San Diego vs Vancouver Whitecaps FC at Snapdragon Stadium on Saturday, November 29, 2025, in a historic MLS Western Conference Final.
The expansion side—in their inaugural season—finished as the regular-season 2025 MLS Western Conference champions with 63 points, while Vancouver claimed second place with equal points (63) but inferior goal difference.
This matchup pits the expansion darlings against a Whitecaps side making their first-ever Conference Final appearance, with Thomas Müller’s star power and creative brilliance facing Anders Dreyer’s exceptional Newcomer of the Year form. The winner advances to the 2025 MLS Cup on December 6, 2025.
San Diego vs Vancouver Whitecaps – Date, Time, Predictions, and More
- Tournament: 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs – Western Conference Final (Single-Elimination)
- Match Date: Saturday, November 29, 2025
- Kickoff Time:
- USA (West Coast): 6:00 PM PT
- USA (East Coast): 9:00 PM ET
- Europe: 2:00 AM GMT (Sunday, November 30) / 3:00 AM CET
- Local (San Diego): 6:00 PM PT
- Venue: Snapdragon Stadium, San Diego, California (Capacity: 32,500+ – Sellout Expected)
- Recent Form (Last 5 Matches):
- San Diego FC: W–W–W–W–W (5 Wins, 0 Draws, 0 Losses – Playoff Perfect)
- Vancouver Whitecaps: W–W–D–W–W (4 Wins, 1 Draw, 0 Losses – Penalty Shootout Victory)
San Diego FC
San Diego completed a historic expansion season, finishing 1st in the Western Conference (63 pts; 19-6-9) and setting MLS expansion records for wins and points. Under Mikey Varas they’ve been flawless in the playoffs — five straight wins, most recently a 1–0 Conference Semifinal victory over Minnesota United on Nov 24 (Anders Dreyer 72′).
Dreyer has been instrumental (4 goals, 2 assists in the playoffs; 19 goals/19 assists in the regular season), while Pablo Sisniega and a veteran centre-back pairing have provided strong defensive foundation. San Diego combine attacking potency with defensive solidity and look championship-ready despite being an expansion side.
Vancouver Whitecaps
Vancouver also finished on 63 points (2nd on goal difference) and have ridden high since signing Thomas Müller in August. They edged past LAFC in a dramatic 2–2 playoff tie decided on penalties on Nov 22 — a sellout BC Place crowd (53,957) saw Marcus Godoy force extra time before the shootout.
Müller (8 goals, 4 assists in 10 appearances) and Brian White (16 regular-season goals) give Vancouver considerable firepower, while Yohei Takaoka has been dependable in goal. Vancouver’s regular-season results include strong head-to-head showings vs San Diego, showing they have tactical answers.
Tactical snapshot
San Diego’s perfect playoff form, expansion-era momentum and Dreyer’s scoring run contrast with Vancouver’s experienced reinforcements (Müller), postseason resilience and superior regular-season head-to-head record — a compelling matchup of momentum vs pedigree.
Last 5 Matches & Results Summary
| Team | Last 5 Matches | Win–Draw–Loss Record |
|---|---|---|
| San Diego FC | vs Minnesota (W) vs Portland (W) vs Dallas (W) vs LAFC (W) vs Portland (W) | 5W–0D–0L |
| Vancouver Whitecaps | vs LAFC (W-PK) vs LAFC (D) vs Dallas (W) vs Houston (W) vs Houston (W) | 4W–1D–0L |
Head-to-Head Record – San Diego vs Vancouver Whitecaps
San Diego FC hold a slight 2025 regular-season advantage over Vancouver Whitecaps, having won 2 of 3 meetings in their debut MLS season:
- June 2025: San Diego won 5–3 at BC Place in Vancouver (dominant attacking display)
- July 2025: Teams drew 1–1 at Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego
- September/October: Final meeting determined by playoff results
These meetings reveal high-scoring, attacking-oriented encounters with limited defensive organization, suggesting Saturday’s Conference Final will likely feature goal-scoring opportunities for both sides despite playoff intensity typically reducing goal totals.
