Inter Miami will lock horns with Canadian side Vancouver Whitecaps in the CONCACAF Champions Cup semifinal first leg at the BC Place stadium in Vancouver, Canada on Friday, April 25, 2025. Following an emphatic comeback win against Los Angeles FC in the quarterfinal second leg, Lionel Messi and his teammates are set to leverage that momentum as they face a challenging opponent. Vancouver Whitecaps, fresh off their quarterfinal victory over Pumas UNAM, are riding high and eager to take advantage of their home field.
The memory of their previous encounter with Messi and his squad is still fresh, and the Whitecaps are determined to avoid repeating past mistakes. Inter Miami faces the challenge of an away game, which could add pressure, yet they aim to score crucial away goals to gain an edge. Messi and company know it won’t be an easy feat against a motivated Whitecaps side on their home turf.
Over 52,000 fans are expected to fill the stands at BC Place, many of whom are excited about the prospect of seeing soccer legend Lionel Messi play in Vancouver. Whitecaps head coach Jesper Sorensen commented, "Lionel Messi for the past 20 years has been maybe the best player all time in this sport, and he deserves the praise he gets. I also would say tomorrow it's not going to be Vancouver Whitecaps against Lionel Messi. It's going to be Miami against Vancouver."
Messi's absence during Miami's regular-season match against the Whitecaps last year left many fans disappointed, but this time, the Argentinian superstar participated in practice at the Whitecaps training facility on Thursday afternoon. Miami coach Javier Mascherano has kept his cards close to his chest regarding Messi's playing time, stating, "It's a very important game for us, maybe one of the important games for the history of the club. We are ready. I don't like to talk before the game about who is available or who isn't. Tomorrow you will see."
The match itself may dictate Messi's participation. If Miami jumps out to an early lead, Messi may see limited action; however, if the Whitecaps score first, Miami could rely more on their star player to secure goals. "We don't know what is going to happen in the game," Mascherano said. "We know that we have a game that is 180 minutes. Tomorrow we are going to play the first half of the game. It's important to play a good game, try to score. Obviously, the idea is to try to come here and to win the game."
Vancouver midfielder Ali Ahmed understands the challenges of facing Messi, having played against him as a member of Canada's national team. "You have to be conscious of where he is, not give him any breathing room in the final third," Ahmed noted. "We know he can make plays that not many can. We've got some great players on our team that we know are going to put up a fight. It's going to be a collective team effort, not letting him have a fun game. We're capable."
Defender Tristan Blackmon, the hero of Vancouver's quarterfinal win over Pumas, emphasized the need to focus on team performance rather than solely on Messi. "You have to change if he's on the field just because of what kind of player he is and what he's able to do on the ball," Blackmon said. "Whether he's here or not, we're focusing on what we're going to do. At the end of the day, we're focusing on us and how we're going to be on the ball, and hopefully we can take it to them."
As the Whitecaps prepare to face Inter Miami, they will be without captain Ryan Gauld, who is sidelined due to a knee injury. However, fullback Sam Adekugbe and forward Jayden Nelson are expected to return to the lineup, providing a boost to the squad. The Whitecaps have traveled an exciting road to the semifinals, tying both legs of their previous series at home before scoring in extra time to advance on away goals.
Currently, the Whitecaps boast the best record in MLS, leading the Western Conference with a 6-1-2 record for a total of 20 points. They are also second in league scoring with 17 goals. Miami, with a record of 5-0-3, sits third in the East and fourth overall, remaining the only team in the league without a loss this season. Star striker Brian White, who has scored six goals in MLS play this season, believes the players can block out the hype surrounding the game once the opening whistle blows. "Once you step across those white lines, it's all about the game," White stated. "You're not worried about who you are playing. You're just trying to execute the game, find the best you can and get the result you need."
The second leg of the semifinal series will take place on Wednesday, April 30, 2025, at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale. The winner will advance to the CONCACAF Champions Cup final against either Cruz Azul or Tigres UNAL on June 1, 2025. As the excitement builds for this highly anticipated matchup, all eyes will be on the pitch to see if Messi can lead his team to victory or if the Whitecaps will seize the moment on their home turf.
