Whitecaps, Dynamo clash in Western Conference top-two showdown

The Vancouver Whitecaps host the Houston Dynamo in a Western Conference showdown at BC Place as the top two teams in the West vie for playoff positioning, with Vancouver leading the table on 37 points to Houston's 35. Vancouver arrives off a 2-0 win over Seattle and will look to extend their slim edge, while Houston has won four of their last five across competitions and have kept a clean sheet in each of those victories. The Dynamo are widely regarded as a tough defensive outfit, with Guilherme as a key goal threat, and Vancouver will need to manage him while maintaining their own attacking rhythm built around players like Thomas Müller and Ryan Gauld. The midweek clash has added significance given the gap between first and second place and could reshape the West standings depending on the result. For fans watching from home, Apple TV is the exclusive streaming option for MLS regular-season matches, with no blackout restrictions. Previously, Houston won the first meeting of the season 1-0 on the road in Houston, giving Vancouver a chance for local revenge on home soil.