Inter Miami vs Vancouver: MLS Cup 2025 Final Set with Messi vs Müller Showdown

The 2025 MLS Cup has its dream matchup: Inter Miami vs Vancouver Whitecaps at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale. Both clubs will be playing for their first-ever league title, guaranteeing a brand-new champion in the 30th edition of MLS. The final kicks off on Saturday, December 6, and will be broadcast in the U.S. on FOX, FOX Deportes and MLS Season Pass, and in Canada on TSN and RDS.

The roads to the final were different — but equally impressive. Inter Miami dominated the Eastern Conference and, in the playoffs, took out Nashville SC, then crushed FC Cincinnati, and demolished New York City FC 5–1 in the conference final. Vancouver, meanwhile, beat FC Dallas, eliminated LAFC in penalties, and stunned San Diego FC 3–1 on the road in the West.

Lionel Messi has been the engine of Miami’s surge. The Argentine captain has posted a playoff-record 13 goal involvements, with six goals and seven assists, after winning the Golden Boot with 29 goals and 19 assists in the regular season. Across the playoffs, Miami has scored 17 and conceded only 4 — a statline that shows how complete this team has become.

Since Messi arrived in 2023, the South Florida club has transformed rapidly: winning the 2023 Leagues Cup, claiming the 2024 Supporters’ Shield, and now chasing the Philip F. Anschutz Trophy. A league title would crown Javier Mascherano’s first season as head coach — and serve as the perfect farewell for two retiring icons: Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets.

Vancouver arrives with pedigree of its own. The Canadian side amassed a club-record 63 points, reached the Concacaf Champions Cup final, and lifted its fourth straight Canadian Championship. All under first-year head coach Jesper Sørensen, who has reshaped the team’s identity in record time.

The turning point came in the summer: the signing of Thomas Müller, a Bayern Munich and Germany legend. In just twelve matches across all competitions, Müller has recorded nine goals and four assists — plus invaluable leadership inside a young squad. His awareness, timing, and ability to appear in decisive moments have made Vancouver lethal in the attacking third.

Their squad is also full of players with international futures ahead of the 2026 World Cup. Defender Tristan Blackmon and midfielder Sebastian Berhalter — both named in the MLS Best XI — are on the radar for the U.S. National Team. Ali Ahmed and Jayden Nelson are strong options for Canada, while Paraguayan Andrés Cubas is also tracking toward Qatar ’26.

Vancouver is also regaining key pieces at the right time. Brian White, their scoring threat, is returning from a muscular injury, and captain Ryan Gauld has been steadily recovering rhythm after a long knee rehab. If both hit top form, the final becomes a duel of creative geniuses: Messi vs Müller — a matchup that will not just decide a champion, but will shape the international narrative of MLS in its 30th season.