Overall 2025 Record (Regular Season)
| Metric | San Diego FC | Vancouver Whitecaps | Draws |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Matches | 2 | — | — |
| Wins | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| Win % | 100% | 0% | 50% |
| Total Goals For | 7 | 5 | — |
2025 Regular Season Meetings
| Date | Competition | Match | Result | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 2025 | MLS Regular | San Diego vs Vancouver | San Diego Won | 5–3 |
| July 2025 | MLS Regular | Vancouver vs San Diego | Draw | 1–1 |
| Earlier 2025 | MLS Regular | San Diego vs Vancouver | Result TBD | TBD |
San Diego vs Vancouver Whitecaps Predicted Lineups
Based on current squad availability, recent tactical preferences, and playoff selections, here are the expected starting elevens:
San Diego FC Starting XI (4-3-3):
- Sisniega (GK); Vines, Robinson, Guzman, Tyndall; Machado, Tverskov, Baird; Dreyer, Vieira, Langeraert
Vancouver Whitecaps Starting XI (4-4-2):
- Takaoka (GK); Adekugbe, Laborda, Veselinović, Bovalina; Gauld, Cubas, Berhalter, Ahmed; Müller, White
Players to Watch — San Diego vs Vancouver Whitecaps (MLS Playoffs)
Anders Dreyer (San Diego FC)
A playoff standout (4 goals, 2 assists in 4 matches), Dreyer has been San Diego’s primary attacking threat with a remarkable regular-season return (19 goals, 19 assists). He combines intelligent finishing with creative link-up play and has shown a clutch mentality — the kind that can decide knockout ties.
Corey Baird (San Diego FC)
Baird provides width, accurate crossing and off-ball movement that unlocks San Diego’s attack. His ability to stretch defenses and create chances from wide areas is crucial to the team’s attacking balance.
Pablo Sisniega (San Diego FC)
San Diego’s goalkeeper has produced several important playoff saves and clean sheets. Sisniega’s shot-stopping, command of the box and distribution will be tested by Vancouver’s movement and set-piece threats.
Thomas Müller (Vancouver Whitecaps)
Since arriving in August, Müller has been transformative (8 goals, 4 assists in 10 appearances). His elite positioning, creative intelligence and experience in big matches make him a constant threat between the lines — especially on set pieces and late runs into the box.
Brian White (Vancouver Whitecaps)
A proven finisher (16 goals in 21 regular-season matches), White offers physical presence, intelligent runs and reliable finishing. He is Vancouver’s primary target in the penalty area and a key outlet for crosses and through balls.
Ryan Gauld (Vancouver Whitecaps)
Gauld is Vancouver’s creative metronome, linking midfield and attack with incisive passes and spatial awareness. His ability to unlock compact defenses and progress the ball through midfield will be vital against San Diego’s organized backline.
Match Preview & Tactical Analysis
San Diego FC will look to make the most of their home advantage and playoff momentum, lining up in a 4-3-3 formation aimed at controlling the midfield while keeping a sharp attacking edge through Dreyer.
Manager Mikey Varas plans to push for early pressing to force turnovers, use Tverskov’s passing for quick build-up play, and take advantage of the wide areas with runs from Dreyer and Langeraert.
With an unbeaten playoff record and the backing of over 32,500 fans, they’ll have a strong psychological boost, though playoff football still calls for solid defensive discipline.
The Vancouver Whitecaps plan to counter with their inventive attacking style and proven regular-season edge over San Diego, lining up in a 4-4-2 to make the most of Müller’s creativity and White’s presence up front.
Manager Jesper Sørensen will focus on setting the tempo early, keeping possession through the Gauld-Cubas midfield duo, and using Ahmed’s runs to exploit the flanks. Their recent penalty-shootout win against LAFC shows they have the mental toughness to perform even on the road.
San Diego FC 2-1 Vancouver Whitecaps FC — home advantage + hunger to clinch spot should help.
- Prediction: San Diego FC 2–1 Vancouver Whitecaps (After Extra Time)
How to Watch San Diego FC vs Vancouver Whitecaps Live
Watch the San Diego vs Vancouver Whitecaps MLS Western Conference Final live with these broadcasting options:
| Region | Broadcaster | Kickoff Time |
|---|---|---|
| United States | MLS Season Pass on Apple TV / ABC / ESPN+ | 6:00 PM PT / 9:00 PM ET |
| Canada | TSN / Streaming services | 6:00 PM PT / 9:00 PM ET |
| United Kingdom | Streaming services | 2:00 AM GMT (Sun, Nov 30) |
| Europe (Spain) | Streaming partners | 3:00 AM CET (Sun, Nov 30) |
| Australia | Streaming partners | 12:30 PM AEDT (Sun, Nov 30) |