Ali Ahmed always finds an extra gear in these kind of games.

Not only is the Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder preparing for the Canadian Championship final, but Wednesday含羞草研究社檚 match will also pit him against his hometown team, Toronto FC.

含羞草研究社淭here is a little bit extra, for sure,含羞草研究社� said the 23-year-old, who grew up in Toronto and once trialled with the TFC academy.

含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 the club that I grew up a huge, huge fan of. Now, it含羞草研究社檚 crazy to say that they含羞草研究社檙e my rivals. At the end of the day, it含羞草研究社檚 another game. But playing against your boyhood club is extra special, for sure.含羞草研究社�

The 含羞草研究社楥aps are looking to hoist the Voyagers Cup for the third year in a row, a feat that only one other team has accomplished.

TFC won four times from 2009 through 2012, and three times between 2016 and 2018.

Toronto isn含羞草研究社檛 focused on spoiling Vancouver含羞草研究社檚 three-peat, though.

The team would be equally enthusiastic against any opponent as long as there含羞草研究社檚 a trophy on the line, said head coach John Herdman.

含羞草研究社淚 think the rivalry piece, it doesn含羞草研究社檛 matter who含羞草研究社檚 in front of us. It含羞草研究社檚 just a cup final,含羞草研究社� he said. 含羞草研究社淔or us, it含羞草研究社檚 just eyes on lifting some silverware for this club.含羞草研究社�

For Whitecaps head coach Vanni Sartini, the hate that breeds between clubs is part of what makes soccer special, particularly in Canada.

含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 beautiful to have a rivalry. It含羞草研究社檚 beautiful to have someone that on the sports side you don含羞草研究社檛 like,含羞草研究社� he said. 含羞草研究社淚 think that含羞草研究社檚 the beauty of soccer, this kind of rivalry. And I think the Canadian Championship is kind of an expression of that.含羞草研究社�

Vancouver earned its way into the final with a 2-0 aggregate win over Canadian Premier League side Pacific FC in a two-legged semifinal. Toronto edged Forge FC, also of the CPL, 2-2 on away goals.

TFC comes into the final in a similar place the 含羞草研究社楥aps were in back in the 2022 tournament, Sartini said. Both had new coaches and were pushing for playoff spots in Major League Soccer.

The mind frame could make Toronto more dangerous than ever, the coach said.

含羞草研究社淚 think that tomorrow they will come, I would say, even giving 120 per cent, not 100 per cent,含羞草研究社� he said. 含羞草研究社淪o that含羞草研究社檚 the reason why I think it含羞草研究社檚 going to be a very open game and I think we need to be on top of our behaviour, on top of our level if we want to win.含羞草研究社�

Both sides are coming off league losses, with Toronto dropping a 2-0 decision to the Colorado Rapids on Saturday. The L.A. Galaxy doubled up the Whitecaps 4-2 in a result that snapped Vancouver含羞草研究社檚 five-game unbeaten streak across all competitions.

The 含羞草研究社楥aps are 13-9-7 in Major League Soccer play and currently sit seventh in the Western Conference, while TFC occupies eighth in the East with an 11-17-3 record.

One of Toronto含羞草研究社檚 losses was a 4-0 drubbing by the Whitecaps in April.

含羞草研究社淚 think coming into Vancouver last time, it was pretty humbling,含羞草研究社� Herdman said. 含羞草研究社淪o I think first things first, coming into a final, those little details need to be right. We含羞草研究社檝e been together for a long period of time, I think the team know each other better now and they含羞草研究社檝e developed a hunger because they含羞草研究社檝e put themselves in this moment.含羞草研究社�

TFC was a group that was still trying to find its identity as a team in that April matchup, said captain Jonathan Osorio.

含羞草研究社淎 lot of time has passed, a lot of games have been played,含羞草研究社� he said. 含羞草研究社淎nd both teams, I think are at different points now, as far as it comes to rhythm and their form and what they含羞草研究社檙e fighting for in the league and things like that. It含羞草研究社檚 going to be a different game.含羞草研究社