Inter Miami CF will be competing in MLS Cup for the first time, taking on Vancouver Whitecaps FC at home and surprising the West Division finalists and first-ever finalists. The game will be played on Saturday, Dec. 6, to determine the league’s new champion in a stadium filled with Florida club history.
The game between Inter Miami and Vancouver Whitecaps will kick off at 2:30pm ET/11:30am PT. It will air on MLS Season Pass and Apple TV, FOX, FOX Deportes, TSN and RDS.
Lionel Messi leads huge celebrations after Inter Miami’s historic win
Inter Miami arrives home strengthened
Javier Mascherano’s team earned a spot in the Eastern Conference finals with a 5-1 victory over New York City FC. Miami, who finished with an 11-3-3 record at Chase Stadium, will play this final home game before moving to Miami Freedom Park in 2026. Competitive momentum, recent effectiveness, and overall strength are the keys to reaching the finals.
In the regular season, Miami finished third in the East and built a convincing postseason run from there. First, they eliminated Nashville SC in a best-of-three series, then defeated FC Cincinnati in a competitive semifinal that featured offensive pressure from the team in pink.
Vancouver Whitecaps remain competitive
Vancouver had a great run, finishing as runners-up in the Western Conference and advancing to the finals. In the first round, the Whitecaps eliminated FC Dallas thanks to their defensive discipline and experience. They achieved a good result by defeating the powerful LAFC in the semi-finals.
The decisive performance came in the Western Conference finals, where Vancouver defeated San Diego FC 3-1 on the road to qualify for the MLS Cup for the first time in its history. The project, led by Jesper Sørensen, has been recognized for its tactical balance and the team’s ability to maintain a high level of competition.
Messi and Muller, notable cards for each team
Inter Miami will once again rely on the influence of Lionel Messi, the competition’s top assist provider and a key player in all phases of the playoffs. His vision, leadership and ability to change the pace of the match represent the home team’s main strengths.
Vancouver’s standout player was Thomas Muller, whose addition changed the club’s offensive play. His positional knowledge, maneuverability in tight spaces, and ability to appear in key moments make him the primary threat to Miami’s defense.
MLS Cup promises thrilling ending
The finals will pit two different styles against each other: Miami’s offensive intensity and Vancouver’s tactical discipline. The clash, starring Messi and Muller, promises to bring a spectacular end to a historic MLS season.
The current Whitecaps forward will be looking to widen the statistical gap that ties the team together as he looks for more wins against Miami’s No. 10. He has already won with Messi in the shirt of Argentina, Barcelona and PSG, and now he will try to do so in the pink shirt of Inter Miami.
Messi and Muller, their own match
The last time these two players met, they were in very different situations. In the Champions League, PSG and Bayern Munich faced off in the Round of 16, with Bayern winning 3-0 on aggregate. Muller is Messi’s nemesis. The two sides have faced each other a total of 10 times between club and national team, of which the Germans have won 7 times and the Argentine team has won 3 times. Among these seven wins are important matches such as the 2014 World Cup final, Bayern’s 8-2 victory over Barcelona in the Champions League, and even the 2013 victory over the Germans by an aggregate score of 7-0.
