Four contenders stand between Inter Miami and the long-awaited MLS Cup | OneFootball

During the 2025 season, Inter Miami has suffered many irregular performances. From outstanding victories against important rivals to humiliating losses that marginalize the team from achieving more than one trophy this season.

Losing the Leagues Cup final against the Seattle Sounders, being expelled from the Supporters’ Shield race, Las Garzas are less than six games away from winning the only silverware they can, the MLS Cup. However, this won’t be an easy task.

Javier Mascherano and the Herons’ fans know that without Lionel Messi, the dream of lifting the trophy is impossible. Nevertheless, when Messi’s on the field, the rest of the team does not always perform to their expectations.

Despite this controversy, Inter Miami remains one of the five favourite teams to win the MLS Cup. Who are the other four?

Inter Miami is the favorite, but will it be enough against the other four contenders?

The Herons have something magical happening, something that can deliver the team a performance boost: Two soccer legends are retiring after the season. Jordi Alba’s and Sergio Busquets' last game will be determined by how far Inter Miami goes in the playoffs.

Meaning that these two players, plus the rest of their teammates, Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez, more than anyone else, due to their time as teammates at FC Barcelona, will look to extend their stay on the pitch.

However, their first stop is to win their last MLS match against Nashville SC. Why is this game important? If the Herons win and FC Cincinnati loses, Las Garzas would get the second position in the Eastern Conference.

This is crucial because finishing higher in the standings increases the likelihood of facing a weaker opponent in the opening round of the playoffs.

Although Inter Miami shouldn’t be worried, the other four contenders are clubs that had a sensational MLS 2025 season, and are high in the stakes just like Miami.

But who are these contenders? One of them is Charlotte FC. That’s right, the Crown owns their well-deserved spot after their nine-game win streak. The Herons already know the offensive power of Charlotte, and know they are a rival to avoid until the final.

The second contender is the Philadelphia Union. This team could arguably be considered the best club this season. They locked down the Supporters’ Shield trophy two weeks before the Decision Day. Despite this major achievement, the Union’s playoff history raises questions about its ability to go all the way.

They have consistently struggled against teams from their own conference and have rarely advanced deep into the postseason.

The squad that has the duo of the moment is the next contender. LAFC signed Heung-Min Son, and instantly gave LAFC a boost. With Denis Bouanga fighting toe-to-toe with Lionel Messi for the MVP and the Golden Boot, this lethal offensive duo could be considered the best one in the MLS.

LAFC approaches the playoffs in what could be considered a perfect form. The entire squad is built to become a villain for the Herons in the postseason.

And the last contender, and the one fighting head-to-head with Inter Miami, is the Vancouver Whitecaps. The second-place team in the Concacaf Champions Cup and the four consecutive Canadian Champions have been the deepest team in the MLS.

Despite losing both starting center-backs and a key midfielder, the Whitecaps adapted seamlessly. They quickly addressed those gaps, emerging as the second favorite to win the MLS Cup. The arrival of German superstar Thomas Müller added the final ingredient, significantly boosting Vancouver’s chances of postseason dominance.