Inter Miami Clashes with Vancouver Whitecaps in Epic 2025 MLS Cup Final Showdown
The Major League Soccer Cup championship match is confirmed as Inter Miami prepares to host the Vancouver Whitecaps at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale.
Inter Miami dominated New York City FC on Saturday evening at their home venue to secure their place in the final. Tadeo Allende netted three goals to establish the record for most strikes in a single MLS playoff campaign, while Lionel Messi contributed an assist for his record-setting 13th goal involvement of the postseason.
Following their achievement of home field advantage and the Eastern Conference championship, Miami observed as Vancouver overcame San Diego FC 3–1 to capture the franchise's inaugural Western Conference crown and earn the opportunity to face the Herons in Fort Lauderdale.
Here's all the essential information about the MLS Cup championship match.
Inter Miami vs. Vancouver Whitecaps Head-to-Head History
The MLS Cup championship will mark the fourth encounter between Miami and Vancouver.
The Whitecaps maintain the head-to-head edge, having defeated Miami 2–0 and 3–1 in the Concacaf Champions Cup semifinals during April. However, those matches occurred before Miami discovered their peak performance and months prior to the Whitecaps acquiring Thomas Müller.
U.S. men's national team members Brian White and Sebastian Berhalter found the net twice, while Pedro Vite contributed a goal as well. Nevertheless, they will be without Vite for the championship, following the club's transfer of him to Liga MX's Pumas UNAM during the summer.
The two teams have faced each other just once in MLS regular season play, with Miami triumphing over the Whitecaps 2–1 in Canada throughout the 2024 campaign. However, that encounter did not feature Messi, Sergio Busquets or Luis Suárez.
Inter Miami vs. Vancouver Whitecaps: All-Time Results
Date | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|
April 30, 2025 | Inter Miami 1–3 Vancouver Whitecaps | Concacaf Champions Cup |
April 24, 2025 | Vancouver Whitecaps 2–0 Inter Miami | Concacaf Champions Cup |
May 25, 2024 | Vancouver Whitecaps 1–2 Inter Miami | MLS Regular Season |
Where and When is the MLS Cup Final?
Inter Miami concluded higher in the Supporters' Shield standings, granting them home field advantage for the championship. The Whitecaps will be playing away for the third occasion in the playoffs, having defeated FC Dallas in the opening round and San Diego FC in the conference final.
The championship will represent the final match at Chase Stadium, as the club is scheduled to relocate to Miami Freedom Park for the 2026 MLS season.
Lionel Messi vs. Thomas Müller History
The championship match of the 2025 MLS Cup playoffs features Messi and Müller facing off for the first time since the 2022–23 UEFA Champions League. In 10 prior encounters, Müller has emerged triumphant seven times, all while representing either Germany or Bayern Munich.
The most notable confrontation between the pair witnessed Germany defeating Argentina in the 2014 World Cup final, where Müller provided an assist to Mario Götze for the decisive goal in extra time.
Additional significant battles include Messi and Barcelona's victory over Bayern in the 2014–15 Champions League. Müller also scored twice in Bayern's legendary 8–2 demolition of Barcelona in 2020.