The key differences between LA and Vancouver ahead of Sunday's contest | OneFootball

Sunday brings us Matchday #2 for many squads. The Los Angeles Galaxy travel north to Canada to face team that, like the defending champions, made the 2024 MLS Western Conference Playoffs.

These two teams have very little in common aside from that. Dawning their new Rizon kits, the visiting LA Galaxy hope to win for an 18th time against the Vancouver Whitecaps.

For starters, the Los Angeles Galaxy is one of the original MLS teams when the league started in 1996. The Whitecaps did not join MLS until the 2011 season.

How do the LA Galaxy and Vancouver Whitecaps vastly differ?

This season marks the 30th year for MLS and the Los Angeles Galaxy. The Vancouver Whitecaps have begun just their 15th season.

In their first four years, the LA Galaxy played in two MLS Cup Finals. Unfortunately for their fans and locker room, they lost both.

Vancouver would only make the playoffs twice in their first four seasons as they failed to make it past the first round. However, in their fifth year, they won their first playoff series and made to the quarterfinals.

The Los Angeles Galaxy has held the Supporters' Shield four times. They earned the league's best record in 1998, 2002, 2010 and 2011. Vancouver has only finished in the top four of the Conference twice.

Thus far, the Whitecaps have qualified for the postseason in all but five of their 14 seasons. Brian White has been one of their most consistent scorers as he has led the team in goals scored three times in the past four years.

Since Javier Hernandez led the LA Galaxy in goals in back-to-back seasons (2021 & 2022), it has been a different player doing so the past three seasons for the six-time champions.

Vancouver has just six selections to brag: Jay DeMerit (2012), Camilo (2013), David Ousted (2015), Kendall Waston (2016), Alphonso Davies (2018) and the most recent, Ryan Gauld (2024). The Los Angeles Galaxy have played in twice as many seasons in the league.

Just last season alone, they had two All-Stars to brag: Gabriel Pec and Riqui Puig. It marked the second year in a row that Puig was selected for this honor.

After having the league's best offense in the MLS Western Conference last year, the LA Galaxy were held scoreless last week. Vancouver scored four goals in a blowout victory on the road against the Portland Timbers. The Whitecaps' captain, Ryan Gauld, got the team going with his goal at the 24th minute last weekend.

If the Los Angeles Galaxy look to get back on track in defending their sixth MLS Cup title, a win on Sunday is almost necessary. Since 2011, the Galaxy have outscored Vancouver 57-42 against one another.

LA Galaxy forwards Gabriel Pec and Christian Ramirez look to add their first goals of the season. Something four members of the Whitecaps did a week ago. Regardless, somebody needs to score for the Galaxy if they look to get their first win of the new season.