From Rotondi to White: The players to watch in the CONCACAF Champions Cup final
In this weekend’s Champions Cup final, six-time winners Cruz Azul host Vancouver Whitecaps, who are chasing their first continental title.
Cruz Azul will seek to add to their tally of continental titles this weekend, when the Mexicans host Canadians Vancouver Whitecaps in the CONCACAF Champions Cup final.
Vicente Sánchez’s men will attempt to win the Liga MX club’s seventh CONCACAF crown, against a team that is appearing in the tournament’s trophy decider for the first time in its history.
Throughout the 2025 Champions Cup, both finalists have shown through teamwork and individual brilliance that they can cut through any defense. Here are some of the key players who could prove vital their team’s hopes of winning the trophy:
Cruz Azul
Cruz Azul boast players with top-drawer technical skills. First up is the Argentine Carlos Rodolfo Rotondi; he excels in defense and provides real penetration when going forward. ‘Rodo’ was crucial in La Máquina’s semi-final triumph over Tigres.
Meanwhile, Ángel Sepúlveda is a lethal striker, leading the competition’s scoring charts with seven goals and often proving to be a decisive player.
But the man of the moment is Ignacio Rivero. ‘Nacho’ is a pivotal player for Cruz Azul, winning back the ball in defense and creating danger in attack, where he has a knack for scoring.
The Uruguayan is in great form; Cruz Azul felt his absence keenly when they lost the Liga MX’s Clausura 2025 semi-finals against Club América. Rivero’s courage and timely goals mean he’s a player who makes the difference for Cruz Azul.
Vancouver Whitecaps
The MLS team heads at the Champions Cup final on a 15-game unbeaten streak. Brian White is the Whitecaps’ top scorer in the tournament, with five goals. In the last four against Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami, White played a vital role for Vancouver, netting in each leg.
Sebastian Berhalter, a 23-year-old midfielder, was also a two-goal hero for Vancouver in the last four. He heads into this weekend’s clash firing on all cylinders.
Pedro Vite, meanwhile, is a player who circulates possession effectively; if the Whitecaps can get the midfielder on the ball regularly, their chances of victory will increase.
2025 CONCACAF Champions Cup final: kick-off time, how to watch
Held at the Estadio Olímpico Universitario in Mexico City, the 2025 CONCACAF Champions League final is to be played on Sunday, June 1, with kick-off scheduled for at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT.
Viewers in the U.S. will be able to watch the game on Fox Sports 1, TUDN USA and Univisión. You can stream Fox and TUDN on the online platform fubo, which offers a free trial.
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