Inter Miami, led by Lionel Messi, is once again chasing a comeback. After falling 2-0 in the first leg against the Vancouver Whitecaps, Javier Mascherano's squad must pull off another dramatic turnaround if they want to reach the final of the Concacaf Champions Cup.

Another comeback to keep the dream alive

In the quarterfinals, the Florida side already proved they are capable of epic performances. After a narrow loss to LAFC in Los Angeles, they turned things around at home with a 3-1 victory powered by a Messi brace. This time, however, the challenge is tougher: the Canadian team arrives with a two-goal lead thanks to strikes from Brian White and Sebastian Berhalter.

Still, Inter Miami remains fully focused on the international stage. With stars like Luis Suárez, Jordi Alba, and Sergio Busquets all rested during the recent MLS match against Dallas, the team is throwing everything at this semifinal. That league game saw Inter take a 3-1 lead, only to collapse late and suffer their first defeat of the season, losing 3-4.

Vancouver riding a wave of momentum

On the other side, the Vancouver Whitecaps are flying high. Not only did they make the most of their home advantage in the first leg, but they also secured a convincing 1-3 win over Minnesota United in MLS play. Under Danish coach Jesper Sørensen, the Canadian side has enjoyed a stellar start to the season and currently tops the Western Conference with just one loss in ten matches.

A key figure for them is Ecuadorian midfielder Pedro Vite, who orchestrates play in the middle of the pitch and recently scored twice in the win over Minnesota. With strong form and high confidence, Vancouver poses a significant challenge to an Inter Miami side that cannot afford mistakes.

History on the line

Only the Seattle Sounders have ever won the Concacaf Champions Cup as an MLS team. Now, Inter Miami is aiming to join that exclusive club and make history with Messi at the helm. To do so, they’ll need their captain’s magic and a flawless performance to write a new chapter in their journey.

The winner of this series will face either Tigres UANL or Cruz Azul, two Mexican teams who drew 1-1 in their semifinal first leg.