SAN DIEGO – Vancouver Whitecaps FC had to fly far from home, and Snapdragon Stadium was full, fierce and loud as San Diego FC fought for their Audi 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs lives to the very end.

Yet the ‘Caps remained vibrant, and stunningly, chillingly businesslike in Saturday's 3-1 Western Conference Final victory , in no small part because they’d already had to do so in Saprissa, Torreón, Mexico City and Miami – with jaunts to Winnipeg and Hamilton mixed in as well – en route to this year's Concacaf Champions Cup and Canadian Championship finals.

The first tournament inflicted grievous heartbreak, while the second reaped a trophy. All of it combined, plus a certain August newcomer from Germany, has pushed them to MLS Cup 2025 presented by Audi at Inter Miami CF on Dec. 6 (2:

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