| 2020 season | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 | |||
| General manager | Garth Lagerwey | ||
| Head coach | Brian Schmetzer | ||
| Stadium | CenturyLink Field | ||
| Major League Soccer | Conference: 2nd Overall: 6th | ||
| MLS Cup playoffs | Runners-up | ||
| U.S. Open Cup | Canceled | ||
| CONCACAF Champions League | Round of 16 | ||
| Campeones Cup | Canceled | ||
| MLS is Back Tournament | Round of 16 | ||
| Top goalscorer | League:Raúl Ruidíaz (12)[1] All: Raúl Ruidíaz (14)[1] | ||
| Highest home attendance | League: 40,126[1] (Mar. 1 vs.Chicago)[A] | ||
| Lowest home attendance | League: 33,080[1] (Mar. 7 vs.Columbus)[A] | ||
| Average home league attendance | League: 36,603 (Open matches only)[1] | ||
| Biggest win | League: 7–1 vs.San Jose (Sep. 10)[1] | ||
| Biggest defeat | League: 1–4 atLos Angeles (July 27)[1] Playoffs: 0–3 atColumbus(Dec. 12)[1] | ||
The2020 season wasSeattle Sounders FC's twelfth season inMajor League Soccer (MLS), the top flight of professional club soccer in the United States. It was the 37th season played by a professional team bearing the Sounders name, which had originated in 1974 with thefirst incarnation of the franchise. The team was under the management ofBrian Schmetzer, who was in his fourth full MLS season as head coach of the Sounders.
The Sounders were the reigningMLS Cup champions, having defeatedToronto FC 3–1 in the2019 final at their home stadium,CenturyLink Field (renamedLumen Field in November 2020). The season began with two home matches but was suspended on March 12, 2020, due to theCOVID-19 pandemic; the second Sounders match had reduced attendance due to thepandemic's spread in theSeattle metropolitan area. MLS resumed with aspecial tournament in July hosted in theOrlando area, and teams returned home a month later to play in matchesbehind closed doors. The Sounders only played 22 regular season matches, mostly against opponents in theWestern Conference, due to a shortened schedule and several canceled matches. The2020 Campeones Cup was canceled along with the2020 U.S. Open Cup.
Seattle qualified for the2020 MLS Cup Playoffs as the second-placed team in the Western Conference, determined bypoints per game due to the unbalanced number of games played by MLS teams during the season. The Sounders defeatedLos Angeles FC,FC Dallas, andMinnesota United FC at home to win a second consecutive conference championship and qualify forMLS Cup 2020, where they lost 3–0 toColumbus Crew SC.
Seattle Sounders FC were announced as an MLSexpansion team in 2007 and joined the league two years later; the team were the third to use the Sounders name, which had originated with anearlier team in the formerNorth American Soccer League in 1974.[2][3] During their first eleven seasons in MLS, the club won twoMLS Cup championships, oneSupporters' Shield, and fourU.S. Open Cup titles, making them one of the most successful in American soccer.[4] The Sounders had also qualified for theMLS Cup Playoffs during each season, setting an MLS record, and also led the league inaverage attendance for several years.[5][6]Brian Schmetzer, formerly an assistant coach for the Sounders underSigi Schmid, was hired as interim head coach in July 2016 and took the job on a permanent basis later that year as he guided the team to theirfirst MLS Cup.[7] The team finished the2019 season with the second-best record in theWestern Conference and won theirsecond MLS Cup title after defeatingToronto FC atCenturyLink Field.[8]
The team debuted a new primary jersey for the season, named "Forever Green", that adds wave-like stripes in several shades of green to the main Rave Green kit used since 2009. The jersey also incorporates three white stripes added for all MLS jerseys to reflect the league's 25th season along with theflag of Cascadia and an outline of the state ofWashington.[9][10] The Sounders retained their 2019 secondary jersey, named "Nightfall", a black-and-pink design that was inspired by asunset at CenturyLink Field during a 2014 match.[11] The 2020 season also marked the second year of a sponsorship agreement with online retailerZulily, who had their logo displayed on both jerseys.[10]WaFd Bank was announced as the team's first sleeve patch sponsor in July 2020 and had their logo displayed on both shoulders through the end of the season.[12]
The club initially retained 19 players over the offseason and lost several significant players,[13] including wingerVíctor Rodríguez, winner of the MLS Cup 2019most valuable player award;[14] and starting defendersRomán Torres andKim Kee-hee.[13] Backup goalkeeperBryan Meredith also left the Sounders after he was selected byInter Miami CF in the2019 MLS Expansion Draft.[15] At the start of training camp in early January, the Sounders had 21 signed first-team players and were still engaged in talks with several others, but they lacked replacements in defense and for Rodríguez. General managerGarth Lagerwey stated that the club had yet to make major roster decisions due to the ongoing negotiations between the league and theMLS Players Association over a newcollective bargaining agreement, which would affect thesalary cap. Schmetzer also led ascouting trip to Argentina in December 2019 as part of preparations for the season.[16]
On January 31, 2020, the Sounders announced that they had signed Brazilian midfielderJoão Paulo, on loan fromBotafogo, to aDesignated Player contract.[14] The club also signed defendersYeimar Gómez Andrade,Miguel Ibarra, andShane O'Neill to replace Torres, Kee-hee, and left-backBrad Smith, who returned toAFC Bournemouth following the end of his loan.[17] Existing midfielderAlex Roldán was also shifted to right-back and signed to a new contract after hisoption was initially declined during the offseason.[18] The team also addedJohn Hutchinson andHenry Brauner as development coaches during preseason and retained most of their existing technical staff.[19]
The club opened their preseason training camp atStarfire Sports on January 14 amid snowy conditions. Several young, unsigned players were called up to the training camp, as well as members of theSeattle Sounders FC Academy and reserve teamTacoma Defiance; key members of the team, includingJordan Morris andCristian Roldan, were absent from the training camp due to international callups.[20][21] After four days, the Sounders traveled toLong Beach, California, to open a twelve-day training camp that would also include a pair of friendlies and otherscrimmages.[22] The team were defeated 1–0 by Uruguay'sPeñarol in their first friendly and won 3–2 againstLoyola Marymount University a week later in an extended scrimmage.[23][24]
The Sounders returned to Seattle to play theSacramento Republic FC of the second-divisionUSL Championship on February 5 atCenturyLink Field. The hosts won 6–2 during the 117-minute match, which was divided between the first team for 72 minutes and a combination of reserves and trialists for the remaining 45 minutes.[25] The team departed the following day to begin a second travelling camp based inMexico City as part of preparations for theCONCACAF Champions League.[26] In Mexico City, the Sounders played two friendlies on February 12 against local teams, drawing 2–2 withAtlético Zacatepec using most of theirstarting lineup and defeating theunder-20 reserves forUNAM Pumas 2–1.[27][28] Midfielder and captainNicolás Lodeiro was absent from part of the preseason camps while undergoing treatment fortendinitis in Uruguay and remained unavailable to begin the season.[29][30]
