Vancouver Whitecaps will be aiming to become the first club from Canada to win the CONCACAF Champions Cup.
The stage is set for one of the most significant nights in North American club football. Mexican giants Cruz Azul lock horns with Canadian side Vancouver Whitecaps FC at Estadio Olimpico Universitario in Mexico City on Sunday for the 2025 CONCACAF Champions Cup Final.
For Cruz Azul, this will be a record ninth appearance in the Champions Cup final. A win would see them lift their seventh title, drawing them level with Club America as the competition’s most decorated side. They head into the final in formidable form, having cruised through the earlier knockout rounds with a combined aggregate score of 15-3, including a tight 2-1 win over Tigres in the semi-finals.
On the other hand, Vancouver Whitecaps are chasing history of their own. The Canadian outfit is aiming to become the first club from Canada to win the CONCACAF Champions Cup and just the second MLS side to win the title in its current format. Their path to the final has been just as impressive, most notably eliminating high-flying Inter Miami with a 5-1 aggregate win. Sunday’s final is expected to deliver high drama and quality football under the lights in Mexico City.
Every chapter led to this.
— Vancouver Whitecaps FC (@WhitecapsFC) May 29, 2025
The Concacaf @TheChampions Cup Final goes down this Sunday. 🏆 #VWFC | #ConcaChampions pic.twitter.com/li9Ec6Ihhl
Cruz Azul will be missing a key figure in midfield with Andres Montano ruled out due to a torn lateral knee ligament. His absence is a significant blow to the Mexican side’s engine room. The experienced Mexican giants are battle-tested and boast a potent attack led by Angel Sepulveda, the current Golden Boot leader with seven goals and two assists in the tournament. The striker scored the decisive penalty that sealed their place in the final.
At the other end of the pitch, goalkeeper Kevin Mier has been a rock between the posts. He delivered a crucial clean sheet in the semi-final second leg against Tigres with two key saves to help secure the narrow win.
Mier; Sanchez, Ditta, Orozco, Rotondi; Rodriguez, Lira; Bogusz, Faravelli, Fernandez; Sepulveda
The Vancouver Whitecaps could receive a timely boost with captain Ryan Gauld potentially returning from a knee injury that has kept him sidelined in recent weeks. His availability remains uncertain but would be a significant addition for the Canadian side in Sunday’s final. However, the Caps will be without influential midfielder Sebastian Berhalter, who is suspended due to yellow card accumulation.
Berhalter was a key figure in the semi-final win over Inter Miami as he was involved in all five of Vancouver’s goals across the two legs. Up front, USMNT striker Brian White has been at the heart of their attacking surge. He has scored five goals in the competition and 15 goals in 20 appearances across all competitions this season. He netted twice in the semi-final.
Takaoka; Ocampo, Blackmon, Veselinovic, Johnson; Priso, Cubas, Vite; Nelson, White, Ahmed
soccer I am a soccer writer at The PlayOffs, covering everything from match analysis to transfer buzz and tactical deep dives. Ever since I was a kid, soccer has been more than just a sport to me—it’s been an obsession. Playing and watching the game from a young age fueled my passion, eventually leading me into the world of sports media and betting. Now, I get to analyze the sport I love and bring the latest updates to fans worldwide.
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