Vancouver Whitcaps will only try to become a second MLS team in the modern era, when they face the Cruise Azul of Leiga MX in the Sunday final in Mexico City.
The winner earns a place in the 2029 FIFA Club World Cup and this year’s FIFA Intercontinental Cup.
Mexican sides have won the top club competition of ConcacAF 23 times since the onset of the Kulhakti format for the majority of the knockout play in 2002.
But MLS side is also getting closer to weight even in recent years. Seattle sounders broke for their 2022 titles on Pumeus Unam, and MLS teams have now reached the finals in six of the last eight editions.
The work of Vancouver is playing a one-game final on the road at Astadio Universitero. In the final format introduced last year, Cruise Azul earned the right to host through his better record in the last three rounds.
But Vancouver earned 2–2 legs against Pumes UNAM at the same place to proceed from the quarter-finals.
“I think the height is very, very difficult, if you don’t use it, it is very difficult to handle,” Whitcaps manager Jasper Soresan told the local TV program “Doni Aur Dhali” this week. “Because it is not just about running and how it is difficult to breathe. It’s also how you handle the ball. And the ball simply fly away. It’s good that we have been there before.”
Vancouver injured Ryan Gold and suspended Sebstian Burhelter, without their two better attackers.
But he still has Brian White, who will be the second largest scorer of the tournament with five goals after seven goals by Azul’s Azel’s Azel Capulveda. And they can have more stability than their Mexican enemies, nursing in the 2025 Classura playoffs in a semi -final exit and spectacular departure of Manager Visent Sanchez.
WhitecApp has also proved to be an extraordinary distant side, defeated once in 11 matches in all competitions. This is one of the reasons that they also lead MLS Western Conference.
“It is not easy to say that we are very good on the road,” said Sorshanon. “I think we are very good normally. I think this is the main thing. When we do at home we do not play especially different.”
-Bield level media
