Inter Miami reaches the MLS Cup final at its peak of confidence after a dominant 5–1 win over NYCFC that secured the Eastern Conference title, but it is impossible to look at the matchup with the Vancouver Whitecaps without feeling that the entire season leads to this moment.
Javier Mascherano’s team plays for the first MLS Cup in the club’s history, driven by a campaign that broke scoring records, delivered overwhelming performances, and put Leo Messi back at the center of the competitive chaos he seems to enjoy. On the other side, the Whitecaps are living the best year in their existence, arriving with confidence, stacking finals, and carrying the calm of a team that has already beaten Inter twice in 2025.
Inter Miami piles up records while trying to shift gears
Inter Miami did exactly what it needed to do in the playoffs. The team won, convinced, and built authority. The victory over NYCFC included a hat trick from Tadeo Allende and goals from Mateo Silvetti and Telasco Segovia, pushing the club to 98 total goals across the regular season and playoffs, the highest number ever recorded in a single MLS season.
Messi expanded his statistical dominance by reaching 405 career assists, becoming the top assist provider in history, and setting a new postseason record with 13 goal contributions. The team held a steady playoff run from the start, beating Nashville in the best of three, defeating Cincinnati 4–0 in the Eastern semifinal, and closing the conference final with another commanding performance.
Even so, the final brings a real concern. Inter lost both meetings with Vancouver in 2025 and now tries to prevent that pattern from repeating in the match that matters most. This weighs heavily because, despite a star-filled roster and the most productive attack in the country, the team has still not been able to overcome the Whitecaps this season. Inter takes the field carrying both the confidence of scoring 98 goals and the memory of two negative results.
Vancouver is living a dream season and arrives in Miami without fear
The Vancouver Whitecaps reach the final after a historic campaign marked by records, trophies, and resilience. The team finished the regular season in second place in the West with 63 points and advanced through the playoffs by beating Dallas, LAFC, and San Diego, the last step coming in a 3–1 road win in the Western Conference final.
Ben White took the offensive spotlight with 16 regular season goals and added two more in the playoffs, while Sebastian Berhalter led the squad in assists. The signing of Thomas Müller in August changed the picture immediately, with eight goals and three assists in 11 matches. Vancouver’s season is so remarkable that the club reached every final it played in 2025, including the Canadian Championship and the Concacaf Champions Cup.
Another factor that carries weight is the head to head record. The Canadians defeated Inter Miami twice this season and eliminated the team in the Concacaf semifinal with a 5–1 aggregate score. They are an opponent that knows how to compete, how to hold up under pressure, and how to play away from home, as their recent road wins show.