List of Seattle Sounders FC seasons

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Seattle Sounders FC players with the 2009, 2010, and 2011 U.S. Open Cup trophies Sounders USOC 2011.jpg
Seattle Sounders FC players with the 2009, 2010, and 2011 U.S. Open Cup trophies

Seattle Sounders FC is a soccer team based in Seattle, Washington, that competes in Major League Soccer (MLS), the most senior soccer league in the United States. The club was established in 2007 as an MLS expansion team, succeeding an existing second-division team of the same name, and began play in 2009 as a member of the Western Conference. [1] The MLS regular season typically runs from February to October and the best-performing team is awarded the Supporters' Shield; the top nine teams from each conference qualify for the MLS Cup Playoffs, a postseason tournament that culminates in the MLS Cup. [2] [3]

Contents

In addition to league play, the Sounders compete in the annual U.S. Open Cup tournament organized by the United States Soccer Federation and the Leagues Cup contested by teams from MLS and Liga MX of Mexico. [2] [4] The league and cup tournaments serve as qualifiers for the following year's CONCACAF Champions Cup (formerly the CONCACAF Champions League), an annual international competition between league and cup champions in North America, Central America, and the Caribbean. [5] [6] The CONCACAF Champions Cup winner then qualifies for the next FIFA Club World Cup, which is held annually but will switch to every four years beginning in 2025. [7] [8]

The Sounders are one of the most successful clubs in MLS history, [9] [10] having won eight trophies since entering the league in 2009. [11] [12] They won three consecutive U.S. Open Cup titles from 2009 to 2011 and a fourth in 2014, becoming the second MLS club to do so. [13] [14] The club earned their first Supporters' Shield in 2014, completing a double, [15] and won the MLS Cup in 2016 and 2019 during a run of four finals in five years. [16] They won the CONCACAF Champions League in 2022, becoming the first MLS club to win the competition under its modern format and qualify for the FIFA Club World Cup. [11] [17] The Leagues Cup remains the only major North American competition that the Sounders have not won; the team finished as runners-up in the 2021 edition. [18] Sigi Schmid was the club's head coach from the inaugural MLS season in 2009 until July 2016; [19] he was replaced by Brian Schmetzer, initially as interim coach and later as full head coach. [20] Peruvian striker Raúl Ruidíaz is the club's all-time top scorer with 86 goals in all competitions; he joined the club in 2018 and surpassed Fredy Montero's tally in 2024. [21] [22]

As of the end of the 2024 season, the club has played 16 seasons in MLS with 241 wins, 159 losses, and 124 draws—a winning percentage of 0.578. [23] The Sounders qualified for the MLS Cup Playoffs in their first 13 seasons—tied for the MLS record at the time and the second longest among the major sports leagues in the United States behind the National Hockey League's Pittsburgh Penguins. [24] The Sounders led MLS attendance in their first eight years in the league, averaging over 30,000 per season, until they were surpassed by Atlanta United FC in 2017; [25] the club achieved their highest season attendance in 2015 with 44,247 per match. [26] As of 2023, the 236 regular season matches at Lumen Field in Seattle have averaged 38,557 spectators and drawn over 9 million total people; the club has hosted 27 playoff matches that drew an average of 34,777 spectators. [27] The most-attended home Sounders matches were the 2022 CONCACAF Champions League Final's second leg with 68,741—a tournament record—and MLS Cup 2019 with 69,274 spectators. [28]

