Inter miami and Vancouver Whitecaps Set to Clash inโข MLS Cup 2025
FRISCO, TEXAS – Inter Miami CF will face the Vancouver Whitecaps in the 2025 MLS Cup, marking a historic final possiblyโ representing โthe last match together for Lionel Messi, Sergio โBusquets, and jordi Alba. The match willโข be โคplayed at toyota Stadium inโค Frisco, Texas, on December 6, โ2025.
This year’s MLS Cup โฃfinal pits the reigning Leagues Cup champions, Inter Miami, against a Vancouver Whitecaps sideโ that has โsteadily improved throughoutโข the season. Miami reached the final after a dramatic playoff run, culminating โขin a 3-1 victory over NYCFC in the Eastern Conferenceโค Final. Vancouver secured โขtheir โขspot with a 2-1 โขwin against the LA Galaxy in the Western Conference Final.
Inter Miami’s success has been largely fueled by the โฃarrival of Messi, Busquets, and Alba, though theโ club’s โคdefensive improvements throughout โtheโฃ season have been crucial.Tactical adjustments,including playing โคrightโฃ back over Marcelo โWeigandt when healthy and โutilizing โMaxi Falcon and Noah Allen as the preferred center back pairing,substantiallyโ bolstered Miami’s defence,addressing a โขweakness that plagued the โคteam in 2024.
for Busquets,โ 37, and Alba, 36, the MLS Cup final represents the culmination of storied careers. Both players โannounced โtheirโ retirement following the 2025 season. Busquets, a product of Barcelona’s La Masia academy, played 722 times for Barcelona, winning โค32 trophies during โhis 15 years at the Camp Nou. He also earned 143 caps for Spain, โwinning the 2010 Worldโข Cup and the 2012 European Championship. Alba, also a La Masia โgraduate, enjoyed an 11-year spell with Barcelona, winning six La Liga titles and one Champions League, as well as the 2012 European Championship with โคSpain.
“It’s clearโ that we know, I think subconsciously,” head coach javier Mascherano said on Nov. 9. “Nobodyโ says it. Nobody comments on it. But we know that now that we’ve โคentered the playoffs,it’s like the flame is beginning toโข extinguish,no?”
Both playersโ were instrumental in Miami’s victory over NYCFC,with Albaโฃ providing two assists and โคBusquets contributing one – though he didn’t โreceive official credit for a long โball that led to a goal.
