Inter Miami v Vancouver Whitecaps – Line-ups, stats and preview

Match Preview for Inter Miami v Vancouver Whitecaps

Everything funnels into Chase Stadium on Saturday as Inter Miami and Vancouver Whitecaps contest the MLS Cup final, a stage neither club has conquered before.

Inter Miami arrive with wind behind them after a ruthless post-season run. Javier Mascherano’s side have hit at least four goals in each of their last three playoff games, sweeping aside opponents with the league’s most dangerous attack.

Ninety-eight goals across the season – regular and post-season combined – tells its own story as Lionel Messi looks for more silverware.

The pressure, though, is not only on the club. Two long-serving icons, Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets, will retire after the final, adding another layer of emotion to a night already carrying plenty of weight.

Miami haven’t beaten Vancouver once this season, something that will linger in the back of minds, but a packed home crowd should give the Herons the lift they need.

Vancouver, meanwhile, have earned their place the hard way. A 3-1 win away to top-seeded San Diego last week capped a record-setting year: most points, most wins, most goals and the best goal difference in their MLS history.

Their run to the Concacaf Champions Cup final and another Canadian Championship underline just how far this group has come.

They also deserve credit for dispatching Miami over two legs in the semi-final – a comprehensive 5-1 aggregate victory.

They have already made history as the first Canadian side in the MLS Cup final since Toronto in 2019, and now want to emulate Toronto’s 2017 triumph.

Doing it away from home, against a Miami team this motivated, is a tall order. But if there is any side equipped to spoil the party, it is the Whitecaps.

Team news for Inter Miami v Vancouver Whitecaps

Inter Miami’s squad remains largely unchanged. Ryan Sailor (knee) and David Ruiz (hamstring) are the only confirmed absentees.

Lionel Messi – who set a playoff record with 13 goal involvements – will naturally command much of the focus.

Tadeo Allende has been the breakout star of the run-in, producing three straight multi-goal games. Mateo Silvetti has also stepped up brilliantly during Luis Suarez’s suspension and is expected to lead the line again.

Vancouver have a longer injury list, with Sam Adekugbe, Belal Halbouni, Daniel Rios, Sebastian Schonlau and Ranko Veselinovic all likely unavailable.

The return of Tristan Blackmon after suspension is a major boost, particularly given his leadership in a defence that kept 13 clean sheets this year.

Ryan Gauld continues to work his way back to full sharpness and has been used as an impact substitute during the playoffs.

Brian White, with 16 league goals and six in the Concacaf Champions Cup, remains a central figure, while Thomas Muller’s movement and link-play will be a major concern for Miami’s back line.

Expected line-ups for Inter Miami v Vancouver Whitecaps

Inter Miami: Rios; Weigandt, Falcon, Busquets, Allen, Alba; Silvetti, De Paul, Rodriguez; Messi, Allende

Vancouver Whitecaps: Takaoka; Ocampo, Blackmon, Priso-Mbongue, Laborda; Cubas, Berhalter; Sabbi, Muller, Ahmed; White

How to watch Inter Miami v Vancouver Whitecaps: TV channel, online stream

The MLS Cup final kicks off at 19:30 Saturday night in the UK at Chase Stadium. Fans can watch the final on Amazon Prime.

The stats for Inter Miami v Vancouver Whitecaps

• Miami have scored 98 goals across 2025 — the most in a single MLS season
• Miami have won their last 3 playoff matches by at least 4 goals
• Vancouver set club records this year for points (63), wins (18) and goals (66)
• Vancouver beat Inter Miami twice this season, home and away
• Vancouver kept 13 clean sheets — joint-highest in MLS
• Messi has 13 playoff goal involvements, a new MLS record

Prediction