Real Salt Lake ready for 'first test' of 2026 season in Vancouver

Head coach Pablo Mastroni says the season opener will set the tone for the rest of the year.

Published on Feb. 21, 2026

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Real Salt Lake will kick off the 2026 regular season on Saturday against the Vancouver Whitecaps. Head coach Pablo Mastroni told reporters this week that the season opener in Vancouver will set the tone for the rest of the season, describing Vancouver as 'not an easy place to play.'

Why it matters

Real Salt Lake is looking to build on a successful 2025 season and get off to a strong start in 2026. The match against the Vancouver Whitecaps will be an early test for the team as they aim to contend for a playoff spot in the Western Conference.

The details

Mastroni said that if Real Salt Lake can get a good result in Vancouver, it will 'set us up for a good start to the season.' The coach emphasized that Vancouver is 'not an easy place to play,' suggesting the match will be a challenging one for his team.

  • Real Salt Lake will kick off the 2026 regular season on Saturday, February 22.

The players

Pablo Mastroni

The head coach of Real Salt Lake.

Vancouver Whitecaps

Real Salt Lake's opponent in the season opener.

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What they’re saying

“My thought is, if we get a good result there, I think that will set us up for a good start to the season.”

— Pablo Mastroni, Head Coach (ground.news)

What’s next

Real Salt Lake will look to build on a successful 2025 season and get off to a strong start in 2026 with a win against the Vancouver Whitecaps on Saturday.

The takeaway

The season opener against the Vancouver Whitecaps will be an early test for Real Salt Lake as they aim to contend for a playoff spot in the Western Conference in 2026.