MLS Cup Final: First-time glory up for grabs at Chase Stadium
by Bradley Gibbs | by Bradley Gibbs
MLS Cup Final key details
The entire season, which started all the way back in February, comes down to this. On Saturday, another MLS Cup winner will be crowned.
Here are the key details ahead of the MLS Cup Final between Inter Miami and the Vancouver Whitecaps:
Date: Saturday, December 6th
Kick off time: 14:30 EST
Venue: Chase Stadium, Fort Lauderdale
Where to watch: Apple TV, FOX, Fox Deportes
Betting market favors Messi over Muller
As many people have pointed out, this is a battle between old foes Lionel Messi and Thomas Muller, who’ve met in some massively high-profile duels over the years. They now meet for what could be the last time.
In the betting, it is Messi and his colleagues that are favored over the German and friends, with Inter Miami coming into this game as odds-on favorites.
MLS Cup Final (to lift the trophy) betting:
Inter Miami -222
Vancouver Whitecaps +165
The above odds are for either team to lift the trophy. For the hosts to win in 90 minutes, you’re looking at around -125, with the Whitecaps priced at +275. The tie can be bet at odds of +300.
If betting on either of the headline players to grab a goal in this game is your sort of thing, you’re looking at odds of -133 for Lionel Messi. At the time of writing, Thomas Muller is available to find the net at odds of +260, which looks far from a bad bet.
History will be made either way
Whatever happens at Chase Stadium on Saturday, regardless of whether the hosts confirm favoritism and get it done or the visitors cause another upset against the Herons, history will be made.
This is a first MLS Cup Final appearance for both Inter Miami and the Vancouver Whitecaps, so a first-time MLS Cup winner is guaranteed either way. Fueling the fire further is the fact that the Herons are bidding to become the first ever winners from the state of Florida, while the Whitecaps would be only the second ever Canadian winners of this prestigious prize.
Herons should be wary of the Whitecaps
As we’ve seen, especially in recent weeks, this Inter Miami side is incredibly difficult to stop, as any team containing Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, Sergi Busquets and Jordi Alba has been over the years, but if there’s any MLS team that has the necessary qualities to stop the men in pink getting over the line, then it may just be the Vancouver Whitecaps.
After all, the Whitecaps can draw on the hugely positive experience of winning at Chase Stadium in 2025. The pair met in the CONCACAF Champions Cup back in May. Despite starting the game as red-hot favorites, priced at -167, the Herons struggled to handle a visiting team that was simply too good on the break. On that occasion, the Whitecaps won by three goals to one.
Being dumped out of the CCC is not the only disappointment that Messi & Co. have endured this season, oh no. Let’s face it, as brilliant as Saturday’s hosts have been at times, they’ve also come unstuck on a fair few occasions. The likes of Orlando and the Chicago Fire have gone to Chase Stadium and countered Mascherano’s free-flowing team into submission, and like I say above, if any team is equipped to do that right now, it’s the Whitecaps.
