The MLS Cup Final takes place this afternoon, and America’s top flight division of soccer will crown a new champion. In one corner stands Inter Miami, the champions of the Eastern Conference who beat New York City FC 5-1 to book their first trip to the final. They will face the Western Conference champions Vancouver Whitecaps, who beat the West’s top seed San Diego FC 3-1 on the road to get to their first final.
The Whitecaps include USMNT players Sebastian Berhalter, Tristan Blackmon, and Brian White.
Blackmon is available after sitting out the conference final due to a red card he picked up in the conference semifinal round. The Whitecaps have never advanced this far in the MLS Cup Playoffs, and they’re hoping to become Canada’s first MLS Cup winners since Toronto FC in 2017.
On the other side, Inter Miami are the presumed league darlings, with Lionel Messi leading the team. The Golden Boot winner who is likely to repeat as league MVP, Messi has won a Leagues Cup, U.S. Open Cup, and Supporters’ Shield already with Inter Miami. Now, this is his chance to win MLS Cup in the final match he will play with friends and teammates Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets, whom are both entering retirement after the match.
Their only meetings this season came in the 2025 Concacaf Champions Cup semifinals, where the Vancouver Whitecaps shocked the region and proved they might be for real in a 5-1 aggregate shelling of Inter Miami. Brian White and Sebastian Berhalter scored the 2 goals in a 2-0 win at home in the first leg. They both scored again alongside former teammate Pedro Vite in a 3-1 dismantling in the second leg in Fort Lauderdale. Vancouver would move onto the Concacaf Champions Cup final, where they were throttled by Cruz Azul in Mexico City. Vancouver turned some heads with their performance against Inter Miami in that semifinal series. However, it was hard to realize at the time that the matchup would be a preview of the MLS Cup Final.
Vancouver Whitecaps. Inter Miami. Who do you have in this one? Discuss in the comments as the 2025 MLS Cup Final takes flight and we find out who stands tall as the league’s champion.
How to Watch
Inter Miami vs. Vancouver Whitecaps
Advertised Kick-off Time: 2:30pm Eastern, 11:30am Pacific
Venue: Chase Stadium, Fort Lauderdale
Available TV: Fox (English), Fox Deportes (Spanish)
Available streaming: Apple TV, MLS Season Pass
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