Photo via Inter Miami CF on X
The 2025 MLS Cup Final will be played this Saturday December 6, as Inter Miami take on Vancouver in what will be the first final appearance for both teams. Here is what you need to know:
Miami’s momentum vs Vancouver decline
Inter Miami head coach Javier Mascherano has led Inter Miami to a 19-8-7 record in his first year at the helm. During the regular season, Inter Miami finished third, one point behind Supporters Shield winners Philadelphia Union, and scored a league-high 81 goals throughout 34 games.
The Herons’ impressive scoring ability carried over into the post season. The team outscored their opponents 18-3 over the course of five games, with Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi contributing to six goals and seven assists during that span. However, Miami’s strength does not just come from the team’s formidable goalscoring ability, but also from the distribution of the goals throughout the team; despite Messi’s overwhelming contribution to the scoring output, the team has had 8 different players contributing to goals during the team’s playoff run.
Despite Miami’s overwhelming momentum, Vancouver has some strengths the Herons will have to overcome. Throughout the season, the Whitecaps have been one of the most balanced teams in the league. Characterized by their defensive stability, they only conceded 38 goals during the regular season, second only to Philadelphia. Furthermore, the Whitecaps will be playing their third final of 2025 on Saturday, after playing the CONCACAF Champions League Final in June, and the Canadian Championship in October.
Regardless of their in-season stability, The Whitecaps’ performance has steadily dipped, facing a much less straightforward path to the final. In the second game of the first round, Vancouver scored a last minute goal to force a penalty shootout. Two off-target penalties were enough to send them through to the Western Conference Semifinal against Los Angeles FC, where they faced a similar story. Despite leading in the first half, two second half goals saw LAFC tie the game before losing due to three penalties that failed to even hit the target.
Miami look to rewrite history
Both teams have only faced off three times before, with their most recent meeting coming in April of this year as the Whitecaps knocked the Herons out of the Champions League. Vancouver scored 5 goals across two legs, despite taking less shots and having less possession than Miami across both legs. At the end, the Whitecaps’ defensive discipline prevailed with the Herons scoring just one goal despite 26 total shots.
However, some factors have changed for both teams since their last meeting seven months ago. Both teams have presented their own team changes, with Miami relying more on Silvetti and Allende while Vancouver signed Muller four months after they faced in the semifinal. The form of the teams has also changed drastically, as Inter Miami are coming off four straight wins while Vancouver have only won twice in open play all postseason.
Key Players
Both teams have players that can sway the momentum for their team. Here is the list of key players for each team:
Lionel Messi: The Argentine forward has been a catalyst in the team’s most successful season to date. Messi won the league’s golden boot award with 29 goals and nine assists during the regular season and has continued that form into the post season. The Herons’ captain has contributed to 61% of Inter Miami’s scoring output in the last five games and
Tadeo Allende: The 26 year old Argentine forward is coming off a hat trick against NYCFC in the Eastern Conference Finals and a brace against FC Cincinnati. Allende has stepped up for Inter Miami and has been a key figure in their postseason success.
Mateo Silvetti: For most of the postseason, the 19 year old has started ahead of Luis Suarez to complete an all Argentine trident. In his last three starts, he has scored and assisted twice proving Mascherano’s surprising tactical move a positive one.
Thomas Muller: The German midfielder joined the Whitecaps in summer after leaving Bayern Munchen as a free agent, and has had an instant impact for the team. In 12 games for Vancouver, he’s scored nine goals and assisted four while making 11 starts.
Sebastain Berhalter: The 24-year-old midfielder has more than doubled his goal and assist tally from last season, earning All-MLS honors and a call-up to the United States national team. Stopping Berhalter will be key for Miami in order to shut down the Whitecaps.
Brian White: Whitecaps forward has been clinical for Vancouver, scoring 18 goals in 23 games including a brace against San Diego in the Western Conference Final. His 0.85 expected goals per game make him one of Vancouver’s largest threats, despite coming back from a recent hamstring injury.
Final take
Two of the top teams face off for the ultimate prize, both of which have key strengths and players that allow them to make a prominent case to win the MLS Cup. Although Inter Miami might not thrash Vancouver as they have done against other teams this postseason, it is hard to argue against the momentum the Herons have built in these past five games.