In the Champions League's round of 16, the club faced Honduran sideC.D. Olimpia, who hosted the first leg inSan Pedro Sula. The visiting Sounders took a 2–0 lead early in the second half with goals from João Paulo, making his debut for Seattle, and Jordan Morris; severalyellow cards were issued by referee Juan Calderón during a scuffle that followed a controversial challenge byJustin Arboleda on goalkeeperStefan Frei in the first half. Arboleda went on to score twice in the second half to complete a 2–2 draw for Olimpia.[31][32] The Sounders conceded early in the second leg, but goals from João Paulo and Cristian Roldan gave the hosts a 2–1 lead in the second half; a volleyed goal byCarlos Pineda in the 86th minute equalized the match's score at 2–2 and aggregate score at 4–4 with noaway goals advantage. After a scoreless extra time, the Sounders lost 2–4 in thepenalty shootout and were eliminated from the Champions League.[33]
Under the original 34-match regular season schedule, the Sounders would face each team in the Western Conference twice and play the remaining ten matches against teams from the Eastern Conference in 2020.[34] As the league hadexpanded to 26 teams, the now-unbalanced schedule would no longer have teams playing every other MLS team during the season; the Sounders were not expected to play againstFC Cincinnati,Orlando City SC, and thePhiladelphia Union during the 2020 regular season.[35] The team's first regular season match was played at CenturyLink Field on March 1 against theChicago Fire, which the Sounders won 2–1 in front of 40,126 spectators. The hosts conceded early in the second half, but halftime substitute Jordan Morris scored two goals, the latter in stoppage time; he also had an earlier assist on a goal by Cristian Roldan that was ruled offside by the referee.[36]
The March 1 match was played amid alocal outbreak ofCOVID-19, which had been detected in theSeattle metropolitan area in late January; the first U.S. death attributed to the disease and astate of emergency declared by GovernorJay Inslee were announced the day before the match.[37][38] The Sounders announced further precautions, including the deployment ofhand sanitizer stations at the stadium, that would carry over into the next match.[39] The second match, a 1–1 draw with theColumbus Crew on March 7, had an attendance of 33,080—the lowest for an MLS regular season game in Seattle since 2009.[40] A stadium concessions worker tested positive for COVID-19 after aSeattle Sea Dragons game, butpublic health authorities permitted the Sounders match to be held with full capacity.[38][41] The club remained in contact with local health officials over the following week and prepared several contingency plans to address the COVID-19 outbreak, including postponement or playing without spectators.[41][42]
The Sounders announced on March 11 that their next home match againstFC Dallas, originally scheduled for March 21, would be postponed due to a statewide ban on large gatherings.[43] The following day, MLS suspended the season for a month due to the impact of the pandemic; the Sounders, who had been scheduled to fly toHouston for an away match, also canceled all operations until further notice.[44][45] TheU.S. Open Cup was also postponed—and later canceled entirely along with theCampeones Cup, which the Sounders were scheduled to host on August 12.[46][47] The team began holding videoconference practice and conditioning sessions, as well as weekly chat sessions, overZoom while preparing for the resumption of league activity.[48][49] Players were also shipped a "care package" that included a soccer ball, hand sanitizer, and basic exercise equipment.[50] Sounders majority ownerAdrian Hanauer also announced a $500,000 investment into a club relief fund for businesses, workers, and non-profits in Seattle that were affected by the lack of matches at CenturyLink Field.[51]Season ticket holders were given the choice of a refund for the remaining home matches, a credit for future matches in 2020 or 2021, or an early renewal for 2021 using the 2020 season as credit.[52]
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MLS permitted clubs to begin voluntary workouts and in-person sessions in early May with health and safety protocols in place.[53] The Sounders resumed individualized training sessions at Starfire Sports on May 18 with outdoor social distancing, limited use of indoor facilities, daily temperature and symptom screenings, and use ofpersonal protective equipment.[54][55] The sessions resumed two weeks later than most MLS teams due to stricter local regulations, which also limited group training to passing balls between delineated areas.[56] Among the participants was Jordan Morris, who hastype 1 diabetes and would have been at greater risk of complications from COVID-19.[57] MidfielderHarry Shipp, a seven-year league veteran who had been with the club since 2017, announced his retirement from professional soccer in June to pursue a business degree.[58]
During the same month, the league announced that the season would resume through theMLS is Back Tournament, a leaguewide competition that would be hostedbehind closed doors the following month.[59] During the tournament, which was played at theESPN Wide World of Sports Complex nearOrlando, Florida, participating players and staff were isolated in a "bubble", wore masks and socially distanced except while playing, underwent frequent temperature checks andCOVID-19 testing, and quarantined upon arrival.[60] Each player was assigned their own room, and each team was given an entire hotel floor; players and staff were not permitted to leave the "bubble" at theWalt Disney World Resort, which included access to restaurants and convention space.[61][62] A rising number of positive COVID-19 cases in Florida and among MLS players prompted theEmerald City Supporters to organize a small protest at the final Sounders training session before their flight to join the tournament.[63]
The Sounders were drawn into Group B along withFC Dallas, theSan Jose Earthquakes, andVancouver Whitecaps FC; the three group stage matches would count towards regular season standings, while the knockout round would not.[64] FC Dallas withdrew from the tournament upon arrival due to a COVID-19 outbreak in their squad and were replaced in the group by the Chicago Fire.[65] The Sounders played through the tournament without midfielder João Paulo due to a quad injury but saw the return of captain Nicolás Lodeiro.[66][67]
