Thomas Muller, Whitecaps Aim to Extend Winning Streak Against Earthquakes

Former Germany teammates Muller and Werner face off as Vancouver and San Jose battle in MLS action.

Mar. 21, 2026 at 1:53pm

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Two former German national team stars, Thomas Muller of the Vancouver Whitecaps and Timo Werner of the San Jose Earthquakes, will go head-to-head as their teams meet in a key MLS matchup on Saturday night. The Whitecaps have started the season 4-0-0 and look to extend their winning streak, while the Earthquakes are 3-1-0 and coming off their first loss of the year.

Why it matters

This game features a clash of two of the league's top teams early in the season, with the Whitecaps looking to maintain their unbeaten start and the Earthquakes aiming to bounce back from their first defeat. The matchup between former Germany teammates Muller and Werner adds an intriguing personal storyline to the proceedings.

The details

Muller, 36, joined the Whitecaps late last season and made an immediate impact, scoring seven goals in seven regular-season matches to help the team reach the MLS Cup final. Werner, 30, signed with the Earthquakes this offseason after a successful stint with the German national team. Both players will be looking to lead their new clubs to victory in this clash.

  • The match is scheduled for Saturday, March 21, 2026.
  • Muller joined the Whitecaps late last season.

The players

Thomas Muller

A 36-year-old German midfielder who joined the Vancouver Whitecaps late last season and helped the team reach the MLS Cup final.

Timo Werner

A 30-year-old German striker who signed with the San Jose Earthquakes this offseason after a successful stint with the German national team.

Jesper Sorensen

The head coach of the Vancouver Whitecaps.

Bruce Arena

The head coach of the San Jose Earthquakes.

Brian White

A striker for the Vancouver Whitecaps who is tied for the league lead with five goals.

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What they’re saying

“He said, 'You are the top player, and I want to win something with you,' And that gave me a good feeling from the start. He always said he would be behind me.”

— Timo Werner

“I think this group has embraced the challenges put in front of them, and then we have succeeded in some and some we haven't. That's what it is, but I think this group is always looking forward to challenges ahead of them.”

— Jesper Sorensen, Whitecaps coach

“We had 17 corner kicks. You'd like to believe you can be a little bit more dangerous. We weren't good on our corners.”

— Bruce Arena, Earthquakes coach

What’s next

The Whitecaps and Earthquakes will face off on Saturday, March 21, 2026 in a key early-season MLS matchup.

The takeaway

This game features a clash of two of the league's top teams early in the season, with the Whitecaps looking to maintain their unbeaten start and the Earthquakes aiming to bounce back from their first defeat. The personal storyline between former Germany teammates Muller and Werner adds an extra layer of intrigue to the proceedings.