Vancouver Whitecaps defeat San Diego FC 3-1 to reach first MLS Cup final
The Vancouver Whitecaps defeated San Diego FC 3-1 in the Western Conference Finals Saturday, securing their first-ever berth in the MLS Cup against Inter Miami.
November 29, 2025 - 11:16 PM ET • 2 min read
The Vancouver Whitecaps secured their first-ever appearance in the MLS Cup final after defeating San Diego FC 3-1 in the Western Conference Finals on Saturday.
The decisive victory, played at Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego, earned the Canadian club a spot against Inter Miami, who secured their own berth earlier in the day by defeating New York City FC 5-1.
Vancouver established a commanding lead early in the contest. Forward Brian White opened the scoring just eight minutes into the match, converting a pass from Andres Cubas. Only three minutes later, the Whitecaps doubled their advantage when a shot resulted in an own goal, taking a bounce off the back of San Diego goalkeeper Pablo Sisniega.
White completed his first-half brace in stoppage time, using his chest to redirect a cross from Ali Ahmed into the net, giving Vancouver a dominant 3-0 lead heading into the break. Sisniega was later expelled from the match, according to reports.
San Diego FC, led by coach Mikey Varas, attempted to rally in the second half. Star forward Hirving "Chucky" Lozano, who entered the game at halftime, immediately made an impact, scoring San Diego's only goal with a ball that arced over the head of Whitecaps keeper Yohei Takaoka.
Despite Lozano's effort, the goal was insufficient to overcome the deficit, and the match ended 3-1 in favor of Vancouver.
The victory marks a significant milestone for the Whitecaps franchise. Both teams had finished the regular season tied for the top spot in the conference standings, each accumulating 63 points. Vancouver now moves on to compete for the league's most important title against Inter Miami.