season on a deal that includes a Designated Player option for the 2026 campaign.
Expectations for Muller were high on Sunday night, said Whitecaps head coach Jesper Sorensen, despite his limited time acclimating to a new team.
“First and foremost, it’s about blending him together with his teammates,” the coach said. “I think he did very well. I think he has a high football IQ so he understands where to position himself and which spaces to attack.”
The sold-out crowd of 26,031 rose to their feet before kickoff Sunday when Muller was introduced on the big screen. He replied by standing and clapping for the crowd before taking his seat on the sidelines.
Fans had another reason to cheer early in the game after Vancouver midfielder Jayden Nelson was taken down inside the penalty area by Griffin Dorsey.
Referee Jon Freemon pointed at the spot and people rose to their feet as Brian White lined up to take the penalty in the sixth minute. The American striker then rolled a low shot into the bottom right corner of the net as Houston ‘keeper Jonathan Bond dove in the opposite direction.
The goal was White’s team-leading 13th of the season.
Boisterous cheers emanated through the crowd in the 61st minute when Muller came on for homegrown talent Jeevan Badwal.
Three minutes later, the German soccer legend blasted a shot into the back of the Houston net from the top of the penalty area. The play was quickly whistled down for being offside.
“Of course, everybody had hoped for the result of the magic moment that came when Thomas put the ball in the back of the net,” Sorensen said. “Unfortunately, it was a very narrow offside. But you know, that’s what can happen.”
Houston spoiled Muller’s welcome party in the 91st minute when Amine Bassi slipped a pass to Artur at the top of the penalty area and the central midfielder sailed a shot in past the outstretched fingertips of Vancouver ‘keeper Yohei Takaoka to level the score at 1-1.
“You have little bit of a feeling that you lost the game even though you didn’t,” Sorensen said.
Muller said the pace and intensity of his first MLS match were high, but there are areas away from the ball where he sees room for improvement.
“In the end, we have to take the result, and we have to take our game and improve it in the next couple of weeks,” Muller said. “I’m now fresh into this team, I’m new into the league. I need a few weeks to figure out what’s right or wrong. But to be honest, I feel very good after this game.”
Sunday’s game capped a whirlwind week for Muller.
Hundreds of fans were on hand to welcome him when he touched down at Vancouver International Airport on Wednesday and on Thursday a crush of media greeted him at an introductory press conference. He got his first taste of Vancouver weather on Friday when rain soaked his first training session with the team.
“The first days were busy, but in a positive way,” Muller said. “I learned a lot about the culture. I met very nice people. I had a very warm welcome in this city, and also to the whole club. I was enjoying it a lot, and I want to continue our way to more. So I’m excited.”
Life in Vancouver is a change from Munich for the soccer star.
Though the sport’s popularity continues to boom throughout Canada, Muller is not yet a local celebrity in Vancouver — and he’s enjoyed a tiny taste of anonymity in recent days.
“When I walk through the city, it’s nice to meet some people cheering for the Whitecaps, but it’s also nice to go to the supermarket and buy my own stuff. I can relax a little bit between the lemons and the blueberries,” he said. “But I’m here to lead this team to something special.”
NOTES
Whitecaps defender Tristan Blackmon left the game at halftime with knee pain. … Midfielder Ali Ahmed came on for Vancouver in the 61st minute. It was his first game action since spraining his ankle while playing for Canada at the CONCACAF Gold Cup nearly two months ago. … Kenji Cabrera came on in the 91st minute, making his home debut for the ‘Caps.
NEXT UP
Vancouver: The Whitecaps host St. Louis City SC on Saturday.
Houston: The Dynamo host the San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 17, 2025.
Gemma Karstens-Smith, The Canadian Press