The team drew 0–0 with the Earthquakes in the opener, during which Frei made eight saves to preserve ashutout.[68] The team then lost 2–1 to the Fire during a match that required extra preparations for players due to the 9 a.m. start time, including a modified sleep schedule.[69][70] Seattle advanced to the knockout round by finishing second in Group B with four points; Morris earned apenalty kick and scored a goal as the team won 3–0 in their final group stage match against Vancouver, who lost goalkeeperMaxime Crépeau to a broken thumb in the second half.[71][72] The Sounders were eliminated in the round of 16 with a 4–1 loss toLos Angeles FC, who took advantage of a brace byDiego Rossi and several defensive mistakes.[73] Seattle's goal in the 75th minute was scored byWill Bruin, who was playing his first match in 13 months following ananterior cruciate ligament injury.[74]
The Sounders returned from Orlando at the end of July and began preparing for the resumption of the regular season at home venues tentatively scheduled for the following month.[75] The remaining schedule was to be played against Western Conference teams in regional blocs to reduce travel and was released in several phases because it was uncertain if further matches could be played as planned.[76][77] Home matches at CenturyLink Field would remain behind closed doors due to state and local regulations with tarps over empty seats and recorded audio from previous matches to simulate a matchday environment for players and the television broadcast. Signs and banners from severalsupporters groups, including prominentsocial justice slogans, were also installed in the Brougham End.[78][79] TheCascadia Cup, contested by the Sounders alongside rivals Portland and Vancouver, was not awarded during the 2020 season following a decision by supporters groups to exclude matches without fans in attendance.[80][81] The club also announced a new broadcast contract withAmazon to simulcast locally televised matches on theirPrime Video platform for residents ofWashington state; the streaming deal had been negotiated in March, but its implementation was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[82]
The team traveled on August 23 to face thePortland Timbers, who had won the MLS is Back Tournament, and won 3–0 behind closed doors atProvidence Park with two goals and an assist by Ruidíaz.[83] As part of amulti-sport strike by professional athletes in the United States to protest theshooting of Jacob Blake in Wisconsin, the Sounders refused to play against theLA Galaxy. The away match was postponed as a result of the protest, which also affected other MLS matches.[84] In their first home match since March, Seattle defeated Los Angeles FC 3–1 using their full starting lineup and rose to second in the Western Conference. Ruidíaz scored from a volleyed strike in the eleventh minute which was followed by two goals in the second half by Morris scored a minute apart.[85] The Sounders traveled two days later to playReal Salt Lake, who were permitted to admit over 4,000 spectators intoRio Tinto Stadium, and took the lead twice through a penalty scored by Lodeiro and later aheader by defender Yeimar Gómez Andrade for his first career MLS goal. Salt Lake equalized after each goal and earned a 2–2 draw with Seattle, who were using a rotated lineup to rest players.[86]
The Sounders returned to CenturyLink Field for a three-match home stand that would feature rematches against several recent opponents, beginning with the Portland Timbers. Seattle conceded early but found an equalizer throughKelvin Leerdam before halftime; however, a late goal byFelipe Mora gave Portland a 2–1 victory.[80] The second match, played under hazy conditions due to smoke fromnearby wildfires, was a 7–1 win against the San Jose Earthquakes that set several records.[87] The Sounders became the fastest MLS team to score five goals, doing so in 33 minutes, and tied the record for most goals in the first half; the team also set a franchise record for the most goals scored in a single match.[88] Raúl Ruidíaz andJoevin Jones scored two goals each and also assisted on other goals scored by Jordan Morris, Leerdam, and João Paulo.[87] The Sounders then faced Los Angeles FC and took the lead in the first half through two penalty kicks converted by Lodeiro five minutes apart; one of the penalties was awarded followingvideo review of a handball. Ruidíaz then added a strike in the 82nd minute to give the hosts a 3–0 victory and take them to first place in the Western Conference.[89]
The final two matches of September were played on the road and required same-day flights to Portland and Los Angeles. The Sounders signed two returning defenders,Brad Smith from free agency andRomán Torres in a trade withInter Miami CF, to add depth and options to rotate players for midweek matches.[90][91] The team lost 1–0 to the Timbers, who took an early lead throughYimmi Chará; Portland goalkeeperSteve Clark made six saves as the Sounders had a majority of possession and chances in the second half while unsuccessfully searching for an equalizer.[92] Ruidíaz was suspended for the following match by theMLS Disciplinary Committee for his reaction to a challenge byPablo Bonilla during the Portland match.[93] A brace from Cristian Roldan and another goal by Jordan Morris helped the Sounders defeat the Galaxy 3–1 to maintain their place atop the conference heading into October.[94]
Three players—Ruidíaz, midfielderGustav Svensson, and defenderXavier Arreaga—were called up to their national teams in October and were expected to miss up to five MLS matches due to a required ten-day quarantine period.[91][95] On October 3, the Sounders hosted Vancouver Whitecaps FC and were kept scoreless in the first half but won 3–1 through a trio of goals scored during a twelve-minute span in the second half. João Paulo, anown goal fromÉrik Godoy, and a Ruidíaz header contributed to the home side's victory, while the Whitecaps converted a penalty kick that was called for a foul committed by Yeimar Gómez Andrade; ared card was initially issued to Yeimar before it was rescinded through video review.[96] The Sounders won 2–1 in their next home match four days later against Real Salt Lake, with goals from Morris at close range and a Yeimar header off a free kick; Nouhou's own goal in the 68th minute was the only shot on target for the visitors.[97]
Four days later, the Sounders played away to Los Angeles FC for the first time in 2020 and lost 3–1 as both sides fielded lineups without players called up to national teams.Danny Musovski scored twice and assisted another goal for LAFC, and Lodeiro converted a long-range free kick; the Sounders had 18 shots but were unable to finish most of their chances.[98][99] A home match against theColorado Rapids on October 14 was initially postponed due to a COVID-19 outbreak in the Rapids squad; it was later canceled along with four other unplayed fixtures for Colorado.[100][101] Earlier that week, Ruidíaz tested positive for COVID-19 while with thePeru national team and was placed in quarantine with an unclear timeline for his return to Seattle.[102] The Sounders then faced the San Jose Earthquakes on the road and finished the match with a scoreless draw; both sides managed few chances to score in what was described as a "defensive battle" in contrast to the earlier 7–1 match, which had only one save from each goalkeeper.[103] In their fourth meeting of the season, Seattle and Portland played to a 1–1 draw at CenturyLink Field after several missed chances to score were followed by a late goal from Will Bruin in stoppage time.[104]
