The Vancouver Whitecaps’ dream run in the 2025 Concacaf Champions Cup ended in heartbreak as they suffered a heavy 5-0 defeat to Cruz Azul in Mexico City’s Estadio Olímpico Universitario. The final, which many hoped would mark a new era for MLS clubs on the continental stage, instead saw the Liga MX giants claim their seventh title, tying the all-time record.
Cruz Azul set the tone early, with Ignacio Rivero and Lorenzo Faravelli scoring inside the first 30 minutes after capitalizing on Whitecaps’ midfield errors. Ángel Sepúlveda, who finished as the tournament’s Golden Boot winner, struck twice—once before and once after halftime—while Mateusz Bogusz added a fourth just before the break. Vancouver’s attack failed to register a single shot on target, a historic low for an MLS team in a continental final.
Missing key midfielder Sebastian Berhalter due to suspension, the Whitecaps struggled to gain any foothold in the match. Head coach Jesper Sørensen made several changes at halftime, but the Canadian side’s 15-match unbeaten streak came to a crashing halt when it mattered most.
Despite impressive knockout victories over Monterrey, Pumas UNAM, and Inter Miami en route to the final, Vancouver could not match Cruz Azul’s experience or intensity. The defeat leaves the Seattle Sounders as the only MLS team to have won the modern Champions Cup, while Cruz Azul’s dominant display reinforces Liga MX’s regional supremacy.
Fans are left wondering if the Whitecaps could have fared differently with a full-strength squad. For now, Vancouver must regroup as they return to MLS action, while Cruz Azul celebrates another chapter in their storied continental history.
