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3w ago

B.C. Court Approves CAN$475,000 Whitecaps, MLS Settlement Over Messi No-Show

The court approved a cy pres distribution to three B.C. sports charities.

Feb 7, 2026; Frisco, Texas, USA; A view of an MLS soccer ball and logo during the game between FC Dallas and New York Red Bulls at Toyota Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
Feb 21, 2026; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Whitecaps logo corner flag before the game against Real Salt Lake at BC Place. Mandatory Credit: Simon Fearn-Imagn Images
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Overview

  • Justice Andrew Majawa approved the CAN$475,000 settlement in what he called a novel case over alleged misleading promotions for the May 25, 2024 Inter Miami match.
  • After roughly one-third for legal fees and a $1,500 representative honorarium, the remaining funds will go to KidSport BC, Canada SCORES and BGC South Coast BC.
  • The Whitecaps must make ticket terms more prominent and clarify that rosters and individual player participation are not guaranteed and may change.
  • Major League Soccer and the Whitecaps denied liability and said they settled to avoid further legal costs, with no admission of wrongdoing in the deal.
  • The class covered about 50,000 ticketholders after Lionel Messi, Luis Suárez and Sergio Busquets were rested for the Vancouver game, for which the club offered discounted concessions and some free future tickets.