San Diego v Vancouver Whitecaps preview
Vancouver Whitecaps ahead Thomas Muller doesn’t know whether or not his new crew will profit from their inexperience within the latter levels of the playoffs after they go to San Diego of their first-ever MLS Western Convention remaining on Saturday.
“You could possibly say ‘they weren’t desirous about it’,” Muller instructed the response may be if Vancouver win to maneuver one match away from an MLS Cup triumph.
“What we all know we are able to rely on is our mentality. It comes right down to issues like our habits, our behaviour, our positioning and [avoiding] siutations the place [San Diego] are robust. We need to benefit from the environment and I’m excited.”
The European footballing legend stated the Whitecaps had been “fortunate” of their epic semi-final victory at residence to LAFC in entrance of greater than 53,000 followers, spurning a 2-0 half-time lead to attract 2-2 earlier than profitable on penalties in a recreation they completed with 9 gamers due to the dismissal of Tristan Blackmon and Belal Halbouni’s harm.
San Diego beat Minnesota 1-0 at residence of their semi-final, Denmark winger Anders Dreyer rifling in the one purpose of the sport 18 minutes from time to finish a prolonged crew transfer.
THE VANCOUVER WHITESCAPS ARE MOVING ON!
The celebration begins however Thomas Müller makes positive nobody takes it in alone. 🤝 @WhitecapsFC // Audi MLS Cup Playoffs pic.twitter.com/vFdYZBlVvu
— Main League Soccer (@MLS) November 23, 2025
Head coach Mikey Varas expects the assembly with Vancouver to be “fully totally different.” “Proper now, it’s about having this mini second to acknowledge the truth that these guys proceed to put in writing historical past,” he stated.
“Our focus might be on restoration, the 2 to 3 most necessary factors for that recreation, after which going on the market and simply enjoying as arduous as we presumably can.”
Dreyer referred to as the ultimate “a giant, huge factor”. “Personally, these are video games the place it’s enjoyable to play,” he added. “I can’t wait to play on Saturday at residence.”
San Diego v Vancouver crew information
San Diego goalkeeper CJ dos Santos has been absent since fracturing a cheekbone within the opening playoff spherical towards the Portland Timbers.
Defenders Andres Reyes and Oscar Verhoeven (each leg) and midfielder Alejandro Alvarado (knee) have missed a lot of the season.
On-loan Eintracht Frankfurt left-back Aiden Harangi has been sidelined by a muscular subject.
Halbouni, who had come on instead, is anticipated to be out for between seven and 10 weeks for Vancouver with the knee harm he suffered towards LAFC.
Fellow center-back Blackmon is banned after his two yellow playing cards in that recreation, with Ralph Priso more likely to deputize.
Defenders Ranko Veselinovic (knee) and Sam Adekugbe and Sebastian Schonlau (each achilles) are long-term absentees.
At this time: Coaching
Tomorrow: WCF pic.twitter.com/Tiu83s6XBt— San Diego FC (@sandiegofc) November 28, 2025
San Diego v Vancouver Whitecaps predicted lineups
San Diego beginning XI: Pablo Sisniega, Ian Pilcher, Christopher McVey, Manu Duah, Luca Bombino, Onni Valakari, Jeppe Tverskov, Anibal Godoy, Anders Dreyer, Corey Baird, Amahl Pellegrino
Vancouver beginning XI: Yohei Takaoka, Edier Ocampo, Tristan Blackmon, Ralph Priso, Mathias Laborda, Emmanuel Sabbi, Sebastian Berhalter, Thomas Muller, Andres Cubas, Ali Ahmed, Brian White
Learn how to watch San Diego v Vancouver: TV channel, on-line dwell stream
Kick-off on Saturday is at 21:00 ET (18:00 PT / 02:00 on Sunday BST), with dwell protection obtainable by way of the MLS Season Move on Apple TV+.
Within the US, a subscription prices $14.99 a month or $69 a season. Present Apple TV+ subscribers pay $12.99 per thirty days or $59 a season.
San Diego v Vancouver Whitecaps stats
- Each groups completed on 63 factors within the common season, with San Diego seeded first
- Defender Ian Pilcher’s first profession purpose gave San Diego a 1-1 draw after they hosted Vancouver on July 19
- Varas’s facet had the 18th-best residence document within the regular-season MLS after profitable seven and shedding 5 of their 17 such matches, however they’ve gained all three of their residence playoff video games by an combination rating of 7-1
- They’ve gone greater than 4 hours with out conceding on the Snapdragon Stadium
- Dreyer produced 19 targets and 19 assists in 34 regular-season matches, instantly contributing to 59% of San Diego’s targets
- Together with the playoffs, San Diego have gained 16 and misplaced one of many 18 video games through which they’ve scored first
- Yohei Takaoka’s help for Vancouver towards LAFC made the goalkeeper the twenty ninth Whitecaps participant to have instantly contributed to a purpose this season throughout all competitions, becoming a member of all of their outfield gamers to have featured for at the very least 10 minutes throughout the marketing campaign
- Vancouver gained eight and misplaced 4 of their 17 away matches throughout the common season, representing the fourth-best document on the highway within the MLS
- Together with the playoffs, Vancouver have gained 16 and drawn 4 of the 20 video games through which they’ve scored first
- Each groups have scored most steadily throughout the closing quarter-hour of both half, with 33 of Vancouver’s 71 targets this season coming throughout these durations, in comparison with 36 of 73 for San Diego
- The one 15-minute interval through which both facet has scored greater than 17 occasions this season is the ultimate quarter-hour of matches for San Diego, netting 21 occasions throughout these closing levels