Several key players, including Ruidíaz and Svensson, returned from national team duty for a match againstVancouver Whitecaps FC that was played atProvidence Park inPortland, Oregon, due to travel restrictions imposed at theCanadian border. The Sounders were limited to one shot on goal in the first half but won 2–0 after Ruidíaz scored and assisted on a Lodeiro goal; the result also allowed the team to clinch their 12th consecutive berth in theMLS Cup Playoffs to maintain their league record.[105] The Sounders then traveled to play the Colorado Rapids on November 1 in theDenver area, their longest away trip of the season.[106] They lost 3–1, eliminating them fromSupporters' Shield contention. Seattle had conceded first but Morris scored an equalizer in the 22nd minute; Colorado then scored two goals from long distance and shut down several attempts by the visitors in the second half.[107] Three days later, the Sounders earned a 1–1 draw with the LA Galaxy after Ruidíaz scored in stoppage time; the away fixture replaced the August match that had been postponed due to player protests.[108] Seattle played onDecision Day at home against the San Jose Earthquakes and scored four goals in the second half to earn a 4–1 victory. The Sounders finished the 2020 regular season as the second seed in the Western Conference behindSporting Kansas City, as determined bypoints per game because teams did not play the same number of matches, and had only one loss at home.[109][110]
The 2020 playoffs began in late November after a 12-day break for international matches; MLS waived its quarantine requirement for players who returned oncharter flights. The Sounders, playing at the newly renamedLumen Field, opened the first round against Los Angeles FC, who lost four starting players after they tested positive for COVID-19 while playing for their national teams.[111] In the fifth match of the season between the two teams, the Sounders took a 1–0 lead at halftime from an early Lodeiro goal; the scoreline was preserved byStefan Frei, who saved a penalty taken byCarlos Vela to keep a shutout. Ruidíaz and Morris, who were both involved in the first goal, each scored in the second half to give the hosts a 3–1 victory that mirrored the scoreline of the2019 Western Conference Final between Seattle and LAFC.[110][112] In the Conference Semifinals, Sounders hosted sixth-seededFC Dallas in their first meeting since the 2019 playoffs, and won 1–0.[106][113] The Sounders produced nine shots but were stymied by the Dallas defense for most of the match; defenderShane O'Neill scored the lone goal of the match, the second in his MLS career, from a header off a Lodeiro corner kick in the 49th minute.[106]
The Sounders then hosted the Western Conference Final on December 8 against fourth-seededMinnesota United FC, who had defeated top-seeded Kansas City in anupset victory four days earlier.[114] Seattle clinched their fourth Western Conference championship with a 3–2 comeback victory that also extended their home winning streak in the playoffs to 15 matches.[115][116] Minnesota took a 2–0 lead through their star midfielderEmanuel Reynoso, who scored in the first half and assisted onBakaye Dibassy's header in the 67th minute. Substitute forward Will Bruin scored in the 75th minute from a rebound on a Ruidíaz shot that had been blocked by a defender; he was then followed by Ruidíaz, who scored the equalizer in the 89th minute from a deflected corner kick. Defender Gustav Svensson, who had missed the first two playoff matches due to a positive COVID-19 test, scored the winning header in stoppage time off a Lodeiro corner kick.[115][117]
In theirfourth MLS Cup final in five years, the Sounders traveled to face the Columbus Crew, the only conference semifinalist they had played earlier in the season.[113] The final was played in front of 1,500 spectators atMapfre Stadium, which was expected to be permanently closed the following year.[118] Three Crew players—Darlington Nagbe,Pedro Santos, andVito Wormgoor—were declared "medically not cleared to play" due to COVID-19, and Sounders defender Xavier Arreaga remained home for the birth of his child.[119][120] The hosts scored twice from set-pieces within six minutes in the first half and another in the second—all involving midfielderLucas Zelarayán—to defeat the Sounders 3–0.[121] Schmetzer made half-time substitutions to add attackers, but the team only forced two saves out of Columbus's goalkeeper and were denied a third MLS Cup championship.[122]
Win Draw Loss Void Upcoming fixture
| January 22Closed-door scrimmage | Seattle Sounders FC | 0–1 | Peñarol | Long Beach, California |
| 11:00 a.m. (PST) | Report | Urretaviscaya 37' | Stadium:George Allen Field Attendance: 0 |
| January 29Closed-door scrimmage | Seattle Sounders FC | 3–2 | Loyola Marymount University | Los Angeles, California |
| 10:50 a.m. (PST) | Ruidíaz 14' Delem 55'Bwana 98' | Report | 23' 43' | Stadium:Sullivan Field Attendance: 0 |
| Note: 105-minute scrimmage | ||||
| February 5Closed-door scrimmage | Seattle Sounders FC | 6–2 | Sacramento Republic FC | Seattle, Washington |
| 11:00 a.m. (PST) | Ruidíaz 2' Shipp 9'Morris 35'Dhillon 78',97'A. Roldan 117' | Report | Werner 72' Iwasa 96' | Stadium:CenturyLink Field Attendance: 0 |
| Note: 120-minute scrimmage | ||||
| February 12Closed-door scrimmage | Seattle Sounders FC | 2–2 | Club Atlético Zacatepec | Mexico City, Mexico |
| 8:30 a.m. (PST) | Leyva 8'Ruidíaz 2'Morris 33' | Report | Castillo 63' Barboza 83' (pen.) | Stadium:Centro Alto Rendimiento Attendance: 0 |
| February 12Closed-door scrimmage | Seattle Sounders FC | 2–1 | Club Universidad Nacional U-20 | Mexico City, Mexico |
| 10:30 a.m. (PST) | Bwana 20' Robles 61' | Report | 40' | Stadium:Centro Alto Rendimiento Attendance: 0 |
Win Draw Loss Void Upcoming fixture
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD | Pts | PPG | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sporting Kansas City | 21 | 12 | 6 | 3 | 38 | 25 | +13 | 39 | 1.86 | MLS Cup First Round |
| 2 | Seattle Sounders FC | 22 | 11 | 5 | 6 | 44 | 23 | +21 | 39 | 1.77 | |
| 3 | Portland Timbers | 23 | 11 | 6 | 6 | 46 | 35 | +11 | 39 | 1.70 | |
| 4 | Minnesota United FC | 21 | 9 | 5 | 7 | 36 | 26 | +10 | 34 | 1.62 | |
| 5 | Colorado Rapids | 18 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 32 | 28 | +4 | 28 | 1.56 |
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD | Pts | PPG | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | Columbus Crew SC(C) | 23 | 12 | 6 | 5 | 36 | 21 | +15 | 41 | 1.78 | CONCACAF Champions League |
| 5 | Orlando City SC | 23 | 11 | 4 | 8 | 40 | 25 | +15 | 41 | 1.78 | Leagues Cup |
| 6 | Seattle Sounders FC | 22 | 11 | 5 | 6 | 44 | 23 | +21 | 39 | 1.77 | |
| 7 | New York City FC | 23 | 12 | 8 | 3 | 37 | 25 | +12 | 39 | 1.70 | |
| 8 | Portland Timbers(M) | 23 | 11 | 6 | 6 | 46 | 35 | +11 | 39 | 1.70 | CONCACAF Champions League |
| Overall | Home | Away | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD |
| 22 | 11 | 6 | 5 | 44 | 23 | +21 | 39 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 30 | 10 | +20 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 14 | 13 | +1 |
Last updated: November 8, 2020.
