These two clubs met in the semi-finals of CONCACAF Champions Cup back in April, with Vancouver Whitecaps winning both legs, prevailing 2-0 at BC Place before a come from behind 3-1 victory in Fort Lauderdale.
Seven of the last eight MLS Cup Finals have been won by the home team, including each of the last three. Only once before has a Canadian club won MLS Cup; never before has a Florida-based side contested MLS Cup.
Inter Miami vs Vancouver Whitecaps preview
It is time for the 30th edition of MLS Cup Final. 15 different clubs have been crowned champions before, and we're guaranteed a first-time winner here, so will the star-studded hosts be victorious, or can the visitors spring an historic surprise?
This will be Inter Miami's 58th match of 2025, the most any club has ever played in a Major League Soccer season, and they have come along way this year. 12 months ago, after setting the single-season points record, the Herons were dumped out in the first round of the play-offs by Atlanta United, statistically the biggest upset in play-off history. This saw Tata Martino fired and replaced by a complete rookie manager in Javier Mascherano. Well, so far this year, they've reached the final of Leagues Cup, beaten by Seattle, and the CONCACAF Champions Cup semi-finals, dumped out by Vancouver, so are looking to the MLS play-offs to salvage some silverware from this campaign.
After finishing third in the overall standings, Miami have really turned on the style in these play-offs. They came through a three-game series against Nashville, winning the third match 4-0, before obliterating FC Cincinnati 4-0 on the road in Ohio. Then, in last weekend's Conference Final, a similar story, as Mascherano's team smashed New York City 5-1 at Chase Stadium; Tadeo Allende scoring a hat-trick. Since Lionel Messi's arrival in the summer of 2023, Miami have picked up Leagues Cup and the Supporters' Shield, with MLS Cup thereby the next silverware they are determined to add to the collection, and the way they're playing right now, this team might just be unstoppable.
However, do not write off Vancouver Whitecaps who, before this year, hadn't even featured in the Conference semi-finals since 2017, crowned best of the west for the first time in their 15th MLS season. Manager Jesper Sørensen, appointed in January, has completely transformed this club, leading them to the aforementioned CONCACAF Champions Cup Final, demolishing Miami en route, before a rather less memorable 5-0 hammering at the hands of Cruz Azul at Estadio Olímpico Universitario. Nevertheless, the Blue and Whites recovered to ended up second in the Western Conference, their best finish for a decade, accumulating just two fewer points than Miami.
In the play-offs, Vancouver took care of FC Dallas in round one, before a crazy 2-2 draw with LAFC, in which they threw away a 2-0 lead, Son Heung-min equalising with a stunning free-kick in injury time, before prevailing in the subsequent penalty shootout; Mathías Laborda converting the winning kick. Then, last Saturday, the Whitecaps ousted San Diego, racing into a 3-0 lead in Southern California, Brian White on target twice, seeing it out for a 3-1 victory. Before the season began, no one backed the Caps to be here, testament to the amazing work Sørensen has done in British Columbia, so can they upset the odds one more time, or will Inter Miami prove to be simply too strong on Saturday?
Inter Miami vs Vancouver Whitecaps head-to-head record
- Matches Played: 3.
- Inter Miami Wins: 1. Draws: Zero. Vancouver Whitecaps Wins: 2.
Inter Miami team news
To the surprise of a few tuning in for this final, Luis Suárez is not going to start. He missed the third match against Nashville suspended and, given that they won that game 4-0, Javier Mascherano has left him in reserve for the last two matches, which has given Miami much more balance.
Speaking of ex-Barcelona boys, both Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets will retire after this match, so are certainly hoping to go out on a high, while summer signing from Atlético MAdrid Rodrigo De Paul is also very important.
Away from the big names, in goal, Óscar Ustari's terrible form earlier in the year is why Rocco Ríos Novo has started all five play-off matches to date. Hat-trick scorer last weekend Tadeo Allende and Mateo Silvetti, also on target against NYCFC, will start in attack.
Inter Miami predicted lineup vs Vancouver Whitecaps: (4-3-3): Rocco Ríos; Weigandt, Falcón, Alba; Busquets, De Paul, Rodríguez; Allende, Messi, Silvetti.
Inter Miami player to watch vs Vancouver Whitecaps
Inter Miami's talisman, you may have heard of him, is Lionel Messi. His tally of 35 goals and 21 assists in MLS this season has shattered the previous goals contributions record held by Carlos Vela, netting 77 times in 87 games for the Herons to date.
In Major League Soccer, Messi has scored against 21 of the 25 different opponents he has faced, Vancouver one of the exceptions, so can he change that with a goal here?
Vancouver Whitecaps team news
Jesper Sørensen has been dealing with injury issues all throughout 2025, making their results all the more impressive, and this remains the case. Centre-backs Ranko Veselinović and Sebastian Schonlau as well as left-back Sam Adekugbe all remain sidelined long-term.
Meantime, once the Scottish Messi, Ryan Gauld has played just 371 minutes across all competitions this year, and their talisman will once again only be fit enough to feature from the bench.
In better news, centre-back Tristan Blackmon can return, having been sent off against LAFC, likely to be only change from last weekend's win in San Diego. Former USMNT coach Gregg Berhalter won two MLS Cups as a player with LA Galaxy, and his son Sebastian is certainly a key figure for the Caps.
Vancouver Whitecaps predicted lineup vs Inter Miami: (4-4-1-1): Takaoka; Ocampo, Blackmon, Priso, Laborda; Berhalter, Cubas, Sabbi, Ahmed, Müller; White.
Vancouver Whitecaps player to watch vs Inter Miami
It is not just Miami who have themselves a high-profile, World Cup and Champions League winning number ten. Since joining the Whitecaps in July, Thomas Müller has scored nine goals in just 12 appearances, so could the Raumdeuter be the difference maker in Fort Lauderdale.
Inter Miami vs Vancouver Whitecaps prediction
This edition of MLS Cup absolutely guarantees goals, and while an upset is possible, we are backing Miami to prove simply too strong come Saturday: Inter Miami 3-1 Vancouver Whitecaps.
Inter Miami vs Vancouver Whitecaps FAQs - MLS Cup
How to watch Inter Miami vs Vancouver Whitecaps in MLS Cup on TV channel?
Inter Miami vs Vancouver Whitecaps in MLS Cup will be available on the following TV channels;
- UK: Apple MLS Season Pass
- USA: Fox Sports & fuboTV
- Canada: TSN1
How to watch Inter Miami vs Vancouver Whitecaps in MLS Cup on live streaming?
Inter Miami vs Vancouver Whitecaps in MLS Cup will be available on the following streaming services;
- UK: Apple MLS Season Pass
- USA: Foxsports.com & fuboTV,
- Canada: TSN+
What is the date and kick-off time for Inter Miami vs Vancouver Whitecaps in MLS Cup?
Inter Miami vs Vancouver Whitecaps takes place on Saturday 6 December 2025, with kick off at 19:30 (GMT), 14:30 (ET) & 11:30 (PT).