Inter Miami is a polarizing team amongst fans and key stakeholders around MLS alike.
The glamorous team, with big stars and big money. The team of Lionel Messi and friends. The team that was hit with severe sanctions for flaunting salary cap rules in its first few years in the league. The team leaning into a villain role.
The Vancouver Whitecaps, conversely, are less polarizing.
To the neutral, Vancouver is a lovable group, one that proved all doubters wrong all season long. The team that plays as the collective, even after star Thomas Müller joined this summer. They play beautiful, front-footed soccer with a number of players who were overlooked elsewhere.
It’s a magical season for both clubs and they are the last two standing, playing in MLS Cup on Saturday.
The Athletic spoke with a wide number of players, coaches and key technical executives across the league ahead of the big game, all of whom remain anonymous to protect relationships, to gauge what they think of the matchup. Many are excited — even if some won’t watch out of disappointment their teams didn’t make it to the final. And, even those who are jealous of or annoyed by Miami, can respect it.
“Plenty of people in the league are rooting against Miami, that’s for sure,” said one high-ranking club official. “But I think everybody recognizes it’s good for the league for them to do well.”
Inter Miami won the Eastern Conference for the first time (Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
Miami spends more on player wages than any other team in MLS, with three of the seven highest-paid players in the league, led by Messi. His guaranteed compensation in 2025 was north of $20 million, which is more than the total wage bills of 20 other MLS teams.
“I don’t think it would be bad for MLS if Miami wins,” one player said. “Having the most ambitious team with the highest spend also be the most successful would only drive other teams to maybe change their approach and spend a bit more too.”
Miami, though, has spent ambitiously on young players as well, maximizing their U-22 initiative slots, including a summer deal to sign Argentina U-20 star Mateo Silvetti.
The 19-year-old, who hails from Messi’s hometown of Rosario, has earned a starting spot, keeping Luis Suárez on the bench. He has been integral to the club’s playoff run.
“If Miami wins, it sends a message for the league to open up spending, attract bigger names, and generally embrace a more ambitious approach to club and team building,” one technical director said.
Still, jokes about flaunting salary cap rules continue to follow Miami.
“I promise you this,” one high-ranking club source said. “Vancouver is following the rules more than Miami!”
Vancouver is routinely one of the league’s lowest spending teams. Its club-record transfer fee is around $5 million. Miami has eclipsed that six times, and that does not even include Messi, Sergio Busquets or Jordi Alba, as all three were signed on free transfers.
The Whitecaps are led by Müller, Brian White, Sebastian Berhalter, Tristan Blackmon and Andrés Cubas. Head coach Jesper Sørensen was a finalist for MLS Coach of the Year in his first season as the team’s manager. He was unknown to the general MLS audience when he was hired and took over days before preseason kicked off.
“If I had to pick one, it would be Vancouver,” one head coach said. “I love Müller and what their team has done this year. I don’t know Sørensen, but he’s done a great job.”
Vancouver won the Canadian Championship and got to the Concacaf Champions Cup final, beating Miami comprehensively in the semifinals along the way. The Whitecaps have earned widespread plaudits for their possession-based, high-tempo style.
The Vancouver Whitecaps lift the Western Conference title trophy after eliminating top-seeded San Diego FC (Orlando Ramirez / Getty Images)
While many have thoughts on a final that is objectively full of intrigue, some around the league still won’t watch the game.
“I haven’t watched one game since we were eliminated,” one general manager candidly said. “I don’t care who wins.”
Either way, this final is one that most around the league agree is MLS’s two best teams this year, though LAFC got some love in that regard.
“Miami, Vancouver and LAFC were the three best teams at the end of the year, so it’s nice to see two of them in the final. Regardless of the winner, it will be a good showcase for the league,” one technical director said.
Vancouver had a memorable win over LAFC in a penalty shootout in the Western Conference semifinal — an instant classic playoff game — while Miami has won its three elimination games by a combined score of 13-1.
Both represent the biggest challenge the other will have faced over the course of the playoffs. Vancouver will pose a greater threat on the ball for Miami than previous opponents. It will push higher up the field than others as well. That combination will make for a fascinating tactical battle, on top of all the other great storylines and overarching narratives in this game.
“Miami seems unbeatable at the moment,” another player said. “But I think they match up really well. It’s going to be a good one.”