Five Epic Showdowns That Will Crown the MLS Western Conference Champion: San Diego FC Clashes with Vancouver Whitecaps

The Western Conference's leading two clubs from the MLS regular season are preparing to clash for an MLS Cup berth when Vancouver Whitecaps FC travels to face San Diego FC this Saturday.

San Diego FC secured their place in the Western Conference championship match on Monday evening with a narrow 1–0 victory over Minnesota United. Just two days earlier, Vancouver earned their spot through an exciting penalty shootout triumph against LAFC.

This marks a historic first Conference final appearance for both clubs, with San Diego becoming only the second expansion franchise to reach this stage in the playoffs (Chicago Fire captured MLS Cup in their inaugural 1998 campaign), while the Whitecaps are enjoying their most successful run since joining MLS in 2011.

Sports Illustrated examines five crucial matchups

Thomas Müller vs. Anders Dreyer: The Game-Changers

Each squad is characterized by their match-winners, featuring German icon Thomas Müller and MLS Newcomer of the Year Anders Dreyer. Though they won't directly face off—Müller operates centrally while Dreyer plays wide—their influence and game-changing capabilities are comparable.

Dreyer has delivered an outstanding campaign, tallying 23 goals and 21 assists across 38 MLS appearances, and recently netted the decisive strike against Minnesota. Meanwhile, Müller has contributed eight goals and three assists in his 10 MLS matches since his August arrival, though he wasn't the determining factor against LAFC and sat out extra time.

For this encounter, Dreyer holds the upper hand. With Vancouver's injury concerns, they may be vulnerable on the flanks, while San Diego's midfield duo of Jeppe Tverskov and Aníbal Godoy could contain Müller.

However, these are exceptional talents—they can influence matches even when neutralized for 89 minutes.

Edge: San Diego FC (Anders Dreyer)

Sebastian Berhalter and Cubas vs. San Diego's Offense

While Dreyer might exploit Vancouver's wide areas, the Whitecaps should dominate the center of the field. Operating in a 4-2-3-1 formation, the defensive midfield partnership of U.S. men's national team World Cup candidate Sebastian Berhalter and Paraguay's Andrés Cubas have commanded the middle and can initiate attacks as well.

During the semifinal against LAFC, which featured Son Heung-min and Denis Bouanga, the two Whitecaps midfielders recorded 31 defensive actions, nine tackles, and 18 recoveries, while maintaining defensive structure as Vancouver was reduced to 10 and then nine players. Simultaneously, they completed 20 passes into the attacking third with Berhalter creating four scoring opportunities.

In excellent form and with Müller positioned ahead of them, they should dominate the midfield battle, with only Tverskov competing for pivotal status on San Diego's side.

Edge: Vancouver Whitecaps FC

The Whitecaps' Defensive Absences

Vancouver will be without several crucial defenders. Regular center-back Tristan Blackmon, who returned from extended injury against LAFC, is suspended due to his red card in that match. Additionally, backup center-back Belal Halbouni is sidelined after reportedly suffering an ACL injury.

This likely means Vancouver's defensive line will feature promising MLS Superdraft selection Tate Johnson at left-back, a center-back partnership of penalty shootout hero Mathias Laborda and Ralph Priso-Mbongue, who typically plays midfield, plus Edier Ocampo at right-back.

While not the worst scenario, it's far from Vancouver's preferred backline that guided them through their Concacaf Champions Cup campaign earlier this season.

Given the defensive absences, plus midfielder Ryan Gauld and striker Brian White still working back to full fitness, San Diego will possess a considerable attacking advantage.

Edge: San Diego FC

San Diego's Regular Season vs. Vancouver's Performance

San Diego will welcome another meeting with Vancouver, a team they managed during the regular campaign. However, circumstances have changed significantly since San Diego's 5–3 victory in June at BC Place and their 1–1 stalemate at Snapdragon Stadium in July.

Milan Iloski was instrumental in the 5–3 triumph with a four-goal display, but he departed San Diego for Philadelphia Union (and was knocked out of the MLS Cup playoffs in the Eastern Conference semifinal by NYCFC). Meanwhile, Vancouver lacked the services of Müller and Gauld during the California draw.

Mikey Varas's squad will bring confidence from facing Vancouver previously, but in a single-elimination playoff clash, the earlier outcomes are unlikely to predict anything.

Edge: Tie

Lozano's Past vs. Müller

Lozano has featured for just 77 minutes in the playoffs, but will relish another encounter with Müller. The pair have never met at club level, but have faced each other twice representing Mexico and Germany respectively.

One of Lozano's career highlights occurred in their initial meeting, when he netted the only goal in Mexico's 1–0 upset of Germany during the group phase of the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. He'll aim for similar heroics in another winner-take-all contest seven years later.

San Diego vs. Vancouver Whitecaps: Who will prevail?

This will be an even contest. Isn't it fantastic that the regular season's top two Western Conference teams reached the conference championship? That noted, Vancouver has some historical precedent in their favor, as only three times in the past 20 years has the Western Conference regular-season champion progressed to MLS Cup.

It'll be close, it'll be entertaining, but Vancouver advances to face either Inter Miami or New York City FC for MLS Cup on Dec. 6.

Score Prediction: San Diego FC 2–3 Vancouver Whitecaps (after extra time)