Despite Losing To Inter Miami, Vancouver Whitecaps Is Still Proud To Be Able To Silence Predictions This Season

Vancouver Whitecaps lost to Inter Miami in the race for the 2025 MLS Cup (Instagram/@whitecapsfc).

JAKARTA - Vancouver Whitecaps coach, Jesper Sorensen, admits that he shed tears of pride after his unseeded team lost 1-3 to Inter Miami which was reinforced by Lionel Messi in the 2025 MLS Cup (MLS Cup) final, Sunday, December 7, 2025, early morning WIB.

The Canadian club, which has been reinforced by the arrival of Bayern Munich legend Thomas Muller, in the middle of the season, is eyeing his first MLS Cup title.

"We've been growing up together all season. So now we're a very strong team. Today, of course we're crying, but I think what's important is the tears of pride."

"The tears must be tears of pride because I know we have made many people in Vancouver excited. We have created something around us that people want to see and watch," said Sorensen, the Best MLS Coach finalist who revived Vancouver in 2025.

Ahead of this season, low expectations for teams traditionally considered as mid-middle-down club. MLS internal experts expect them to finish second from bottom in the Western Region before the 2025 season begins.

Sorensen and Whitecaps surpassed these expectations, not only as the second seed in the Western region, but also as the finalists of the MLS Cup for the first time. However, the proud tears still hurt the first year's coach.

"When you achieve something, it hurts more when you don't get it. Games like this, everything is determined in a while."

"Of course, when you're up against Inter Miami, they have players who can take advantage of these moments. They shake our confidence a little bit, that's what can happen," Sorensen said.

Left 0-1 with an own goal, Vancouver then took over as the game went on and managed to equalize in the 60th minute through Ali Ahmed.

However, after the 70th minute, Inter Miami stepped up the pressure and ensured a 3-1 win led by two assists from Messi.

"Of course, congratulations to Inter Miami. It's a season where we've seen Inter Miami, and Vancouver teams make their achievements this season," Sorensen said.

The title marks the first MLS Cup trophy for Inter Miami. As for Vancouver, in 2025 they remain positive with the 2025 Canadian Championships, Western Cup trophies, performances in the Concacaf Champions Cup final, and the MLS Cup final.