The 2025 MLS Cup Final brings a unique twist: Inter Miami will host the Vancouver Whitecaps, even though Vancouver entered the playoffs as the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference and Miami as the No. 3 seed in the East. For many fans, this raises a major question—why isn’t the match being played in Vancouver?
The answer lies in MLS’s hosting rules, which prioritize Supporters’ Shield standings, not playoff seeding. Here’s the full explanation.
MLS Cup Hosting Isn’t Based on Playoff Seeding
Unlike many American sports leagues, MLS does not award home-field advantage in the final based on postseason seeding. Seeding only determines home matches within each conference during the playoffs.
Once the MLS Cup Final is set, the league turns to a different ranking system:
the Supporters’ Shield table, which represents the entire league’s regular-season point totals.
That’s where Inter Miami gained the edge.
Inter Miami Finished With More Regular-Season Points Than Vancouver
Even though Vancouver was the higher conference seed, Inter Miami finished with a better overall regular-season record:
- Inter Miami: 65 points
- Vancouver Whitecaps: 63 points
Miami trailed only the Philadelphia Union and FC Cincinnati in total points, giving them a league-wide advantage despite being the East’s No. 3 seed.
Vancouver, meanwhile, posted a club-record 63-point season, tying San Diego FC for the Western Conference lead but losing the top seed on the wins tiebreaker.
Because MLS Cup hosting goes strictly by regular-season points, Miami earned the right to host at Chase Stadium.
Why MLS Uses Supporters’ Shield Rank Instead of Seeding
Since 2012, MLS has shifted its championship format to reward overall season performance, not just postseason bracket position. The philosophy:
- Seeding = conference placement
- Hosting MLS Cup = best full-season résumé
This means a No. 6 seed could host the final if they had more regular-season points than their opponent. It also ensures that every regular-season match matters, even for teams already bound for the playoffs.
The results speak for themselves: 12 of the last 16 MLS Cups were won by the home team, showing how significant home-field advantage can be.
A Rare Situation With Big Implications
This season created an unusual scenario:
- Vancouver: Higher playoff seed
- Miami: Better league-wide performance
Therefore, the 2025 MLS Cup Final is heading to South Florida, not British Columbia.
For Inter Miami and Lionel Messi, playing at Chase Stadium gives them a meaningful statistical edge. For Vancouver, it adds another hurdle—one they already overcame earlier this year when they defeated Miami in the Concacaf Champions Cup semifinals, winning both legs 2–0 and 3–1.
What’s at Stake on December 6
Beyond the debate over hosting rights, this year’s final also carries historical significance:
- Miami seeks its first MLS Cup in club history.
- Vancouver aims to become just the fourth team ever to win both the Canadian Championship and MLS Cup in the same season.
Final Thoughts
The MLS Cup Final isn’t being played in Miami by accident or favoritism—it’s simply the result of Major League Soccer’s rule that rewards the highest Supporters’ Shield finisher, not the highest playoff seed.
With the match officially set for Chase Stadium on December 6, fans can expect a high-stakes showdown influenced heavily by this rarely discussed but critically important rule.