Enthusiastic Supporter's Return - Heartfelt Response EventTitled Event: Heartfelt Response
Thomas Müller Arrives in Vancouver: A Warm Indigenous Welcome and Excited Fans
Thomas Müller, the 2014 World Cup winner and Bayern Munich legend, has made his way to Vancouver to join the Canadian club, Vancouver Whitecaps, in the Major League Soccer (MLS). The 35-year-old forward is expected to train with the team for the first time soon and make his debut in the coming days.
Upon his arrival at Vancouver International Airport, Müller was greeted with an impressive ceremony and great fan enthusiasm. Around 800 fans, waving German flags, showing off Bayern jerseys, and singing Müller's name, welcomed the new signing. As he made his way to the city center, numerous posters with his image adorned the streets.
Before the BC Place Stadium, large banners welcomed the new hope, Thomas Müller. The Musqueam, the indigenous First Nation people of Vancouver, also welcomed Müller with a traditional drum march and cultural songs. A traditional blanket was presented to Müller by Chief Wayne Sparrow of the Musqueam during the welcome ceremony.
This ceremony holds cultural significance as it reflects the Musqueam's practice of honoring guests through traditional expressions of their identity—music, drumming, and symbolic gifting (such as the blanket ceremony). The Musqueam people not only celebrated Müller's arrival but also shared their culture and presence in the Vancouver area, emphasizing Indigenous heritage in a contemporary context.
In a first, Müller spoke to his new fans for the first time in a sports bar at the airport during the Canadian Championship semi-final first leg. The German international seemed relaxed and full of anticipation for his new sporting challenge despite a long flight and the time difference. Müller expressed his happiness to be a Whitecap and his desire to shape the future with the team.
The welcome ceremony for Müller was documented on Instagram, and his first press conference is scheduled for the day after his arrival. Müller spent 25 years at the Munich top club before joining Vancouver Whitecaps, and the MLS will be his new sporting challenge. The Musqueam emphasized that Müller has found a new home in Canada, particularly in Vancouver.
Thomas Müller's arrival in Vancouver marks his transition from European-leagues, specifically the premier-league of Bayern, to the North American Major League Soccer (MLS). As fans chant his name and wave flags, Müller begins his new football journey with the Vancouver Whitecaps.
