Will Argentina superstar Lionel Messi win the MLS Cup with Inter Miami finally? Vancouver Whitecaps can Thomas Mueller lead them to an unlikely title. Will South Korean sensation Son Heung Min lead LAFC to victory? Messi’s latest trophy quest is the obvious storyline heading into the business end of the MLS Cup Playoffs, which resume on Saturday. But he isn’t the only big name chasing another piece of silverware.Let’s break down and predict each of the single-elimination games of the MLS Cup quarterfinals:Vancouver Whitecaps vs. LAFC (Saturday, Nov. 22)Prediction: Vancouver 2, LAFC 1Because the Canadian club swept FC Dallas in Round One, the ‘Caps haven’t played in three weeks. Neither has LAFC, which vanquished Austin FC in a 2–0 series win. But Vancouver — which has been beset by injuries to key players like striker Ryan Gauld and MLS defender of the year Triston Blackmon this season — probably stands to benefit more from the extended break between games. There will be plenty of star power north of the border, even if Messi is still the main attraction. Midseason arrivals Thomas Muller (Vancouver) and Son Heung-min (LAFC) have electrified their new teams’ respective fan bases since landing over the summer from Bayern Munich and Tottenham Hotspur, respectively. Son has scored 10 goals from 12 matches. Son is the most likely match winner with 10 goals in 12 appearances. ‘Caps will be playing in front of an overflow home crowd of more than 53,000 at BC Place, though, which could be consequential in the end.”It’s gonna be an incredible atmosphere,” Vancouver’s Sebastian Berhalter said after scoring his first international goal on Tuesday in the U.S. men’s national team’s 5-1 drubbing of Uruguay. “As this whistle [blew]”FC Cincinnati v. Miami Inter (Sunday Nov. 23)Prediction : Miami 3, 2″Nashville forced Inter to work hard in their best of three, winning at home before forcing a nerve-wracking decider on Fort Lauderdale.”FC Cincinnati v. Inter Miami (Sunday, Nov. 23)Prediction: Miami 3, Cincinnati 2Nashville made Inter Miami work to survive their best-of-three, winning at home and forcing a nervy decider in Fort Lauderdale. Unlike last year, when bottom-seeded Atlanta United stunned the Supporters Shield recipient at the same stage, Miami not only survived without suspended star striker Luis Suarez — but advanced in fine style with a Messi-led 4-0 win. Whether this month’s FIFA window sapped some of that momentum remains to be seen. Miami prioritized the MLS Cup over finishing at the top of the regular season table following its humiliating end to 2024. They have to travel because of this.
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2025-11-22 14:38:02
