Nova Scotia’s Connor Munn joins the Vancouver Whitecaps FC BMO MLS Academy

Connor Munn, a 16-year-old soccer player from Nova Scotia, is set to join the Vancouver Whitecaps FC BMO MLS Academy for the 2025-26 season.

The MLS Academy is a fully funded high-performance program that provides a premier environment to develop and prepare selected athletes for the demands of professional soccer. Munn will be joining the U18 team that competes in MLS NEXT, the most elite platform for youth player development in North America.

“Being invited to the Whitecaps FC BMO MLS Academy is a huge step for me. It’s one of the top programs in the country, I know it will push me every day to get better,” said Munn. “This is a dream of mine that I have been working towards for a long time. It’s a very big opportunity. The Whitecaps have a strong reputation for developing players, and I’m excited to be part of that pathway and represent Nova Scotia in Vancouver.”

The program operates in the Whitecaps FC National Soccer Development Centre at UBC and invites top male soccer prospects from British Columbia and across the country to attend school, train, and play together, leading to professional, collegiate and national team opportunities.

Munn attended several Showcase events and training opportunities with the Whitecaps in Vancouver since he joined the Nova Scotia Whitecaps FC Prospects program in 2022. He was invited to join the MLS Academy after impressing at an Evaluation Camp in Vancouver in November 2024.

“Our technical staff have tracked and monitored Connor for several years,” said Mike Ayyash, WFC Academy Centre Technical Director. “He took every opportunity he could to challenge himself and push his game forward. Being invited to join the MLS Academy is rare for players his age, so this is a testament to the hard work and pure determination Connor has shown over the years. And great to see a player from Nova Scotia make it to the MLS Academy.”

Following Yorgos Gavas, Munn is the second male player to join the Whitecaps FC BMO MLS Academy since the partnership between Vancouver Whitecaps FC and Soccer Nova Scotia started in 2016. And the third overall, following Liam Elbourne, who joined in 2012. Munn was part of the Nova Scotia Prospects Program, a supplementary development program aimed at identifying and developing top local prospects for professional, national team and collegiate pathways.

“Soccer Nova Scotia is incredibly proud of Connor and his achievement in signing with Vancouver Whitecaps Academy,” said Adam Miller, Manager of Performance Pathways at Soccer Nova Scotia.  “Connor’s success is a result of his incredible work ethic, desire to improve and quality throughout his game. He has earned this opportunity through years of dedication, and we can not wait to see where this opportunity takes him next.”

“From a bigger picture point of view, his final identification marked the fifth time attending a Whitecaps ID event in Vancouver. Having recently returned from Vancouver with a younger group enjoying their first experience, it shows that the pathway to professional soccer exists, as long as players are dedicated and committed to their journey,” added Miller. “Connor’s success is proof of this, and he is an inspiration to the next set of young athletes coming through on both male and female sides.”

Munn grew up playing with the Bedford Titans Soccer Club and then competitively with Suburban FC over the years. He was also part of the Halifax Wanderers U21 development team and trained with the Wanderers’ first team as well.

“Suburban FC gave me the foundation I needed, and getting to train with the Wanderers first team and play with the U21s gives me a real look at the pro level. The pace, intensity, and expectations push me to grow,” said Munn. “I’m just so proud of this province. Growing up with great coaches and programs has paved my way. There’s so much talent and momentum here in Nova Scotia.”

Munn is also part of the Nova Scotia Canada Games team that will compete in Newfoundland this summer, which he plans to see through before moving to Vancouver to join the MLS Academy team.

“Playing for Team Nova Scotia at the upcoming Canada Games this August is a huge honour. We’ve got a strong roster, and the training and preparation have been next level. I’m proud to be part of it.”

For further information on the Whitecaps FC BMO Academy System, visit whitecapsfc.com/academy, and for information on the MLS Academy, visit https://www.whitecapsfc.com/academy/mlsacademy