The 2025 Major League Soccer season has reached its zenith, with MLS Cup on the horizon.
30 teams started the season, and 18 made the MLS Cup Playoffs after a regular season that saw the Philadelphia Union crowned Supporters’ Shield champions for the second time.
But after a gruelling knockout campaign that’s seen twists, turns and endless drama, only Inter Miami and the Vancouver Whitecaps remain.
Both sides will be competing in MLS Cup for the first time, so we’re guaranteed a new name on the trophy for the third time in five years.
Who are the favourites to win MLS Cup in 2025?
When is the 2025 MLS Cup?
- Date: Saturday, 6th December
- Kick-off: 7:30pm UK time (2:30pm local)
- Venue: Chase Stadium, Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Inter Miami
With the likes of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Sergio Busquets around, it’s little surprise to see Inter Miami in the final — the only shock is that this is their first-ever final. They’re the talk of MLS right now, even if many domestic supporters are getting a little sick of hearing about them.
The Herons have overcome a dreadful MLS Cup Playoffs record to get this far, having never made it past the first round previously. Nashville SC, FC Cincinnati and NYCFC have all been dispatched along the way — the latter most recently by a 5-1 scoreline — with Lionel Messi registering six goals and five assists in five Playoffs matches.
Miami went down 3-0 to the Seattle Sounders in the Leagues Cup final back in September, losing their composure and proving just how beatable they are if you can nullify Messi and rattle them.
However, Javier Mascherano has this side purring, with all of their talent stepping up. Messi aside, Tadeo Allende scored a hat-trick against NYCFC, Jordi Alba has been a creative genius in his swansong, and youngster Mateo Silvetti has shown numerous flashes of brilliance.
It’s hard to bet against them in the final, especially on home soil.
Vancouver Whitecaps
The Vancouver Whitecaps spent years in the doldrums, only sporadically qualifying for the Playoffs, but things are starting to change.
The Whitecaps have won the last four Canadian Championship titles ahead of Toronto FC and CF Montreal, and made the post-season in 2021, 2023 and 2024. Now, they’re making a serious push at their first-ever MLS Cup title.
Jesper Sorensen’s side finished second in the West, but only trailed San Diego by one single game won — the primary tie-breaker in MLS.
Vancouver conceded just 38 goals in the regular season, which is the second-best defensive record behind the Philadelphia Union (35), despite thumping them 7-0 — a result that further proved their title potential.
The Whitecaps dispatched FC Dallas in the best-of-three, before beating LAFC on penalties and winning the Western Conference title with a 3-1 victory in San Diego.
Vancouver have overcome all sorts of in-game adversity in these Playoffs, so they’ll have absolutely no fear of taking on Inter Miami in front of a partisan crowd on Saturday.
MLS Cup Playoffs previous winners
| Year | Winner | Score | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | DC United | 3-2 (ET) | LA Galaxy |
| 1997 | DC United | 2-1 | Colorado Rapids |
| 1998 | Chicago Fire | 2-0 | DC United |
| 1999 | DC United | 2-0 | LA Galaxy |
| 2000 | Kansas City Wizards | 1-0 | Chicago Fire |
| 2001 | San Jose Earthquakes | 2-1 (ET) | LA Galaxy |
| 2002 | LA Galaxy | 1-0 (ET) | New England Revolution |
| 2003 | San Jose Earthquakes | 4-2 | Chicago Fire |
| 2004 | DC United | 3-2 | Kansas City Wizards |
| 2005 | LA Galaxy | 1-0 | New England Revolution |
| 2006 | Houston Dynamo | 1-1 (4-3 pens) | New England Revolution |
| 2007 | Houston Dynamo | 2-1 | New England Revolution |
| 2008 | Columbus Crew | 3-1 | New York Red Bulls |
| 2009 | Real Salt Lake | 1-1 (5-4 pens) | LA Galaxy |
| 2010 | Colorado Rapids | 2-1 | FC Dallas |
| 2011 | LA Galaxy | 1-0 | Houston Dynamo |
| 2012 | LA Galaxy | 3-1 | Houston Dynamo |
| 2013 | Sporting Kansas City | 1-1 (7-6 pens) | Real Salt Lake |
| 2014 | LA Galaxy | 2-1 | New England Revolution |
| 2015 | Portland Timbers | 2-1 | Columbus Crew |
| 2016 | Seattle Sounders | 0-0 (5-4 pens) | Toronto FC |
| 2017 | Toronto FC | 2-0 | Seattle Sounders |
| 2018 | Atlanta United | 2-0 | Portland Timbers |
| 2019 | Seattle Sounders | 3-1 | Toronto FC |
| 2020 | Columbus Crew | 3-0 | Seattle Sounders |
| 2021 | NYCFC | 1-1 (4-2 pens) | Portland Timbers |
| 2022 | LAFC | 3-3 (3-0 pens) | Philadelphia Union |
| 2023 | Columbus Crew | 2-1 | LAFC |
| 2024 | LA Galaxy | 2-1 | New York Red Bulls |
Supporters’ Shield previous winners
| Year | Winner |
|---|---|
| 1996 | Tampa Bay Mutiny |
| 1997 | DC United |
| 1998 | LA Galaxy |
| 1999 | DC United |
| 2000 | Kansas City Wizards |
| 2001 | Miami Fusion |
| 2002 | LA Galaxy |
| 2003 | Chicago Fire |
| 2004 | Columbus Crew |
| 2005 | San Jose Earthquakes |
| 2006 | DC United |
| 2007 | DC United |
| 2008 | Columbus Crew |
| 2009 | Columbus Crew |
| 2010 | LA Galaxy |
| 2011 | LA Galaxy |
| 2012 | San Jose Earthquakes |
| 2013 | New York Red Bulls |
| 2014 | Seattle Sounders |
| 2015 | New York Red Bulls |
| 2016 | FC Dallas |
| 2017 | Toronto FC |
| 2018 | New York Red Bulls |
| 2019 | LAFC |
| 2020 | Philadelphia Union |
| 2021 | New England Revolution |
| 2022 | LAFC |
| 2023 | FC Cincinnati |
| 2024 | Inter Miami |
| 2025 | Philadelphia Union |