The biggest day in North American football has arrived: Lionel Messi will lead Inter Miami CF into their first-ever championship match today, Saturday, December 6, 2025, in the MLS Cup Final. Inter Miami hosts the Western Conference champions, Vancouver Whitecaps FC, at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, guaranteeing that Major League Soccer will crown a first-time champion at the conclusion of its 30th season.
The final is being billed as a heavyweight clash of global icons, pitting Messi against former Bayern Munich star Thomas Müller, who joined the Whitecaps mid-season. The matchup is historically significant, as the winner will make history as the first player ever to lift both the FIFA World Cup and the MLS Cup a title both Messi and Müller are competing for alongside Miami’s Sergio Busquets and Rodrigo De Paul.
Inter Miami secured their spot in the final with a dominant playoff run, peaking with an emphatic 5-1 victory over New York City FC in the Eastern Conference Final. The Whitecaps, led by Müller’s veteran presence, earned their place by upsetting favorites in the West, setting the stage for a compelling final between two teams with contrasting paths to the championship game.
The MLS Cup Final kicks off at 2:30 PM ET and will be available for fans worldwide via Apple TV, FOX, and FOX Deportes. For Messi, this match represents the culmination of his mission to transform the club he joined in 2023, turning a struggling franchise into a top contender and now, a potential champion.
