Saturday’s MLS Cup in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, is about as close to a dream final as league commissioner Don Garber could script: Lionel Messi vs. Thomas Müller, Inter Miami vs. Vancouver Whitecaps, and a global spotlight already fixed on North America after Friday’s World Cup draw.
For the first time in more than a year, Messi — chasing a title alongside longtime Barcelona teammates Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba, both playing their final professional match — will appear on a national broadcast as Fox joins Apple for championship coverage. Miami, a goalscoring machine with 98 across all competitions, has thundered into the final behind Messi’s 13 playoff contributions and a 21-4-4 record.
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Opposite them: the Whitecaps, first-time finalists transformed by the summer arrival of German legend Thomas Müller, who reunites with Messi 11 years after their 2014 World Cup showdown. Vancouver already stunned Miami once this year, eliminating them from the CONCACAF Champions Cup — a reminder this isn’t a coronation.
With star power on both sides, a South Florida stage, and Messi’s legacy chapter in play, MLS gets the marquee match it wanted. Kickoff is at 2:30 p.m. ET. Follow the action with our live tracker:
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Sean Leahy
Inter Miami
19-7-8, 3rd in Eastern Conference
Round 1: Defeated Nashville 2-1
Conference semifinals: Defeated FC Cincinnati 4-0
Conference Finals: Defeated NYCFC 5-1Vancouver
18-7-9, 2nd in Western Conference
Round 1: Defeated FC Dallas 2-0
Conference semifinals: Defeated LAFC 2-2 (4-3 on PKs)
Conference finals: Defeated San Diego FC 3-1FORT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA – DECEMBER 06: The MLS Cup logo is seen prior to the Audi 2025 MLS Cup Final match between Inter Miami CF and Vancouver Whitecaps FC at Chase Stadium on December 06, 2025 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
(Julio Aguilar via Getty Images)
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Yahoo Sports Staff
Chase Stadium is filling in and the temperature is climbing in Fort Lauderdale. Lionel Messi and Co. are set for their first MLS Cup appearance — and potentially their first league title. Thomas Müller, in his first MLS season, looks ready to go. This should be a fun one!
(Illustration by Jonathan Castro/Yahoo Sports)
(Jonathan Castro/Yahoo Sports)
How to watch MLS Cup: Inter Miami vs. Vancouver Whitecaps
Date: Dec. 6, 2025
Time: 2:30 p.m. ET
Location: Chase Stadium, Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Channels: Fox, Fox Deportes
Streaming: MLS Season Pass, Apple TV, DirecTV, Fox One