Source: MLS[123]
| Matchday | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stadium | H | H | N | N | N | A | A | H | A | H | H | H | A | A | H | H | A | H | A | H | A | A | H |
| Result | W | D | D | L | W | W | D | W | D | L | W | W | L | W | W | W | L | C | D | D | W | L | W |
| March 1MLS 1 | Seattle Sounders FC | 2–1 | Chicago Fire FC | Seattle, Washington |
| 12:00 p.m. (PST) |
| Report | Stadium:CenturyLink Field Attendance: 40,126 Referee:Alex Chilowicz |
| March 7MLS 2 | Seattle Sounders FC | 1–1 | Columbus Crew SC | Seattle, Washington |
| 7:00 p.m. (PST) |
| Report | Stadium:CenturyLink Field Attendance: 33,080 Referee:Jair Marrufo |
| July 10MLS 3[B] | Seattle Sounders FC | 0–0 | San Jose Earthquakes | Bay Lake, Florida |
| 6:00 p.m. (PDT) | Arreaga 24' | Report | Thompson 19' | Stadium:ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex Attendance: 0 (behind closed doors) Referee:Drew Fischer |
| July 14MLS 4[B] | Chicago Fire FC | 2–1 | Seattle Sounders FC | Bay Lake, Florida |
| 6:00 a.m. (PDT) | Report | Stadium:ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex Attendance: 0 (behind closed doors) Referee: Rosendo Mendoza |
| July 19MLS 5[B] | Seattle Sounders FC | 3–0 | Vancouver Whitecaps FC | Bay Lake, Florida |
| 7:30 p.m. (PDT) | Report | Stadium:ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex Attendance: 0 (behind closed doors) Referee: Robert Sibiga |
| August 23MLS 6 | Portland Timbers | 0–3 | Seattle Sounders FC | Portland, Oregon |
| 7:00 p.m. (PDT) | Report | Stadium:Providence Park Attendance: 0 Referee:Jair Marrufo | ||
| Note: Match was not eligible forCascadia Cup due to lack of fans in attendance.[125] | ||||
| August 30MLS 8 | Seattle Sounders FC | 3–1 | Los Angeles FC | Seattle, Washington |
| 7:00 p.m. (PDT) | Report | Stadium:CenturyLink Field Attendance: 0 (behind closed doors) Referee:Kevin Stott |
| September 2MLS 9 | Real Salt Lake | 2–2 | Seattle Sounders FC | Sandy, Utah |
| 6:30 p.m. (PDT) | Report |
| Stadium:Rio Tinto Stadium Attendance: 4,026 Referee: Malik Badawi |
| September 6MLS 10 | Seattle Sounders FC | 1–2 | Portland Timbers | Seattle, Washington |
| 7:00 p.m. (PDT) | Report |
| Stadium:CenturyLink Field Attendance: 0 (behind closed doors) Referee:Ismail Elfath | |
| Note: Match was not eligible forCascadia Cup due to lack of fans in attendance.[125] | ||||
| September 10MLS 11 | Seattle Sounders FC | 7–1 | San Jose Earthquakes | Seattle, Washington |
| 7:00 p.m. (PDT) |
| Report |
| Stadium:CenturyLink Field Attendance: 0 (behind closed doors) Referee:Allen Chapman |
| September 18MLS 12 | Seattle Sounders FC | 3–0 | Los Angeles FC | Seattle, Washington |
| 7:00 p.m. (PDT) | Report | Stadium:CenturyLink Field Attendance: 0 (behind closed doors) Referee: Joseph Dickerson |
| September 23MLS 13 | Portland Timbers | 1–0 | Seattle Sounders FC | Portland, Oregon |
| 7:00 p.m. (PDT) |
| Report | Stadium:Providence Park Attendance: 0 (behind closed doors) Referee: Allen Chapman | |
| Note: Match was not eligible forCascadia Cup due to lack of fans in attendance.[125] The MLS Disciplinary Committee issued a suspension to Raúl Ruidíaz on review of the match.[126] | ||||
| September 27MLS 14 | LA Galaxy | 1–3 | Seattle Sounders FC | Carson, California |
| 7:30 p.m. (PDT) | Report | Stadium:Dignity Health Sports Park Attendance: 0 (behind closed doors) Referee: Jair Marrufo |
| October 3MLS 15 | Seattle Sounders FC | 3–1 | Vancouver Whitecaps FC | Seattle, Washington |
| 7:00 p.m. (PDT) |
| Report | Stadium:CenturyLink Field Attendance: 0 (behind closed doors) Referee: Timothy Ford | |
| Note: Match was not eligible forCascadia Cup due to lack of fans in attendance.[125] | ||||
| October 7MLS 16 | Seattle Sounders FC | 2–1 | Real Salt Lake | Seattle, Washington |
| 7:00 p.m. (PDT) | Report | Stadium:CenturyLink Field Attendance: 0 (behind closed doors) Referee: David Gantar |
| October 11MLS 17 | Los Angeles FC | 3–1 | Seattle Sounders FC | Los Angeles, California |
| 4:00 p.m. (PDT) | Report |
| Stadium:Banc of California Stadium Attendance: 0 (behind closed doors) Referee: Ramy Touchan |
| October 14MLS 18 | Seattle Sounders FC | N.P. | Colorado Rapids | Seattle, Washington |
| 7:00 p.m. (PDT) | Preview (Archived) | Stadium:CenturyLink Field | ||
| Note: The match was initially postponed due to COVID-19 within the Rapids squad, but MLS later announced on October 29 that postponed matches with the Rapids would not be rescheduled.[100] | ||||
| October 18MLS 19 | San Jose Earthquakes | 0–0 | Seattle Sounders FC | San Jose, California |
| 7:30 p.m. (PDT) | Judson 53' | Report | Gómez Andrade 76' | Stadium:Earthquakes Stadium Attendance: 0 (behind closed doors) Referee:Kevin Stott |
| October 22MLS 20 | Seattle Sounders FC | 1–1 | Portland Timbers | Seattle, Washington |
| 7:30 p.m. (PDT) | Bruin 90'+3' | Report |
| Stadium:CenturyLink Field Attendance: 0 (behind closed doors) Referee:Ismail Elfath |
| Note: Match was not eligible forCascadia Cup due to lack of fans in attendance.[125] Match rescheduled from October 24.[127] | ||||
| October 27MLS 21 | Vancouver Whitecaps FC | 0–2 | Seattle Sounders FC | Portland, Oregon |
| 7:00 p.m. (PDT) | Report | Stadium:Providence Park Attendance: 0 (behind closed doors) Referee: Fotis Bazakos | ||
