Founded in 1999, the Vancouver Southsiders are the oldest organized supporters group in Canada and the primary engine behind the atmosphere for Vancouver Whitecaps FC.
We aren't just fans sitting in seats; we are an independent collective of supporters who believe that the match-day experience is something you create, not just watch. From our origins in the beer gardens of Swangard Stadium to our massive home in the southeast corner of BC Place, our mission has never changed:
to provide unwavering, vocal, and visual support for our club.
We are a community built on passion, inclusion, and a refusal to be quiet.
What we do
Our impact is felt long before kickoff and stays long after the final whistle. As the "12th Man," we take it upon ourselves to lift the players and intimidate the opposition through a constant wall of sound and color.
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Visual Spectacle: Our members spend countless hours designing and painting massive tifo displays, hand-sewing banners, and waving the flags that define the look of the Southside.
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The Soundtrack of the Match: From the first minute to the ninetieth, we lead the songs and chants that echo throughout BC Place. We don't wait for a prompt from a scoreboard; we set the tempo ourselves.
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The March to the Match: Our presence is felt in the streets of Vancouver. Our match-day marches are a declaration of our arrival, bringing the energy of the Southside to the city before we even enter the gates.
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Building Community: Beyond the pitch, we are a family. We organize travel to away matches, host viewing parties, and foster a culture of camaraderie. Whether you’ve been a member since 1999 or it’s your very first match, if you’re wearing our scarf and singing our songs, you belong here.
Our History
The Southsiders’ story is a journey through the evolution of Canadian soccer. Our name itself is a tribute to our "birthplace"—the south end of Swangard Stadium. In the early days, we gathered in the pitch-level beer garden to support the Vancouver 86ers. After rotating through names like the Carlsberg Crew and Canterbury Chorus based on stadium sponsors, we decided to adopt a name that no sponsorship change could take away: The Southsiders.
In 2004, we made a lasting mark on North American soccer history by collaborating with supporters in Portland and Seattle to co-found the Cascadia Cup. This supporter-created trophy remains the most coveted prize in the Pacific Northwest, a testament to the culture we helped build from the ground up.
When the Whitecaps moved to Major League MLS in 2011, the Southsiders moved with them, transitioning from a small group of dozens to a massive force of hundreds. We’ve called Empire Field and BC Place home, and in 2020, we secured a dedicated General Admission section (Section 254)—a unified space where we continue to stand, sing, and lead the charge for the Blue and White.
