The Vancouver Whitecaps are heading to the MLS Cup to face Lionel Messi and Inter Miami, with both clubs chasing the first league championship in their franchise histories. The Whitecaps advanced to the championship by earning a decisive 3-1 win Saturday over San Diego FC in the Western Conference final.
It didn’t take long for Vancouver to pull out to a lead: Just eight minutes into the match, Brian White found the back of the net off a pass from Andres Cubas. Three minutes later, the Whitecaps scored again off a wild shot that bounced off the back of San Diego keeper Pablo Sisniega.
White made it a first-half brace in first-half stoppage time, using his chest to send a cross from Ali Ahmed into the goal, bringing Vancouver to a dominant 3-0 lead.
Advertisement
San Diego came out in the second half with some substitutions and a renewed sense of energy. Star forward Hirving “Chucky” Lozano, who subbed in at halftime, immediately made an impact with a stunning ball that arced over the head of Whitecaps keeper Yohei Takaoka.
Though the goal revitalized the San Diego crowd, SDFC’s chances fell dramatically after Sisniega got a straight red card after coming way off his line for a poor tackle. Great saves from Takaoka in the final moments secured the brilliant 3-1 victory.
The Whitecaps joined the league in 2011. Overall, it’s been a dream year for Vancouver, which finishes with its best record and will now vie for a championship.
Advertisement
San Diego FC’s inaugural season, meanwhile, comes to an end. SDFC ends the year with one of the best expansion runs in league history, picking up 19 wins and 63 points before ending the year in the semifinals.
The Whitecaps will now travel to Fort Lauderdale to face Inter Miami, who punched its first championship match ticket with a dominant win over NYCFC earlier Saturday. The Cup is guaranteed a first-time winner.
Both conference finals may have been dominant wins, but they set up a potentially thrilling league final. Inter Miami’s Tadeo Allende, who had a hat trick in the win over NYC, is on an absolute tear this postseason, while Miami has scored 17 total goals across five playoff games, mostly thanks to Messi’s 13 goal contributions. Vancouver, meanwhile, has had some more mixed results, but has showed its strength in the face of some tough spots throughout the postseason led by German international Thomas Müller, whose veteran savvy and big-stage instincts continue to elevate a young Whitecaps side.
Advertisement
And now Müller and Co. will meet a familiar cast of World Cup veterans in the final: Messi, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba, the latter two of which will be playing in their final match before retirement with a chance for one final trophy on the biggest MLS stage possible.
Here’s how the conference finals played out in real time:
Live coverage is over76 updatesSat, November 29, 2025 at 8:11 PM PST
Yahoo Sports Staff
Vancouver ends expansion-side San Diego’s run to MLS Cup with an emphatic road win. They’ll have to do it again on the road next week in Fort Lauderdale as Inter Miami will host the MLS Cup. It’ll be the Whitecaps’ first trip to the championship match and they’ll be facing an Inter Miami squad they beat twice in April in the CONCACAF Champions Cup.
Sat, November 29, 2025 at 8:10 PM PST
Yahoo Sports Staff
Tataoka does it again! A last-minute save keeps the scoreline at 3-1 as Vancouver wins it in regulation.
Sat, November 29, 2025 at 8:07 PM PST
Yahoo Sports Staff
Tataoka makes another stellar save, this time after Duah blasts in a header that is blocked by Tataoka’s outstretched arm.
Sat, November 29, 2025 at 7:56 PM PST
Kari Anderson
Vancouver gets one off the post, as Brian White tries for a hat trick but gets denied.
Sat, November 29, 2025 at 7:54 PM PST
Kari Anderson
With Sisniega out, Duran Ferree is coming in for the Whitecaps, replacing Amahl Pellgrino.
Sat, November 29, 2025 at 7:53 PM PST
Kari Anderson
Sisniega comes way, way, way off his line to tackle Ryan Gauld, but does not get nearly enough ball to justify it.
San Diego will now finish the game with 10 men. This may be impossible for SDFC to overcome.
