MLS News Roundup: Whitecaps, Nashville claim cups as USMNT roster drops

Tom Weber

• Updated: 3 Oct 2025 12:46 CDT
• 4 min read

News

It was a big week for Major League Soccer teams in cup competitions.

On Thursday, the finals of the US Open Cup, Voyageurs Cup and Campeones Cup were played with MLS involvement. Nashville SC beat Austin FC in the Open Cup final to claim the first piece of silverware in club history.

Hany Mukhtar and Walker Zimmermann, who have both been part of Nashville since its 2020 expansion season, lifted the trophy together after securing a 2-1 victory.

Sam Surridge, who was sent off in stoppage time, scored the winner in the 60th minute after Myrto Uzuni had cancelled out Mukhtar's opener. Nashville was aided by the fact that it could fully focus on this game, having already clinched a playoff spot.

Austin, by contrast, could technically still drop out of their playoff place despite a four-point cushion on the Colorado Rapids. By winning the Open Cup, Nashville have qualified for the CONCACAF Champions Cup for the second time in club history.

Whitecaps win fourth straight Canadian Championship

Up in Canada, the Vancouver Whitecaps claimed a fourth successive Voyageurs Cup by defeating local Canadian Premier League outfit Vancouver FC.

Long-time Whitecaps midfielder Nicolas Mezquida notched a goal and an assist for Vancouver FC, but it wasn't enough as his team succumbed to a 4-2 defeat.

Thomas Muller scored his 300th career goal from the penalty spot to win his 35th professional title, while captain Ryan Gauld returned from a seven-month injury layoff and also found the back of the net.

Having drawn their last two MLS games, this was a welcome result for the Whitecaps ahead of what most would predict will be a deep run in the playoffs.

LA Galaxy lose Campeones Cup to Toluca

Thursday's third final pitted the LA Galaxy against Liga MX side Toluca at Dignity Health Sports Park in Campeones Cup. The game eventually turned into a real thriller, with Mexico's Campeon de Campeones champions prevailing 3-2.

The Galaxy thought it had won when Gabriel Pec scored in the 83rd minute, only for Franco Romero to make it 2-2. Federico Pereira delivered the knockout blow in the 94th minute.

It was a fitting end to a pitiful season from the Galaxy. Rooted to the bottom of the Western Conference in MLS, the 2024 champions have nothing to play for in the remaining games of 2025.

USMNT roster drops

In other news, Mauricio Pochettino has announced his USMNT roster for the October international break, with some notable omissions. Bournemouth midfielder Tyler Adams has requested to be given time off as his partner is due to give birth shortly.

Yunus Musah and Joe Scally, meanwhile, were snubbed on form grounds, with Pochettino hinting at as much when he said that only players of the caliber of Lionel Messi, Pele and Diego Maradona warrant call-ups regardless of their club performances.

Josh Sargent, who hasn't scored for Norwich since mid-September, also didn't get in, while Derby County forward Patrick Agyemang has returned to the squad after recovering from injury.

Scally's Borussia Monchengladbach teammate Gio Reyna has missed out due to a thigh injury. Johnny Cardoso and PSV pair Sergino Dest and Ricardo Pepi are struggling for fitness as well.

However, Fulham left-back Antonee Robinson is finally in line for his first USMNT appearance of 2025 after an injury-hit year.

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