Vancouver Whitecaps FC announced that the club will host Toronto FC in the first leg of the Amway Canadian Championship final next Wednesday, May 16, at 7 p.m. PT at BC Place.

The first leg of the Amway Canadian Championship between Whitecaps FC and Toronto FC will be played on Bell Pitch at BC Place, followed by the second leg one week later on Wednesday, May 23, at BMO Field – home of Toronto FC.

The match marks the first time Whitecaps FC have hosted Toronto FC since last year’s Canadian Championship final, first leg, when both clubs drew 1-1 at Empire Field on May 18, 2011. This was preceded by the club’s inaugural match in Major League Soccer, a highly memorable 4-2 Whitecaps FC victory on March 19, 2011. The first leg of the Amway Canadian Championship final on May 16 will mark Toronto FC’s first and only visit to Vancouver during the 2012 season.

“We look forward to welcoming our fans to BC Place next Wednesday to take on Toronto FC in what should be a very entertaining first leg of the Amway Canadian Championship final,” said Whitecaps FC head coach Martin Rennie. “Our players are looking forward to a fantastic atmosphere to help push us one step closer to claiming the Voyageurs Cup title for the first time in club history.”

“One of the exciting elements of this tournament is that winning the Canadian Championship could be the start of a global journey for our club and for our country,” said Bob Lenarduzzi, Whitecaps FC president.

“Capturing the Voyageurs Cup title will provide Whitecaps FC with the opportunity to represent Canada in the CONCACAF Champions League, where we would play the top clubs in North America, Central America, and the Caribbean. This ultimately leads to the opportunity to compete in the 2013 FIFA Club World Cup in Morocco, and the chance to play against the winners of the UEFA Champions League, among other regional champions.”

In the semifinals of this year’s Amway Canadian Championship, Whitecaps FC defeated second tier North American Soccer League side FC Edmonton 4-1 on aggregate. The other semifinal series saw three-time defending champions Toronto FC defeat Montreal Impact 2-0 on aggregate.

Whitecaps FC will be looking to claim their first-ever Voyageurs Cup title since the competition began in 2008. Montreal claimed the inaugural Canadian Championship title in 2008, while Toronto FC have raised the Voyageurs Cup for the past three years, with Whitecaps FC right on their heels on all three occasions.

In 2011, Whitecaps FC looked to be on their way to their first-ever Voyageurs Cup title, while leading Toronto FC in the second leg of the Canadian Championship final 1-0 (2-1 on aggregate) before the match was abandoned due to unplayable field conditions. Toronto went on to defeat the ‘Caps in the rescheduled match by a score of 2-1 (3-2 on aggregate) and went on to play clubs from Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, and the United States in a run to the semifinals of the 2011-12 CONCACAF Champions League.