2025 MLS Cup: Lionel Messi and Inter Miami open as -135 favourites over Vancouver Whitecaps

Two legends of the game meet in the MLS Cup final on Saturday as Lionel Messi and Inter Miami prepare to host Thomas Muller’s Vancouver Whitecaps.

Here’s what you need to know.

Opening odds

Miami opened as a -135 favourite to win on the MLS odds, dropping to -130 as of Monday morning.

However, early money is coming in on Vancouver, which has moved the line from Whitecaps +300 to +275.

A regulation draw remains steady at +310.

If you’re looking for a same-game parlay, my personal pick is Vancouver to win, with a match total Over 2.5 goals, which pays +380. The Whitecaps won both head-to-heads this season and these are two of the three highest scoring MLS teams. Miami averaged a league-high 2.38 goals per match, while Vancouver was third at 1.94 goals.

Head-to-head

There are only three all-time head-to-head meetings between these clubs.

The Herons took the first match on the road last season, 2-1 at BC Place.

The clubs also met in the semifinals of this year’s CONCACAF Champions Cup. The result was never really in doubt for the Blue-and-White, who won the first leg 2-0 at BC Place, before travelling to Miami to win 3-1 in the second leg.

How they got here

Inter Miami entered the MLS playoffs as the third seed in the Eastern Conference. They’ve absolutely dominated the bracket, outscoring Nashville SC 8-3 in a three-match first round series, before beating FC Cincinnati 4-0 in the conference semifinals and New York City FC 5-1 in the conference finals.

Vancouver claimed the second seed in the Western Conference bracket and swept FC Dallas in the first round. The Whitecaps needed penalties to beat LAFC 4-3 in the conference semifinals before cruising to a 3-1 victory over top seeded San Diego FC in the conference finals.