Inter Miami are set to host Vancouver Whitecaps in Saturday’s highly anticipated MLS Cup final despite being the lower-seeded team in the playoff bracket.
The Herons secured a place in the MLS Cup final for the first time in their history following a commanding 5-1 win against New York City FC at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, earlier this Saturday.
Tadeo Allende put the hosts ahead in the 14th minute before bagging two more either side of the break. Mateo Silvetti and Telasco Segovia scored the hosts’ third and fourth goals, respectively, in the second half.
On the other hand, the Vancouver Whitecaps beat San Diego FC 3-1 to book a place in the upcoming MLS Cup final. They relied on a first-half brace from Brian White and an own goal from Pablo Sisniega to win their first Western Conference title at Snapdragon Stadium, San Diego.
With the matchup set in stone, there is one question in the minds of the MLS faithul: Why are Inter Miami the home team for the final?
Why Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami Are The Home Team For the MLS Cup Final
During the MLS regular season, Inter Miami ended as the third seed in the Eastern Conference standings, with the Whitecaps bagging the second seed in the Western Conference.
However, Miami will host Vancouver owing to its superior record in the MLS regular season, per Inter Miami’s official website.
Inter Miami won 65 points from 34 league games, finishing behind Philadelphia Union and FC Cincinnati in the Eastern Conference table. They racked up 19 wins, eight draws, and seven losses, scoring 81 goals and conceding 55 along the way.
The Whitecaps amassed 63 points from 34 league games, trailing only San Diego FC. The Jesper Sorensen-coached team finished on the same number of points as San Diego, but lost out on the top spot for having fewer league wins.
Inter Miami HC Gives His Team Their Flowers
Inter Miami head coach Javier Mascherano made it a point to celebrate his side’s Eastern Conference title triumph. In a post-match press conference (via ESPN), Mascherano said, “In the final stretch of the season, which, as this tournament is structured, consists of two championships – one being the regular season and the other the playoffs – it’s great that this moment has arrived, reinforcing our conviction to continue along the same path.
“Because beyond today’s achievement, which will be remembered in the history of this club as conference champions, which is no small feat, the most important thing, the main prize, is this trophy.”
La Familia 💗🏟️ One more to go. pic.twitter.com/UKe80OXBON
— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) December 1, 2025
The Herons have now won three trophies since Lionel Messi’s arrival in 2023. Apart from the Eastern Conference title, they also won the 2024 MLS Supporters’ Shield and the 2023 Leagues Cup.
This weekend offers Inter Miami a shot at cementing their legacy once and for all. While they are the current favorites to take home the trophy, all eyes will be on how Thomas Muller’s Vancouver manage to game plan around Messi’s immaculate brilliance in Fort Lauderdale.