| Note: Match played in Portland due to travel restrictions between Canada and the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic. Match was not eligible forCascadia Cup due to lack of fans in attendance.[125] | ||||
| November 1MLS 22 | Colorado Rapids | 3–1 | Seattle Sounders FC | Commerce City, Colorado |
| 6:00 p.m. (PST) |
| Report |
| Stadium:Dick's Sporting Goods Park Attendance: 0 (behind closed doors) Referee: Ismir Pekmic |
| November 4MLS 7 | LA Galaxy | 1–1 | Seattle Sounders FC | Carson, California |
| 8:00 p.m. (PST) |
| Report | Stadium:Dignity Health Sports Park Attendance: 0 (behind closed doors) Referee: Silviu Petrescu | |
| Note: Rescheduled from August 24 due to a player protest.[127] | ||||
| November 8MLS 23 | Seattle Sounders FC | 4–1 | San Jose Earthquakes | Seattle, Washington |
| 3:30 p.m. (PST) | Report | López 57' | Stadium:CenturyLink Field Attendance: 0 (behind closed doors) Referee:Jair Marrufo |
The MLS Cup Playoffs retained thesingle-elimination format that debuted in 2019 but was temporarily expanded to 18 teams—ten from the Eastern Conference and eight from the Western Conference as determined bypoints per game. A play-in round was added for the four lowest-ranked Eastern Conference entrants; the rest of the playoff matches were played between November 21 and December 12 with hosting determined by overall finish on the table.[128][129]
| November 24First round | Seattle Sounders FC | 3–1 | Los Angeles FC | Seattle, Washington |
| 7:30 p.m. (PST) | Report | Stadium:Lumen Field Attendance: 0 (behind closed doors) Referee:Kevin Stott |
| December 1Conference Semifinal | Seattle Sounders FC | 1–0 | FC Dallas | Seattle, Washington |
| 6:30 p.m. (PST) |
| Report | Stadium:Lumen Field Attendance: 0 (behind closed doors) Referee: Robert Sibiga |
| December 7Conference Final | Seattle Sounders FC | 3–2 | Minnesota United FC | Seattle, Washington |
| 6:30 p.m. (PST) | Report | Stadium:Lumen Field Attendance: 0 (behind closed doors) Referee:Ismail Elfath |
| December 12MLS Cup 2020 | Columbus Crew SC | 3–0 | Seattle Sounders FC | Columbus, Ohio |
| 5:30 p.m. (PST) | Report |
| Stadium:Mapfre Stadium Attendance: 1,500 Referee:Jair Marrufo |
v
Seattle Sounders FC| February 20First leg | Olimpia | 2–2 | Seattle Sounders FC | San Pedro Sula, Honduras |
| 7:00 p.m. (PST) | Report |
| Stadium:Estadio Olímpico Metropolitano Referee: Juan Gabriel Calderón (Costa Rica) |
vOlimpia| February 27Second leg | Seattle Sounders FC | 2–2 (4–4agg.) (2–4p) | Olimpia | Seattle, Washington |
| 7:00 p.m. (PST) |
| Report | Stadium:CenturyLink Field Attendance: 34,016 Referee:Iván Barton (El Salvador) | |
| Penalties | ||||
The Sounders were scheduled to enter the 2020 U.S. Open Cup in the round of 32 on May 19 or May 20 along with the twelve highest seeded teams as determined by the2019 standings and participation in the CONCACAF Champions League.[130] The tournament was suspended by theUnited States Soccer Federation on March 13, 2020, and later canceled entirely on August 17 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[46][131]
| May 19/20Round of 32 | N.P. | |||
| Note: The first three rounds were temporarily suspended on March 13, 2020, due to theCOVID-19 pandemic.[132] The 2020 tournament was canceled on August 17, 2020.[133] | ||||
As defending MLS Cup champions, the Sounders qualified to host theCampeones Cup, an exhibition match scheduled to be played on August 12 at CenturyLink Field. The opponent was to be the winner of the 2020 Campeón de Campeones, a Mexicansuper cup contested by the winners of theLiga MX Apertura and Clausura seasons.[134] The match was canceled on May 19, 2020, along with theMLS All-Star Game andLeagues Cup, to prevent fixture congestion for the restarted regular season during the COVID-19 pandemic.[47]
v
Campeón de Campeones winner| August 12 | Seattle Sounders FC | N.P. | Campeón de Campeones winner | Seattle, Washington |
| Stadium:CenturyLink Field | ||||
| Note: Canceled due to COVID-19 pandemic.[47] | ||||
| July 10Matchday 1 (MLS 3)[B] | Seattle Sounders FC | 0–0 | San Jose Earthquakes | Bay Lake, Florida |
| 6:00 p.m. (PDT) | Arreaga 24' | Report | Thompson 19' | Stadium:ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex Attendance: 0 (behind closed doors) Referee:Drew Fischer |
| July 14Matchday 2 (MLS 4)[B] | Chicago Fire FC | 2–1 | Seattle Sounders FC | Bay Lake, Florida |
| 6:00 a.m. (PDT) | Report | Stadium:ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex Attendance: 0 (behind closed doors) Referee: Rosendo Mendoza |
| July 19Matchday 3 (MLS 5)[B] | Seattle Sounders FC | 3–0 | Vancouver Whitecaps FC | Bay Lake, Florida |
| 7:30 p.m. (PDT) | Report | Stadium:ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex Attendance: 0 (behind closed doors) Referee: Robert Sibiga |
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose Earthquakes | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 3 | +3 | 7 | Advanced toknockout stage |
| 2 | Seattle Sounders FC | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 2 | +2 | 4 | |
| 3 | Vancouver Whitecaps FC | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 7 | −2 | 3 | |
| 4 | Chicago Fire | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 5 | −3 | 3 |
| July 27Round of 16[B] | Seattle Sounders FC | 1–4 | Los Angeles FC | Bay Lake, Florida |
| 8:00 p.m. (PDT) |
| Report | Stadium:ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex Attendance: 0 (behind closed doors) Referee:Jair Marrufo |
