The Audi 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs reach their pinnacle in the Western Conference Final as Vancouver Whitecaps FC travel to Snapdragon Stadium to face expansion sensation San Diego FC on Saturday, November 29 at 6 p.m. PT. This winner-takes-all showdown determines who advances to MLS Cup on December 6 against the Eastern Conference champion, either Inter Miami or New York City FC. Both soccer teams tied atop the West with 63 points in the regular season, but San Diego’s superior win total (19-9-6) earns them home-field advantage in this historic clash.
Vancouver Whitecaps to win in regulation time
Vancouver arrives with momentum after their first-ever conference final berth, secured in dramatic fashion. The Whitecaps stunned LAFC 4-3 on penalties following a 2-2 draw in the semifinals, captivating a club-record 53,957 fans at B.C. Place. Despite defender Tristan Blackmon’s late red card, Vancouver’s resilience shone through, with goalkeeper Yohei Takaoka’s heroics in the shootout proving decisive. This marks their deepest MLS playoff run since joining the league in 2011, building on a season of records including a fourth straight Canadian Championship and Concacaf Champions Cup final appearance. Key attackers Mathías Laborda, Emmanuel Sabbi, and Edier Ocampo will lead the charge, while their counterattacking style could exploit San Diego’s high line.
San Diego FC, meanwhile, continues their fairy-tale debut campaign as the second expansion team to reach a conference final (after 1998 Chicago Fire). Topping the West with an expansion-record 19 wins, they’ve been unstoppable at Snapdragon Stadium, including a 1-0 semifinal shutout over Minnesota United. Danish star Anders Dreyer dominates with 4 goals and 2 assists in four playoff games, adding to his regular-season haul (19g/19a), second only to Lionel Messi league-wide. Milan Iloski’s four-goal explosion in their 5-3 regular-season rout of Vancouver highlights their firepower, complemented by Tomás Ángel and defender Ian Pilcher’s clutch equalizer in a 1-1 July draw. Expect San Diego’s pressing game and home crowd to test Vancouver early.
Head-to-head history favors San Diego slightly: that 5-3 thriller at B.C. Place and the Snapdragon stalemate suggest high-scoring potential. Vancouver must neutralize Dreyer’s wings, while San Diego needs to contain the Whitecaps’ set-piece threats. Injuries remain minimal, though Vancouver monitors Blackmon’s suspension impact. Weather in San Diego promises ideal conditions for open play.
Betting angles lean toward goals: Over 2.5 has hit in both prior meetings. San Diego enters as slight favourites (+140 moneyline), but Vancouver’s +180 underdog value tempts with their playoff grit. A same game parlay of Dreyer anytime goalscorer (+200) and over 2.5 goals offers sharp payout potential.
This matchup pits Vancouver’s experience against San Diego’s audacity, with MLS Cup dreams on the line. Whitecaps fans dream of ending Toronto FC’s Canadian monopoly on finals appearances; San Diego eyes immortal expansion legacy.
Player prop to play
A strong player prop to target is Anders Dreyer to score for San Diego FC.
Dreyer has been San Diego’s focal point in attack, with four goals already in the playoffs and over 20 across all competitions, and online sportsbooks are hanging him around the +120 to +150 range to score in this Western Conference Final. Given his volume of shots, set-piece involvement, and penalty upside, backing Dreyer to score offers a solid blend of form and price in what profiles as an open, high-event match.