Inter Miami vs Vancouver live updates: 2025 MLS Cup final as Lionel Messi and Muller start

(Inter Miami 1 Vancouver 0)

The Whitecaps get the second half underway...

Brilliant footwork from Messi on the halfway line sets the tone, followed by a clever pass from De Paul and a direct run from Allende. It is Eider Ocampo who gets the final touch, but the whole sequence is a smooth and flowing move from Miami.

Vancouver have taken control of the match ever since falling behind and they are now controlling possession and asking all the questions. Miami are pinned deep and have not found much joy on the break since going one up, even though the space is there.

A key detail in Vancouver’s attack is Müller’s movement. As he drops and drifts into pockets, Miami center back Maxi Falcon follows him rather than holding the line. That leaves his partner Noah Allen isolated in a direct matchup with Brian White.

Müller’s intelligence is opening room for Vancouver to operate. They have looked to target that duel but have not yet cracked it. Credit to Allen, who is holding his own so far.

Miami reach half time with a narrow advantage but the Whitecaps have grown steadily and looked the more likely side to find an equaliser as the half wore on. Some real thinking now for Inter Miami coach Mascherano.

Messi whips in a cross toward the near post and Busquets meets it with a clever flick, but it lands on the roof of the Whitecaps net. Goal kick for Vancouver.

(45 min Inter Miami 1 Vancouver 0)

Vancouver look for Edier Ocampo and he catches Rodriguez in the face with a shoulder and possibly an elbow.
That is a nasty one from Ocampo and completely unnecessary. It is close to the kind of elbow that can bring a red card.

(43 min Inter Miami 1 Vancouver 0)

For the past 15 minutes it has been all Vancouver. They are knocking on the door and Miami are sitting deep, inviting trouble. Somehow they have survived the spell so far but the pressure keeps growing.

Thomas Müller meets a ball with a header from the edge of the box, sending it toward goal, but once again Rios Novo is there to keep Miami in front.

(38 min Inter Miami 1 Vancouver 0)

Jordi Alba’s clearance from the free kick does not travel far and the next ball swung in from the right causes real chaos in the box. Müller cushions it into Sabbis path and he finds himself one on one with Rios Novo, but the Miami keeper stands firm and makes a massive save.

(37 min Inter Miami 1 Vancouver 0)

Rodriguez is playing right on the edge here. He is already on a yellow card and he commits another foul moments later. Berhalters ball into the box is cleared but Miami give away yet another free kick on the left side. Jordi Alba cleared it away.

A yellow card is also shown to someone on Inter Miamis bench.

(33 min Inter Miami 1 Vancouver 0)

Vancouver win a free kick on the left and Berhalter curls in a fine delivery. Brian White meets it with a glancing header but sends it straight into keeper's arms.

A first real opening for Vancouver and it comes from a set piece, an area Miami have struggled with all season.

(29 min Inter Miami 1 Vancouver 0)

A marauding run from Falcon carries Miami up the pitch and a loose ball drops to Messi on the edge of the box. He looks to bend one from the edge of the box 20 but Vancouver swarm him and the shot is blocked and the deflection made it easy for the keeper.

(25 min Inter Miami 1 Vancouver 0)

Sabbi bursts forward for Vancouver down Jordi Alba’s side, using his pace to drive into the box. He goes down under pressure from a recovering Rodriguez, who is already on a yellow.

The referee immediately says no penalty and it is the correct call. There was not enough contact.

(23 min Inter Miami 1 Vancouver 0)

Messi lines up a free kick from around 25 yards but sends it straight into the keeper’s hands. Catching practice for the keeper.

Miami are not taking any risks playing out from the back, with Falcon going long the moment he feels pressure.

Miami winning the second balls at the moment as Vancouver lose possession at the halfway line to Messi, who then slips a neat ball through to Allende down the right but the winger cannot pick out a teammate with his cross.

(18 min Inter Miami 1 Vancouver 0)

Two yellow cards in the first 18 minutes of the game. One each. The game is being physical after Miami took that lead. Someone is going to lose the cool here. Baltasar Rodriguez booked for pushing Falcon

(15 min Inter Miami 1 Vancouver 0)

That goal, and the manner of it, will be a real setback for the Whitecaps. It was an unlucky moment for Ocampo but they were carved open by a rapid Miami counter. That is not a good early sign for the visitors. The footwork of Messi in the tight space, the lofted ball from De Paul and the run from Allende were all good there.

The blood is boiling here and some of the challenges are coming out strong in the middle of the pitch. Miami's Rodriguez has gone in the books for a strong challenge

(8 min Inter Miami 1 Vancouver 0)

The offside trap is beaten and Allende scampers clear before trying to square the ball. Ocampo stretches to cut it out but ends up turning it into his own net. Miami strike first.

(5 min Inter Miami 0 Vancouver 0)

A cross comes in from the right side for Vancouver and Miami manage to block and clear it as Müller was ready to pounce inside the box.

(3mins Inter Miami 0 Vancouver 0)

Allende takes the first shot of the match, sending it over the bar from the right side of the box after Miami won the second ball inside Vancouver’s area. He comes into this final with eight goals in the play offs.

(Inter Miami 0 Vancouver 0)

This is the final match of Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba as their legendary careers near the finish line. Can they sign off with a trophy, or will Müller and the Whitecaps spoil the script?

Both teams are on the pitch and both Canadian and the United States national anthems are being played now.

The win probability sits at 50.5 percent in Inter Miami’s favour. But you never know what will happen on the pitch

Lionel Messi and Thomas Müller have met 10 times and the head to head has leaned heavily in Müller’s favour.

Müller has been on the winning side in seven of those meetings, including on the sport’s greatest stage. In 2014, Müller’s Germany beat Messi’s Argentina in the FIFA World Cup Final.

He also played a central role in one of the most famous Champions League results ever, when Müller’s Bayern humiliated Messi’s Barcelona with an 8-2 win

Follow the live updates here but if you want to watch it, the game is available for free on Apple TV

USMNT boss Mauricio Pochettino is pitchside after flying in from Washington DC, where he watched yesterday’s 2026 World Cup draw and had a brief exchange with Alexi Lalas.

His predecessor Gregg Berhalter is also in attendance, with his son Sebastian starting in midfield for Vancouver today.

Thomas Muller starts...

Inter Miami’s starting eleven is without Luis Suárez once again as Javier Mascherano sticks with what’s been working.

Tadeo Allende and Mateo Silvetti will flank Lionel Messi in the attack while the Uruguayan legend again rides the bench.

What started out as a change forced on Mascherano through Suárez’s suspension has proven to be the key to unleash Miami’s attack going forward.