Resilient Whitecaps cruise past San Diego to set up 2025 MLS Cup Final date vs. Inter Miami: "This group is special"
For the first time in club history, the Vancouver Whitecaps have reached an MLS Cup final, as they defeated San Diego FC 3-1 in the Western Conference final at Snapdragon Stadium on Saturday.
Now, a date with Inter Miami awaits them on Saturday, December 6th, in what will be one of their biggest games in club history, as they look to get their hands on a first-ever MLS Cup.
The matchup is set. 🍿
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) November 30, 2025
It'll be @InterMiamiCF vs. @WhitecapsFC in MLS Cup pres. by Audi. 🏆 pic.twitter.com/33xPdfcOlC
For a team that has constantly struggled in the playoffs throughout their MLS era, never getting past the Conference semi-finals until this year, it’s been remarkable to see the way they’ve flipped the script this fall, finding a way to harness the clutch gene they never seemed to unlock in previous big games.
Once again, that clutch gene was on full display in this San Diego game, as just a week after grinding through their bogeyman team, LAFC, in an all-time match, they did well to avoid making the same mistakes that nearly cost them a week prior.
Against LAFC, they cruised to a strong start before almost throwing it all away - this time, they left absolutely no doubt that they were going to win this game, scoring three first-half goals before cruising the rest of the way.
As a result, the statistics give a clear picture of how this game went - the Whitecaps generated a whopping 2.88 xG on 11 shots, including seven big chances, as they seemed to threaten San Diego’s goal every time they got into the final third.
San Diego, by comparison, struggled to find that same joy until it was far too late, and even then, they were unable to make it a close game as Whitecaps goalkeeper Yohei Takaoka decided he wanted to add to his save catalogue whenever they threatened his goal. That’s reflected in the fact that while San Diego held 54% possession and also took 11 shots, they generated just 1.00 xG and one big chance, showing that the Whitecaps prospered with a ‘quality over quantity’ approach in the final third.
No doubt, credit has to be given to San Diego for even making this far, given their status as an expansion team, but unfortunately for them, they were unable to extend their dream season any further due to the way the Whitecaps came flying out of the gates right from the first whistle.
“We looked strong, and we played with conviction,” Whitecaps head coach Jesper Sørensen said after the match. “We played with pace on the ball, but still had good movements and patience, so we didn't attack too fast, either.”
“We waited until the openings were there, so it was a great game from the players. We had a good start, we got rewarded by the two early goals, and that allowed us to get settled.”
Lift it high, boys! Western Conference CHAMPS. 🎊@WhitecapsFC // Audi MLS Cup Playoffs pic.twitter.com/UvqL9TZXx8
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) November 30, 2025
Just look at the first goal, which was a prime example of what the Whitecaps did so well in this game, as it set the tone for what was to come from them.
First, they won the ball high up the pitch, thanks to Andrés Cubas, the club’s underrated defensive midfielder, who can control games on his own due to his defensive play.
From there, the Whitecaps sprung into life, as Cubas went from defender to attacker in an instant, playing a quick 1-2 before running into the box, and teeing up Brian White with an impressive cross for a player more known for his work on the other side of the ball.
All of a sudden, the Whitecaps were up 1-0 inside 10 minutes, and that left San Diego with a big hill to climb the rest of the way.
“I think it's no secret how important he is to our team,” White said of Cubas. “He is an absolute bulldog in that midfield, just breaking things up, making it a tough day for anybody on the other team. He's been huge for us all year.”
BRIAN WHITE just 7 minutes in for the lead. 💥@WhitecapsFC // Audi MLS Cup Playoffs pic.twitter.com/nW7HfPHPsF
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) November 30, 2025
Speaking of Cubas, though, his work in this game was emblematic of an interesting trend that has emerged throughout this season - some of their longest-tenured players have stepped up and played a massive role in these biggest games.
While for those who have followed the team closely, it wasn’t surprising to see that trend continue in this game, it’s worth repeating, especially given that this team has had a lot of new eyeballs on them since the arrival of Thomas Müller.
In this game, Müller unfortunately was unable to influence things as he usually would, as a small knock limited his effectiveness, but his struggles ended up being a secondary story because of that play of guys like Cubas (who has been at the club since 2022), White (who has been at the club since 2021) and Ali Ahmed (who has been at the club since 2020).
We're not sure what just happened but it's 2-0 just 10 minutes in. Wow.@WhitecapsFC // Audi MLS Cup Playoffs pic.twitter.com/MqxmoNdTlU
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) November 30, 2025
Having been on the wrong side of Whitecaps' big results in past years, they’ve found a way to use those losses as fuel in these matches, helping them rise to the occasion the way they did against San Diego.
Just look at White and Ahmed, who linked up on the third goal, which started with some fantastic footwork from Ahmed before White finished with a tidy chest shot.
Heading into this match, White had just three playoff goals in his career - he nearly doubled that in this game with his brace - while Ahmed had never generated a goal contribution in the playoffs before this year - he’s now got two assists these playoffs after also earning a goal contribution in the first round against Dallas.