Key

Key to competitions

Seasons

Results of Seattle Sounders FC league and cup competitions by season
SeasonLeague [34] [35] Position [36] Playoffs [36] USOC [37] LC [38] CCC [38] Other Average
attendance [a] 		Top goalscorer(s) [b] [39]
DivLeaguePldWLDGFGAGDPts PPG Conf.OverallCompetitionResultPlayer(s)Goals
2009 1 MLS 30127113829+9471.573rd4th QF W —DNQ——30,943 [40] Fredy Montero 13
2010 1 MLS 30141063935+4481.604th6th QF W — GS ——36,173 [40] Fredy Montero 12
2011 1 MLS 3418795637+19631.852nd2nd QF W — QF ——38,496 [40] Fredy Montero 18
2012 1 MLS 34158115133+18561.653rd7th SF RU — SF ——43,144 [40] Eddie Johnson
Fredy Montero 		17
2013 1 MLS 341512742420521.534th6th QF R3 —DNQ——44,038 [40] Eddie Johnson 12
2014 1 MLS 34201046550+15641.881st1st SF W —DNQ——43,734 [40] Obafemi Martins 19
2015 1 MLS 34151364436+8511.504th6th QF R4 — QF ——44,247 [40] Obafemi Martins 15
2016 1 MLS 34141464443+1481.414th7th W QF —DNQ——42,636 [40] Jordan Morris 12
2017 1 MLS 34149115239+13531.562nd7th RU Ro16 —DNQ——43,666 [41] Clint Dempsey 12
2018 1 MLS 34181155237+15591.742nd4th QF R4 — QF ——40,641 [42] Raúl Ruidíaz 13
2019 1 MLS 34161085249+3561.652nd4th W R4 —DNQ——40,247 [43] Raúl Ruidíaz 15
2020 [c] 1 MLS 2211564423+21391.772nd6th RU NH [d] — Ro16
Campeones Cup
MLS is Back Tournament
NH [48]
Ro16 [49]
36,603 [50] [e] Raúl Ruidíaz 14
2021 1 MLS 3417895333+20601.762nd3rd R1 NH [d] RU DNQ——25,125 [52] [f] Raúl Ruidíaz 19
2022 1 MLS 34121754746+1411.2111th21stDNQ Ro32 — W ——33,607 [54] Nicolás Lodeiro
Raúl Ruidíaz 		12
2023 1 MLS 34149114132+9531.562nd7th QF Ro32 GS DNQ FIFA Club World Cup R2 [55] 32,161 [56] Jordan Morris 14
2024 [23] 1 MLS 3416995135+16571.684th7th SF SF QF DNQ——30,754 [57] Jordan Morris 13
Total (as of 2024) [23] 524241159124771599+1728471.62W (1)W (1)W (2)W (4)RU (1)W (1)——34,656 [27] Raúl Ruidíaz 86 [21] [39]

Notes

  1. ↑ Average attendance is calculated from league matches only and excludes matches played behind closed doors.
  2. ↑ Top goalscorer(s) includes all goals scored in MLS, the MLS Cup Playoffs, U.S. Open Cup, MLS is Back Tournament, Leagues Cup, CONCACAF Champions League, FIFA Club World Cup, and other competitive matches.
  3. ↑ The 2020 season was shortened due to the COVID-19 pandemic; [44] league standings were determined using points per game due to an uneven number of matches played. [45] The three group stage matches during the MLS is Back Tournament counted towards regular season standings, while knockout stage matches did not. [46]
  4. 1 2 The 2020 and 2021 editions of the U.S. Open Cup were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. [47]
  5. ↑ Attendance figures for the 2020 season do not reflect matches played without spectators due to the COVID-19 pandemic. [51] The figures were calculated from the two home matches played in March 2020 that drew 40,126 and 33,080 spectators. [50]
  6. ↑ From March to July 2021, seating capacity at Lumen Field was restricted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. [53]

