To all power! It was confirmed that the final of the Concacaf 2025 Champions Cup between Cruz Azul (Mexico) and the Vancouver Whitecaps FC (Canada) will be played at the University Olympic Stadium in Mexico City. This epic battle between two of the best clubs on the continent is scheduled to start at 9 pm et on Sunday, June 1.
In addition to being crowned as the new Club Champion of the Confederation, the winner of this final of the Concachampions will qualify for the Intercontinental Cup of this year FIFA, played between the champions teams of the different Confederations, and for the second edition of the New and Expanded World Cup FIFA Clubs, scheduled for 2029.
Surprising Whitecaps
It should be noted that Vancouver Whitecaps FC, Canadian team of the MLS, said a place in the final of the champions Cup with a series of impressive performances, which culminated with a dominant victory in the semifinals, with global 5-1, on the Inter Miami CF of the Astro Lionel Messi.
The first leg culminated in Vancouver with goals from the American Brian White (native of New Jersey) and English Sebastian Berhalter; While the decisive shock of return ended 1-3 in Fort Lauderdalem with two annotations of White, Ecuadorian Pedro Vite and Berhalter.
It should be noted that the Whitecaps road began in Round one with a comeback against Deportivo Saprissa of Costa Rica, followed by an exciting victory by visitor goals over Monterrey Mexico in the round of 16. Already in the quarterfinals, they got a dramatic 2-2 draw against the Mexicans of Pumas Unam, with an additional goal to advance by visitor’s goal.
This will be the first appearance of Whitecaps in the match for the title of the Concachampions, making them the third Canadian club to achieve it. Previously, CF Montreal (2014/15) and Toronto FC (2018) also reached the final, and both clubs ended seconds.
Pita, whistle … little machine!
In the other series of the semifinals of the Champions Cup, the teams of the Liga MX Cruz Azul and Tigres Uanl faced, with the “machine” box (six times Concacaf champion) moving to the final after a 1-0 victory in the second leg in the University Olympic stadium of Mexico City (2-1 in the global).
A criminal shot turned into the 82nd minute by the striker Ángel Sepúlveda sealed the victory of the Blues, which in the first leg had taken a valuable 1-1 draw in the regiomontano territory.
Cruz Azul pressed and was close to taking advantage, in the 27th minute with a header of the Uruguayan Ignacio Rivero, cleared by goalkeeper Nahuel Guzmán. And in 42 he worried with a shot by the Polish Mateusz Bogusz that was neutralized by Jesús Angulo.
Tigres had the possibility of finding the goal, when in 45 Argentine Nicolás Ibáñez arrived in the area with a dominated ball. Jorge Sánchez got in and diluted the rival attack.
With rain in the second half the visitors again began better and in the 58th minute they created danger with a shot by the Argentine Juan Brunetta that was diverted by centimeters.
Cruz Azul responded and twice failed in the definition: in the 70th Sepúlveda minute he finished off and was arrested by Guzmán, who again appeared in the 70s to drown the goal cry after a rivero auction.
Then, Marcelo Flores filed his hand in the area that caused the penalty converted by Sepúlveda, who ratified as a scorer leader of the championship with 7 shouts, two more than Lionel Messi, captain of Inter Miami, who fell eliminated by Vancouver Whitecaps.
Cruz Azul, trained by Uruguayan Vicente Sánchez, formed with: Kevin Mier; Willer Ditta, Jesús Orozco, Erik Lira, Jorge Sánchez, Rodolfo Rotondi; Lorenzo Faravelli (Andrés Montaño, m.70), Ignacio Rivero (Amaury Morales, m.87), Carlos Rodríguez; Gabriel Fernández (Mateusz Bogusz, m.36) and Angel Sepúlveda (Giorgos Giakoumakis, m.87).
It should be mentioned that the cross of Cruz Azul to the final included dominant performances, starting with a 7-0 on Real Hope de Haiti, 4-1 over Seattle Sounders in the round of 16 and 2-1 before its rivals in Mexico City, Club América, in the quarterfinals.
The most recent appearance of Cruz Azul in the final of the Champions Cup was in 2013-14, where they got their sixth continental title by defeating Deportivo Toluca. The other five titles arrived in the editions of 1969, 1970, 1971, 1996 and 1997.
Of reserved prognosis
According to the regulations of the tournament, the host of the final was decided based on the accumulated classification table of the tournament. After the points obtained in the semifinals in the round of 16, quarterfinals and semifinals, the classification was like this: 1. Cruz Azul (12 points) and 2. Vancouver Whitecaps FC (10 points).
The 60th edition of the most prestigious club competition in the region, the Concacaf 2025 Champions Cup, which included 27 clubs, began in February with the Ronda Uno. After playing at home and visit, the eleven winners advanced at 8ths., Where they joined five preclassified clubs. This instance was held in March, followed by the 4th. In the first half of April and the “semis” at the end of April and early May.
Fans can enjoy the grand final of the Concachampions 2025, between Cruz Azul vs. Vancouver Whitecaps, through the Concacaf television partners, including Fox Sports | Tubi (USA-Inglés), Tudn | Vix (United States-Spanish), Tubi (Mexico), One Soccer (Canada), ESPN | Star+ (Central America, Caribbean and South America) and the Concacaf YouTube channel for all other territories (subject to territorial restrictions).