Sat, November 29, 2025 at 7:39 PM PST
Kari Anderson
Manu Duah gets a yellow card after a tough challenge on Emmanuel Sabbi, who is writhing on the ground after seemingly trying leap over Duah.
Sat, November 29, 2025 at 7:38 PM PST
Kari Anderson
Vancouver’s Emmanuel Sabbi sends in the ball with what looks like a surefire shot, but Duah heads it away at the last moment for a miraculous save.
Sat, November 29, 2025 at 7:36 PM PST
Kari Anderson
Right after San Diego scores, Thomas Müller is subbed out for Vancouver, replaced by Ryan Gauld.
Sat, November 29, 2025 at 7:35 PM PST
Kari Anderson
Lozano sends a long shot into goal, catching Yuhei Takaoka off guard as the ball arcs over his head. San Diego cuts into the deficit, making the game 3-1.
Sat, November 29, 2025 at 7:30 PM PST
Kari Anderson
Both teams are doing a good job of controlling pace, occasionally breaking through for some big chances but overall settling into a well-matched stalemate. San Diego, who looked somewhat frantic to get on the board towards the end of last half, is a little bit calmer this half — even though they are clearly hoping to break the clean sheet.
Sat, November 29, 2025 at 7:20 PM PST
Kari Anderson
San Diego is trying to start on a better foot with a trio of substitutions at halftime. Star forward Hirving “Chucky” Lozano, who started the game on the bench, comes in for Corey Baird, while Franco Negri replaces Ian Pilcher and Luca De La Torre comes in for Anibal Godoy.
Sat, November 29, 2025 at 7:03 PM PST
Kari Anderson
The Whitecaps have plenty of celebrating to do after that first half.
Sat, November 29, 2025 at 7:03 PM PST
Kari Anderson
Ali Ahmed outdribbles the San Diego defense and sends a beautiful cross to Brian White, who pops it into goal with his torso for a first-half brace.
Sat, November 29, 2025 at 7:01 PM PST
Kari Anderson
Another big missed opportunity in transition for San Diego, as Vancouver is able to serve it out, even as the Whitecaps accidentally give it right back to SDFC.
Overall, that was a very chaotic sequence, with several bodies are hitting the floor before the referee finally blew the whistle, giving San Diego a set piece just inside the attacking third. But even that chance fell flat.
Sat, November 29, 2025 at 6:56 PM PST
Kari Anderson
Yohei Takaoka leaps for the save there, as San Diego continues to press towards goal in the final minutes of the first half.
Sat, November 29, 2025 at 6:53 PM PST
Kari Anderson
That was some great progression from San Diego, who move the ball down the field. The only thing stopping a goal there was Tate Johnson, who gets a foot on it to send it out of bounds under pressure. San Diego forces a corner kick, and then another — with a shot that hits the post after taking a deflection off Whitecaps keeper Yohei Takaoka.
That leads to another corner kick, before Anders Dreyer’s shot goes over the top. And then there’s another corner, before Vancouver is finally able to clear it.
So that’s four set pieces, and three close calls, in the past several minutes for San Diego. But it stays 2-0 for now.
Sat, November 29, 2025 at 6:43 PM PST
Kari Anderson
San Diego midfielder Onni Valakari given a yellow card after a heavy touch.
Sat, November 29, 2025 at 6:40 PM PST
Kari Anderson
San Diego gets a dangerous free kick after Jeppe Tverskov gets fouled just outside the box. But SDFC’s first shot is blocked, and their subsequent re-tries are well-defended by Vancouver.
Sebastian Berhalter caps off the chance with a great save to get the ball out of the box. (The San Diego fans wanted a foul called in the box, but the officials rule it clean.)
Sat, November 29, 2025 at 6:35 PM PST
Kari Anderson
SDFC’s Luca Bombino strike a shot from distance off a corner kick, but his shot — while well-hit — goes well wide.
Soon after, Sebastian Berhalter tries to make it 3-0 with a sliding shot down the right side, but Sisniega is able to smother it.