For the 2020 season, the Sounders were permitted a maximum of 30 signed players on the first team, of which 10 roster positions were designated for supplemental and reserve players.[136] A basesalary cap of $4.9 million applied to the non-supplemental players with exceptions for the club's three designated players—João Paulo,Nicolás Lodeiro, andRaúl Ruidíaz—who each counted for a reduced amount.[137][138] The Sounders also had eight availableinternational slots that were filled by players from outside the United States who did not have agreen card;[139][140] the main roster at the start of the season had players who represented 13 nationalities.[141]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined underFIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality. Squad includes all players who had first team contracts or appearances during the 2020 season. Age listed for each player is calculated from December 12, 2020, the final matchday of the season.
| No. | Name | Nationality | Position | Age | Signed | Base salary[143] | On loan to | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 | Emanuel Cecchini |  Argentina | MF | 23 | 2019 | $333,000 | Unión de Santa Fe (ARG) | Until the end of the season[144] |
A total of 27 players made at least one appearance for the Sounders during the 2020 season across all competitions.[145] Four players made appearances in all 29 of the team's matches: goalkeeperStefan Frei, defenderNouhou Tolo, midfielderCristian Roldan, and forwardJordan Morris.[146] Of those Frei played all available minutes, and Roldan had the most minutes of any outfield player: 1,890 minutes during the regular season and 630 minutes in other competitions.[145][146]Raúl Ruidíaz was the team's leading goalscorer in 2020 with 14 goals;[147] captainNicolás Lodeiro had the most assists at 13 in the regular season and playoffs.[148][149]
| Position | Name | Nationality |
|---|---|---|
| Head coach | Brian Schmetzer |  United States |
| Assistant coach | Preki | United States |
| Assistant coach | Gonzalo Pineda | Mexico |
| Assistant coach | Djimi Traoré |  Mali |
| Director of goalkeeping | Tom Dutra | United States |
The MLS season had twotransfer windows during which teams were able to register new players from outside of the league and those who required an International Transfer Certificate. The primary window from February 12 to May 5 was scheduled to be followed by the secondary window from July 7 to August 5;[152] due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the secondary window was split into a two-day window from July 6–7 for theMLS is Back Tournament and a longer window from August 12 to October 29 for the rest of the regular season. Rosters were finalized on October 21, the final day of the regular season.[153] Between the transfer windows, teams are allowed to signfree agents or other U.S.-based players, including those traded between MLS teams for other players,general allocation money, or various league slots.[136][154]
For transfers in, dates listed are when the Sounders officially signed the players to the roster. Transactions where only the rights to the players are acquired are not listed. For transfers out, dates listed are when the Sounders officially removed the players from the roster, not when they signed with another club. If a player later signed with another club, his new club will be noted, but the date listed here remains the one when he was officially removed from the Seattle Sounders FC roster.[155]
| No. | Player | Nat. | Pos. | Previous team | Notes | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 | Stefan Cleveland | United States | GK | Chicago Fire FC (USA) | Traded for First Round pick (26th overall) in the2020 MLS SuperDraft and received Second Round pick (35th overall) in the 2020 MLS SuperDraft.[156] | November 26, 2019 |
| 27 | Shane O'Neill | United States | DF | Orlando City SC (USA) | Free transfer[157] | January 14, 2020 |
| 6 | João Paulo |  Brazil | MF | Botafogo (BRA) | On loan until end of season with an option for 2021[137] | January 31, 2020 |
| 28 | Yeimar Gómez Andrade |  Colombia | DF | Unión de Santa Fe (ARG) | Undisclosed fee[158] | February 5, 2020 |
| 11 | Miguel Ibarra | United States | MF | Minnesota United FC (USA) | Free transfer[159] | February 20, 2020 |
| 45 | Ethan Dobbelaere | United States | MF | Seattle Sounders FC Academy (USA) | Homegrown Player[160] | June 15, 2020 |
| 84 | Josh Atencio | United States | MF | Tacoma Defiance (USA) | Homegrown Player[160] | June 15, 2020 |
| 37 | Shandon Hopeau | United States | MF | Tacoma Defiance (USA) | Homegrown Player[161] | June 30, 2020 |
| 2 | Brad Smith |  Australia | DF |  AFC Bournemouth (ENG) | Free transfer[162] | September 17, 2020 |
| 29 | Román Torres |  Panama | DF | Inter Miami CF (USA) | Traded for a conditional first round selection in the2021 MLS SuperDraft.[163] | September 28, 2020 |
| 94 | Jimmy Medranda | Colombia | DF | Nashville SC (USA) | Traded forHandwalla Bwana and received $225,000 in general allocation money with a potential $25,000 bonus.[164] | October 21, 2020 |
Draft picks were not automatically signed to the team roster. Only those who are signed to a contract were listed as transfers in. Only trades involving draft picks and executed after the start of the2020 MLS SuperDraft are listed in the notes.
