Recap: Whitecaps lose MLS Cup to Inter Miami in heartbreaking 3-1 final

The Vancouver Whitecaps lost the MLS Cup to the Inter Miami, but as Penny Daflos reports, fans are looking forward to the next big event.

The Vancouver Whitecaps had their chances in their first-ever MLS Cup final Saturday, but they were unable to overcome the brilliance of Lionel Messi, who had two assists in the second half to secure the title for Inter Miami.

The Whitecaps were looking for their first North American championship since the 1979 Soccer Bowl, the championship of the now-defunct North American Soccer League.

They fell behind early through an eighth-minute own goal by Édier Ocampo, but battled back and had chances to equalize late in the first half.

The equalizer came in the 60th minute from Ali Ahmed, but the tie game wouldn’t last, as Messi sent perfect passes to teammates Rodrigo De Paul in the 71st minute and Tadeo Allende in the sixth minute of stoppage time, restoring the lead and ensuring the match would end 3-1 to the hosts.

More than 1,000 Whitecaps supporters made the journey to Fort Lauderdale for the match, and nearly 20,000 turned up at B.C. Place for the club’s official watch party.

• Read more: Whitecaps prepare for MLS Cup final with future in Vancouver in question
• ‘It all comes to this moment’: Whitecaps eager to make history in MLS Cup final
• The Whitecaps have had success against Miami, so they’re hoping the MLS Cup is no different

Here’s a full recap of the match.

2:25 p.m. PT: ‘It would’ve been so special’

Whitecaps goalscorer Ali Ahmed spoke to TSN after the match and shared his devastation at the result.

“We came close,” Ahmed told Farhan Lalji.

“We fought. We had them under pressure in the second half.”

Asked to zoom out and consider the club’s season overall and the run the Whitecaps went on, reaching the MLS Cup final, as well as reaching the final of the CONCACAF Champions Cup and winning a fourth consecutive Canadian Championship, Ahmed noted that soccer seasons are fleeting and things change every offseason.

“It was amazing, man,” he said. “That’s why a lot of us are a little emotional … It would’ve been so special to win with this group of guys.”

2:11 p.m. PT: ‘Shout out’ from Garber

Before presenting the MLS Cup trophy to Inter Miami captain Lionel Messi, league commissioner Don Garber offered praise to the Whitecaps on an incredible season.

“I want to give a shout out to Vancouver,” he said, to cheers from the travelling Whitecaps supporters.

“Their players, their fans, their ownership.”

Garber has been critical of the provincial and municipal governments in recent weeks over what he says is an “untenable” situation with the Whitecaps’ lease at B.C. Place.

1:45 p.m. PT: Game over

The Vancouver Whitecaps’ best-ever MLS season has ended in heartbreak.

Inter Miami wins 3-1 in a match that Vancouver had tied for 11 minutes and had opportunities to take the lead in.

Lionel Messi’s two second-half assists were the difference that gave Miami the championship.

1:41 p.m. PT: Miami insurance goal

Another brilliant assist from Lionel Messi sends Tadeo Allende in on goal and he gives Inter Miami the insurance it needs.

The Whitecaps trail 3-1 with only a couple of minutes of added time remaining.

1:36 p.m. PT: Time running out

The 90 minutes are up and seven minutes of stoppage time have been signaled as the Whitecaps desperately search for another tying goal.

1:16 p.m. PT: Miami back in front

Lionel Messi recovers the ball in midfield and feeds his longtime friend and Argentina teammate Rodrigo De Paul, who ends up one-on-one with Whitecaps goalkeeper Yohei Takaoka and makes no mistake.

The Whitecaps trail 2-1 with less than 20 minutes left to play.

1:13 p.m. PT: Whitecaps’ first substitutions of the match

Goalscorer Ali Ahmed makes way for Ryan Gauld and Joedrick Pupe replaces Ralph Priso for the Whitecaps in the 68th minute.

1:07 p.m. PT: Huge chance

Two minutes after the equalizer, Whitecaps striker Emmanuel Sabbi hits both posts with a shot from the top of the penalty box, but the ball stays out of the Inter Miami net.

1:05 p.m. PT: Whitecaps tie the game

MLS Cup 2025 is level at 1-1 after Whitecaps winger Ali Ahmed scores in the 60th minute of the match.

Ahmed ran onto a pass from striker Brian White and beat goalkeeper Rocco Ríos Novo to his near post.

12:52 p.m. PT: Second half underway

There’s the second half kickoff. The Vancouver Whitecaps have 45 minutes to find a tying goal and send the first MLS Cup in club history to extra time.

12:45 p.m. PT: Whitecaps’ stadium situation ‘untenable’

In a halftime interview with TSN’s Farhan Lalji, MLS commissioner Don Garber repeated his belief that the Whitecaps’ tenancy at the provincially owned B.C. Place is “untenable.”

While 2025 has been the best season in the club’s MLS history, it has also been taking place under a cloud of uncertainty, with the team reportedly up for sale and owners looking to get a new, soccer-specific stadium constructed at the PNE to secure the team’s long-term future.

• Read more: Whitecaps prepare for MLS Cup final with future in Vancouver in question

12:33 p.m. PT: Whitecaps trail 1-0 at halftime

The 2025 MLS Cup final is halfway done, and the Vancouver Whitecaps have a lot of ground to make up.

Édier Ocampo’s own goal in the eighth minute gave Inter Miami the lead, and the hosts deserved it, after opening the game with intensity and having the better chances over the first 25 minutes or so.

The Whitecaps grew into the game as the half progressed, however, generating some good chances, particularly off of midfielder Sebastian Berhalter’s free kicks.

The best opportunity for the ‘Caps to level the score came in the 38th minute, when German midfielder Thomas Muller directed a Berhalter cross toward the Miami goal and into the patch of striker Emmanuel Sabbi.

Unfortunately for the Whitecaps, Sabbi’s point-blank shot was straight at Miami goalkeeper Rocco Ríos Novo.

12:27 p.m. PT: Scenes inside B.C. Place

Nearly 20,000 Whitecaps fans poured into B.C. Place stadium to watch their team battle Inter Miami for the MLS Cup in a winner-takes-all game in Florida Saturday.

CTV News’ Penny Daflos and Shelley Moore are at the watch party and shared these photos of the scene.

12:03 p.m. PT: Yellow card for Brian White

Whitecaps striker Brian White enters the referee’s book in the 17th minute, receiving a yellow card after shoving an opponent in frustration.

11:54 a.m. PT: Miami takes the lead

Inter Miami go up 1-0 on an own goal after Whitecaps defender Édier Ocampo redirected a cross into his own net.

11:46 a.m. PT: Match kicks off

The anthems are done and the match is underway in front of a hostile crowd of more than 21,000 at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

A similar number of fans have gathered at B.C. Place in Vancouver to watch the Whitecaps on the stadium’s big screens.

11:30 a.m. PT: Travelling fans

Roughly 2,000 Vancouver Whitecaps fans made the trip to south Florida for Saturday’s match.

Some 10 times that many are expected for the club’s official watch party at B.C. Place.

10:53 a.m. PT: Well wishes from the prime minister

Prime Minister Mark Carney took to social media to urge the Whitecaps on Saturday morning.

“Canada is behind you all the way!” the PM wrote.