Inter Miami CF will play in the MLS Cup for the first time and will do so at home against Vancouver Whitecaps FC, surprise finalists from the West and finalists for the first time in their history. The match will be played on Saturday, December 6 and will define the new champion of the league in a stadium full of history for the Florida club.
The match between Inter Miami and Vancouver Whitecaps will kick off at 2:30 PM ET / 11:30 AM PT. It will be televised on MLS Season Pass and Apple TV, FOX, FOX Deportes, TSN and RDS
Inter Miami arrives strengthened at home
The team led by Javier Mascherano secured their place with a resounding 5-1 victory over New York City FC in the Eastern Conference Final. With a solid 11-3-3 record at Chase Stadium, Miami faces this game at home for the last time before moving to Miami Freedom Park in 2026. Competitive momentum, recent effectiveness and collective quality have been key to their path to the final.
In the regular season, Miami finished in third place in the East, from where it built a convincing postseason. First, it eliminated Nashville SC in the best-of-three series and then overcame FC Cincinnati in an intense semifinal marked by the pink team’s offensive pressure.
Vancouver Whitecaps maintains its competitive strength
Vancouver reached the final after an outstanding campaign that saw them finish as runners-up in the Western Conference. In the first round, the Whitecaps eliminated FC Dallas thanks to their defensive discipline and experience. They then made a statement by knocking out the powerful LAFC in the semifinals.
The decisive performance came in the Western Conference Final, where Vancouver defeated San Diego FC 3-1 away from home, securing their first ever qualification to the MLS Cup. The project led by Jesper Sørensen has been recognised for its tactical balance and the team’s ability to sustain high levels of competition.
Messi and Muller, the cards to watch from each team
Inter Miami will once again rely on the influence of Lionel Messi, the tournament’s top assist provider and a key player in all phases of the playoffs. His vision, leadership and ability to change the pace of matches represent the main strength of the home team.
In Vancouver, the player to watch is Thomas Muller, whose arrival transformed the club’s attacking play. His positional intelligence, mobility in tight spaces and ability to appear in important moments make him the main threat to Miami’s defence.
MLS Cup promises a thrilling finish
The final will pit two distinct styles against each other: Miami’s attacking intensity against Vancouver’s tactical discipline. With Messi and Muller as the protagonists, the duel promises to be a spectacular end to a historic MLS season.
The now Whitecaps forward is looking for another victory against Miami’s No. 10 to increase the gap in the statistics that unite them. He has already beaten him with Messi wearing the jersey of Argentina, Barcelona and PSG, now he will try to do it with Inter Miami’s pink shirt.
Messi and Muller, a match of their own
The last time these two players met, both were in a very different context. In the Champions League, PSG and Bayern Munich met in the round of 16 and the Bavarian side won 3-0 on aggregate.Muller is Messi’s nemesis. Between clubs and national teams, they have met a total of 10 times and the German has won seven of those duels against three victories for the Argentine’s teams. Among these seven wins are important matches such as the 2014 World Cup final, Bayern’s 8-2 win over Barcelona in the Champions League and even a 7-0 aggregate score in favor of the Germans in 2013.
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