This side of the Concacaf Champions Cup bracket yields two finals-worthy MLS clubs in Miami and Vancouver. We trek across the continent for this semifinal series: Thursday’s first leg is all the way up in British Columbia, while next Wednesday’s second leg goes down in South Florida. This is top-of-the-table stuff, headlined by the transcendent Lionel Messi and ascending USMNT striker Brian White.
How to watch Inter Miami vs. Vancouver Whitecaps
Both sides are grooving in MLS right now. Along with Charlotte (19 points), Cincinnati (19) and Columbus (18), Miami (18, with a game in hand) looks competitive and confident near the top of the Eastern Conference. Miami is also the last undefeated team in MLS play. Out West, Vancouver leads everyone with 20 points and sports a dominant plus-11 goal differential.
The Herons made a spirited comeback in the tournament’s last round. They fell to LAFC 1-0 in the opening leg before storming back with a 3-1 triumph in Fort Lauderdale. Messi found the back of the net twice in that match: an equalizer in the 35th minute, then a put-away penalty conversion in the 84th.
Miami’s recent league matches have been low-scoring affairs. Two Sundays ago, it drew scoreless versus Chicago. It then knocked off the Columbus Crew, 1-0, last Saturday. How, you ask? Twist our arms, why don’t ya?
Air Benja ✈️
Cremaschi puts @InterMiamiCF ahead in Cleveland.
📺 #MLSSeasonPass: https://t.co/HWEmETCckG pic.twitter.com/zbaRYXQYsc
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) April 19, 2025
Cremaschi’s winning header was bonkers.
This is a well-rounded attack overall: Messi and Telasco Segovia each have netted three goals in MLS play, while Luis Suárez and Jordi Alba lead the club in assists.
Vancouver makes for a tough matchday, though. This is among the club’s best starts (joining MLS in 2011), and it has a real shot at its first Supporters’ Shield. The Whitecaps are also closing in on a 2028 FIFA Club World Cup berth.
White, a recent call-up to the national team, had an absurd four-goal outing against Austin on April 12. The Caps played to a 0-0 draw in their last league match against St. Louis. They advanced past Pumas in the Champions Cup quarterfinals (1-1, 2-2) on the strength of away goals.
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(Photo of Lionel Messi: Gregory Shamus / Getty Images)