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Thousands of Vancouver Whitecaps fans have invaded Florida for MLS Cup Final

Har Johal
Har Johal
|
Dec 6 2025, 1:02 am
Thousands of Vancouver Whitecaps fans have invaded Florida for MLS Cup Final
Christopher Morris/Imagn Images

The wait is nearly over as the Vancouver Whitecaps get set to play Inter Miami in the MLS Cup Final Saturday afternoon in Fort Lauderdale.

Preparations are done, the final training session is in the books, and it will all come down to Saturday’s match at Chase Stadium. 

Over 2,000 Whitecaps supporters will be in attendance for the MLS Cup Final at Chase Stadium, hoping to give their team a boost.

The Vancouver Southsiders have organized a meet up at Fort Lauderdale’s famed, Elbo Room on Friday night. 

“I think it’s a sign of how big the community of soccer is in Vancouver,” injured Whitecaps defender Sam Adekugbe told reporters. “These are fans that have been here from the jump and the fact that they’re traveling down. It’s not an easy flight, it’s also quite expensive.

“We hope to give them the victory they deserve.”

The watch party attendance at BC Place will rival Chase Stadium’s capacity of 21,500 spectators, as over 18,800 tickets had been sold by the Whitecaps as of Friday afternoon.

“You can see the support, love and going in the city, you can feel it when you’re walking around and going to coffee shops,” said Whitecaps forward Brian White. “It means a lot to us and hopefully we can reward that support, love and trust with a trophy.” 

Emmanuel Sabbi has played in front of large crowds in Denmark and France, but there’s something special about Whitecaps fans that he just hasn’t seen during his time in Europe. 

“It’s been amazing,” Sabbi told Daily Hive. “Caps fans have been great to us this season. We’ve had tremendous love and support at home and also away. We appreciate them and thank them so much.”

In addition to the fan support, the Whitecaps have flown more than 100 support staff to Fort Lauderdale.  

Two chartered planes arrived in South Florida on Friday. 

“This is a team sport,” Whitecaps head coach Jesper Sørensen told reporters. “This is a team effort, it’s not just the team on the pitch. It’s the team off the pitch as well. There’s a lot of great people working 24/7 just to make sure we could be in a position like this, keeping players healthy and coordinating. It’s great when we can be together and we all can feel like we’re a bit part of this.”

There will also be a Vancouver flavour during the national anthem.

A quartet of anthem singers have flown from Vancouver to sing O Canada before the match. The team’s original anthem singer, Marie Hui, will be there alongside Elizabeth Irving, Arielle Tuliao, and Ema Lake.

Müller’s calf

Thomas Mßller has been everything and more since he joined the Whitecaps in August, but he was a little banged up heading into the MLS Cup Final. 

The 36-year-old had his right calf noticeably wrapped up following the Whitecaps win against San Diego. But Mßller was a participant during the open portion of the Whitecaps training sessions in South Florida, leading his teammates during running drills. 

Müller’s ability to play a full 90 minutes and potentially more remains unknown.

“I don’t know, I don’t know,” MĂźller said when asked about his ability to play a full 90. “To be honest, I think it’s fine, but we never know but it doesn’t matter, Saturday I’ll be there.”

One thing that is clear is that Vancouver is coming into the MLS Cup as the underdog.

Miami’s star-studded lineup will present some challenges. Road teams haven’t fared well in the MLS Cup Final, in the last 14 finals, visiting teams have won just three matches. 

“Yeah, but there’s a chance,” MĂźller said. “I’m glad to hear that.” 

 

Attack Miami

While Inter Miami has an abundance of experience when it comes to Cup finals, they could be vulnerable on the counter attack. The Whitecaps will look to use the speed of Ali Ahmed and Sabbi to attack on the flanks.  

“We have a few styles of play that we like,” Sabbi said. “We’re going to use all the power that we can in the game. It’s very important for us as wingers to get up and down, that’s what we’re going to do.” 

Miami has also shown a lackadaisical approach to defending set pieces. With Sebastian Berhalter’s service and the aerial threats of White, Tristan Blackmon, and Mathias Laborda, Vancouver will look to capitalize on free kicks, corners, and throw-ins. 

“Any set piece we get regardless of the game we have an opportunity to score goals,” White said. “How physical and focused can we be on those set pieces and how disciplined and focused can we be when we get our chances in the final third, that’s how every game goes.” 

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