| Player | Nationality | Round | Pick | Pos. | Previous team | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Danny Reynolds | England | 2nd | 35 | DF | UNC Wilmington Seahawks (USA) | Signed withTacoma Defiance in February.[166] |
| Timo Mehlich |  Germany | 2nd | 52 | MF | UNLV Rebels (USA) | Signed contract withRio Grande Valley FC before draft.[166] |
| Julian Avila-Good |  Canada | 3rd | 78 | MF | Seattle Redhawks (USA) |
| No. | Player | Nat. | Pos. | New team | Notes | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 35 | Bryan Meredith | United States | GK | Inter Miami CF (USA) | Selected with the 9th pick of theMLS Expansion Draft.[167] | November 19, 2019 |
| 3 | Jonathan Campbell | United States | DF | Retired | Option declined[168] | November 20, 2019 |
| 12 | Saad Abdul-Salaam | United States | DF | FC Cincinnati (USA) | Option declined,[168] selected in second stage of theRe-Entry Draft. | November 20, 2019 |
| 29 | Román Torres | Panama | DF | Inter Miami CF (USA) | Option declined[168] | November 20, 2019 |
| 8 | Víctor Rodríguez |  Spain | MF | Elche CF (ESP) | Option declined[168] | November 20, 2019 |
| 23 | Luis Silva | Mexico | FW | Unknown | Option declined[168] | November 20, 2019 |
| 20 | Kim Kee-hee |  South Korea | DF | Ulsan Hyundai FC (KOR) | Out of contract[168] | November 20, 2019 |
| 11 | Brad Smith | Australia | DF | AFC Bournemouth (ENG) | Out of contract (end of loan)[168] | November 20, 2019 |
| 15 | Emanuel Cecchini | Argentina | MF | Unión de Santa Fe (ARG) | On loan through the end of the year[144] | January 31, 2020 |
| 19 | Harry Shipp | United States | MF | None | Retired[58] | June 16, 2020 |
| 87 | Alfonso Ocampo-Chavez | United States | MF | Tacoma Defiance (USA) | On loan until end of USL season[169] | August 3, 2020 |
| 45 | Ethan Dobbelaere | United States | MF | Tacoma Defiance (USA) | On loan until end of USL season[170] | September 3, 2020 |
| 70 | Handwalla Bwana |  Kenya | MF | Nashville SC (USA) | Traded forJimmy Medranda and $225,000 in general allocation money with a potential $25,000 bonus.[164] | October 21, 2020 |
The attacking trio ofNicolás Lodeiro,Jordan Morris, andRaúl Ruidíaz were named to the 2020MLS Best XI at the end of the regular season; the Sounders were one of two teams, along withSupporters' Shield winnersPhiladelphia Union, to have three players in the Best XI.[171] Ruidíaz also finished as runner-up for theMLS Golden Boot with 12 regular season goals; Lodeiro's 10 assists were tied for most in the league.[172] Lodeiro and Morris were finalists for theLandon Donovan MVP Award and finished third and fourth, respectively, in voting.[173]
The Sounders announced their team awards, decided through votes from the team's players and technical staff, in December 2020. Morris was named the team'smost valuable player, andYeimar Gómez Andrade earned Defender of the Year.Cristian Roldan won Humanitarian of the Year for his work in several charity causes as well as initiatives to increasevoter turnout and2020 census participation;[147] he was also a finalist for theMLS Humanitarian of the Year Award.[174]
Several analysts described the 2020 roster for the Sounders as the best in the team's history and able to compete for a potential championship;[5] they finished the regular season with the second-bestgoal differential in MLS and third-most goals scored.[191] During the playoffs, Brian Schmetzer said that they felt "like we've had three preseasons" due to disruptions in the schedule and that "just too many weird things that have happened and it's been tough."[5] Following the MLS Cup, which he described as "a failure", Schmetzer said he was "very proud" of the team's performance during the season.[192]The Seattle Times said that the Sounders "didn't play to [their] potential consistently until the postseason" and that the team's defense had "shown weakness" in the playoffs, which was exploited by Columbus.[193]
Following the end of the season, the Sounders closed their COVID-19 relief fund after it had raised and distributed $1.1 million in grants to 785 people and 134 businesses affected by the pandemic and lack of fan traffic for home matches.[194] During the offseason, Schmetzer signed a multi-year contract extension to remain as head coach, and sporting director and head scoutChris Henderson left the club to joinInter Miami CF.[195][196] The team also lost several veteran players after their contracts had expired and planned to use more homegrown and young players to replace them through the2021 season.[197] Jordan Morris was loaned for six months to Welsh sideSwansea City AFC in theEFL Championship, but he only played five matches before a second careeranterior cruciate ligament injury in February 2021. Morris returned to Seattle for surgery and eight months of recovery, later appearing at the end of the regular season.[198]
The Sounders began the 2021 season with a 13-match unbeaten run and finished second in the Western Conference but were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs in a penalty shootout.[199] The club had also qualified for the2021 Leagues Cup, a single-elimination tournament against clubs fromLiga MX, as one of the top two teams in the 2020 MLS standings without a CONCACAF Champions League berth.[200] The Sounders advanced to thefinal, played in theLas Vegas area, and finished as runners-up to Mexico'sClub León.[201] The 2021 season also saw the return of fans to Lumen Field for home matches, beginning with a reduced capacity of 7,000 in March and later increasing to normal capacity in July. Fans were required to present proof ofCOVID-19 vaccination or a negative test to enter the stadium as part of state guidelines.[202] As of 2023,[update] the 2020 season is the most recent MLS Cup appearance for the Sounders.[203]