Another one for Vancouver. It's 3-0 heading into halftime! 🔥@WhitecapsFC // Audi MLS Cup Playoffs pic.twitter.com/q3Spi450To
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) November 30, 2025
Of course, credit has to be given to Sørensen for the way he’s come in and pushed this group, no doubt, but as he noted afterwards, he feels credit has to be given to the way longtime players on this team have stepped up in these playoffs, showing that this team isn’t just centred around Müller.
“This group is special in so many ways, the discipline, the ability and the willingness to learn,” Sørensen offered. “While also always helping teammates out and being unselfish, it’s unique from what I've experienced, even though I've experienced good groups before. It's been unbelievable for me to come in and take over this group, and it's also a huge credit to the people who created this group before I came in.”
Perhaps, though, that helps explain how the Whitecaps have continued to hum this season despite a multitude of setbacks, from losing in the Concacaf Champions Cup in demoralizing fashion or suffering some long-term injuries - just in this game alone they had to deal with the fact that the 2025 MLS Defender of the Year, Tristan Blackmon, was suspended after earning a red card vs. LAFC.
Without a resilient group, their season could’ve been over a long time ago - certainly, many thought that loss to Cruz Azul in the CCC final might’ve been where the Whitecaps would’ve begun a descent back to earth.
“There have been a lot of moments where we've had to really test ourselves and learn about ourselves,” White mused. “We’ve gone down to Mexico twice, played Miami in Concacaf, and then we had guys who were out with injuries and national teams, and everyone stepped up. We've been tested all year, and I think it's a credit to the guys who've been able to step up and help the team. We're just a really cohesive unit, and everyone is bought into the ultimate goal.”
Instead of falling apart in June, however, the Whitecaps now sit one game away from an MLS Cup, and in their way is a familiar foe - Inter Miami.
For the second time this season, the Whitecaps will play Miami late in a bracket, as they met in the semi-finals of the CCC, which the Whitecaps won 5-1 on aggregate.
GOAL 🗻🗻🗻
— OneSoccer (@onesoccer) May 1, 2025
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WE'LL HAVE A CANADIAN TEAM IN THE CHAMPIONS CUP FINAL FOR JUST THE 3RD TIME EVER!
Sebastian Berhalter finishes things up with a great finish to put the @WhitecapsFC ahead 5-1 on aggregate and 3-1 on the night.
🔴 Watch Inter Miami vs. #VWFC in… pic.twitter.com/zvKtCCpZag
This time, with the way Miami have been playing, it’s hard to imagine that a similar score occurs - they’ve outscored teams 17-4 in five games these playoffs - especially when considering that they’ll have revenge on their minds for how that CCC tie went.
On the flipside, given how the Whitecaps are playing, it’s not as if they’ll fear Miami the same way other opponents have seemed to do so these playoffs, and they’ll have the added advantage of having faced them (and beaten) them in a big game before.
No matter what, one thing’s for sure: this promises to be a great game, one fitting of the last match of the 2025 MLS season.
“It should be a great game,” Sørensen offered. “There are a lot of good players, and there are two very good teams. It’s interesting, we played them in the semi-final of the Champions Cup, and now here we are in the MLS Cup final, and I think that’s great.”
Because of that, an exciting week awaits the Whitecaps, as the hype for this game continues to build. Even without their shared history, this match would’ve been fantastic, as these were two of the top teams in the league by a lot of metrics this season, and they’re led by two of the top players in the league - Müller on the Whitecaps, and Lionel Messi on Inter Miami.
Already, the hype of that prospective individual matchup was felt immediately after the game, as Müller was quick to be asked about the prospect of facing Messi again, something he’s done several times in his career, including in the 2014 World Cup final.
Given Müller’s great history against Messi - he won that 2014 final, and most of the other matches he’s played against Messi - that statistic in its own has proven to be a big storyline, one that Müller joked that he’d love to continue before delivering what could be interpreted as a tiny bit of a shot at his opponent.
“It's the past. That’s ancient history,” Müller said. “I want to keep it going, for sure, I know about my games against Messi, but I’ve also lost against him, and it's not about Messi against Thomas Müller; it's Inter Miami against the Vancouver Whitecaps, (although) maybe they rely a little bit more on him than we do on me, because we are such a good group.”
"I wished for this final"
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) November 30, 2025
Thomas Müller is ready for Messi and Miami. // MLS Cup pres. by Audi pic.twitter.com/wapGgXPxhz
Now, look for the Whitecaps to prove Müller’s comments right as they prepare for a massive game next week.
Ultimately, if the Whitecaps are to finish the year with the MLS Cup in their hands, they’ll do so because they put in a strong team performance like the one they had against San Diego, showing why they’re the “good group” Müller praised.
If they can get a bit of Müller magic to help them over the line, they’d be ecstatic, but they know that even if it doesn’t come, they’ll still have a chance to win as long as they stick together, as they’ve certainly got enough other difference-makers who could also play a big role in a final.
Ultimately, when this season comes to an end, that togetherness will prove to define this 2025 team, and they’ll now look to keep that going as they tackle their latest new frontier.
“We have a game ahead of us, and that game will be the biggest game of the season,” Sørensen reminded. “We are not taking the foot off the pedal.”
“When the season is over, we will look back at an amazing and unbelievable season for everybody, but we still have something to do, and we are locked in to prepare well, and the preparation already starts tomorrow morning.”
