Inter Miami, Whitecaps set for MLS Cup showdown

There will be a new name carved into the MLS Cup trophy this December.

Inter Miami and the Vancouver Whitecaps will meet on Saturday in the 2025 edition of the league final. Both teams advanced to December 6th’s final after picking up their first conference championships in club history on Saturday.

Lionel Messi and Inter Miami rolled past visiting NYCFC 5-1 in Saturday’s Eastern Conference Final. Tadeo Allende registered a hat trick in the result, continuing a blistering run of form in the postseason.

Adende leads all players in the MLS Cup Playoffs with eight goals in five appearances.

Messi picked up one assist in Saturday’s win, taking his playoff tally to six goals and five assists for Javier Mascherano’s squad.

The Herons have now outscored their opponents 17-4 through five playoff matches this fall.

As for the Vancouver Whitecaps, they used a brace from Brian White and an own goal from San Diego FC goalkeeper Pablo Sisniega to claim a 3-1 road victory in the Western Conference Final.

Jesper Sorensen’s squad have outscored opponents 9-4 through four playoff matches. They eliminated FC Dallas over two matches before edging LAFC on penalty kicks in the conference semifinal round.

White became the seventh different player to score for Vancouver in the postseason, leading the team with two goals.

German legend Thomas Muller has contributed nine goals and four assists in 12 appearances for the club since joining from Bayern Munich.

The MLS Cup Final showdown will also pit international stars Messi and Muller against one another for the 11th time. Muller has won seven of the previous 10 matchups against Messi for club and country, including the 2014 FIFA World Cup Final.