FORT LAUDERDALE, fla. (AP) – Lionel Messi and Inter Miami faced the Vancouver Whitecaps Saturday in an MLS Cup final played under record-breaking heat, with temperatures reaching 84 degrees Fahrenheit (28 degrees Celsius) at kickoff.
The National Weather Service reported the game-time temperature in Fort Lauderdale as 84 degrees. Combined with 60% relative humidity, the heat index climbed to 87 degrees Fahrenheit (30 degrees Celsius). While bench areas benefited from cloud cover before the match, most fans experienced direct sunlight.
The warmth was unusual for South Florida this time of year, exceeding the typical high of 78 degrees Fahrenheit (26 degrees Celsius). This marked the hottest MLS Cup final on record, surpassing the previous high of 81 degrees Fahrenheit (27 degrees celsius) set in 2004 when D.C. United defeated Kansas City 3-2 in Carson, California.
In contrast, Vancouver experienced significantly cooler conditions, with a kickoff temperature of 50 degrees Fahrenheit (10 degrees Celsius).
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