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References

  1. ↑ Drosendahl, Glenn (April 9, 2015). "Sounders FC makes Major League Soccer debut on March 19, 2009". HistoryLink . Archived from the original on March 14, 2023. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
  2. 1 2 Boehm, Charles (December 31, 2022). "2023 Soccer Almanac: Key dates & tournaments in busy year ahead". MLSsoccer.com. Archived from the original on March 14, 2023. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
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  4. ↑ Evans, Jayda (February 25, 2023). "Playoff changes and more: Three things to know before Sounders open 2023 season". The Seattle Times . Archived from the original on March 14, 2023. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
  5. ↑ Evans, Jayda (February 5, 2023). "Sounders taking plenty of positives from Club World Cup, but could different moves have kept them in it?". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on March 14, 2023. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
  6. ↑ Straus, Brian (June 1, 2022). "Concacaf Reveals Qualifying Criteria for Expanded Champions League". Sports Illustrated . Archived from the original on January 24, 2023. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
  7. ↑ "Concacaf confirms qualification route for CCL clubs into new expanded FIFA Club World Cup" (Press release). CONCACAF. March 14, 2023. Archived from the original on March 14, 2023. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
  8. 1 2 Lowy, Zach (January 30, 2023). "Soccer 101: FIFA Club World Cup". St. Louis City SC. Archived from the original on March 17, 2023. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
  9. ↑ Arthur, Ben (November 7, 2019). "A snapshot: Just how good have the Sounders been in the MLS?". Seattle Post-Intelligencer . Archived from the original on March 14, 2023. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
  10. ↑ Stejskal, Sam (May 5, 2022). "With Champions League breakthrough, Seattle Sounders stake their claim to title of best club in MLS history" . The Athletic . Archived from the original on May 20, 2022. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
  11. 1 2 Liljenwall, Ari (January 30, 2023). "Seattle Sounders: What to know about MLS's first Club World Cup participant". MLSsoccer.com. Archived from the original on March 14, 2023. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
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  21. 1 2 Evans, Jayda (September 5, 2024). "Report: Raúl Ruidíaz doesn't plan to return to Sounders after 2024 season". The Seattle Times. Retrieved November 30, 2024.
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  27. 1 2 Major League Soccer (2024), p. 76.
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  29. 1 2 Zgoda, Jerry (August 9, 2022). "As MLS gains ground on Mexico's Liga MX, their All-Star Game helps to grow both leagues". Star Tribune . Archived from the original on March 17, 2023. Retrieved March 16, 2023.
  30. 1 2 "Get to Know Your Cup". U.S. Soccer Federation. January 31, 2023. Archived from the original on March 17, 2023. Retrieved March 16, 2023.
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  32. ↑ Myers, Jacob (September 29, 2021). "What is the Campeones Cup? Everything you need to know about Columbus Crew vs. Cruz Azul". The Columbus Dispatch . Archived from the original on December 1, 2022. Retrieved March 16, 2023.
  33. ↑ Maurer, Pablo; Pentz, Matt (November 5, 2021). "'Maybe this was just a horrible idea': MLS is Back, remembered by those who built and lived in the bubble" . The Athletic. Archived from the original on March 17, 2023. Retrieved March 16, 2023.
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  36. 1 2 Major League Soccer (2024), pp. 32–46.
  37. ↑ Major League Soccer (2024), p. 179.
  38. 1 2 Major League Soccer (2024), pp. 183–187.
  39. 1 2 "Squad: Seattle Sounders FC". Soccerway. Opta Sports . Retrieved November 30, 2024.
  40. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Kennedy, Paul (September 15, 2017). "Atlanta United sets sights on U.S. pro soccer record". Soccer America . Archived from the original on April 4, 2023. Retrieved March 16, 2023.
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  42. ↑ Kennedy, Paul (October 29, 2018). "Behind the numbers: MLS average attendance down, but ticket revenues jump almost 10 percent" . Soccer America. Archived from the original on March 17, 2023. Retrieved March 16, 2023.
  43. ↑ Kennedy, Paul (October 8, 2019). "MLS average attendance falls, ticket revenues increase again" . Soccer America. Archived from the original on October 28, 2022. Retrieved March 16, 2023.
  44. ↑ Mather, Victor (October 29, 2020). "In M.L.S., the Pandemic Changes the Playoff Math". The New York Times . Archived from the original on October 29, 2020. Retrieved March 16, 2023.
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  46. ↑ "MLS is Back Tournament Competition Guidelines". Major League Soccer. June 10, 2020. Retrieved April 6, 2023.
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  49. ↑ Major League Soccer (2024), p. 174.
  50. 1 2 Evans, Jayda (March 12, 2020). "Due to coronavirus concerns, Sounders cancel all operations at practice facility after MLS season suspension". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on April 21, 2022. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
  51. ↑ Jude, Adam (March 11, 2021). "Mariners, Sounders, OL Reign approved to welcome fans back to home games after COVID-19 shutdown". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on March 17, 2023. Retrieved March 16, 2023.
  52. ↑ Suggs, Donnell (January 7, 2022). "Heading into 2022, Atlanta United outdrawing even popular European clubs". Atlanta Business Chronicle . Archived from the original on January 7, 2022. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
  53. ↑ Evans, Jayda (June 24, 2021). "Sounders announce plans to fully reopen fan seating capacity at Lumen Field beginning July 7". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on March 17, 2023. Retrieved March 16, 2023.
  54. ↑ Kennedy, Paul (October 13, 2022). "Crowd Count: MLS attendance tops 10 million for first time". Soccer America. Archived from the original on October 28, 2022. Retrieved March 16, 2023.
  55. ↑ "2022 FIFA Club World Cup – Seattle Sounders FC: Fixtures". FIFA. Archived from the original on March 17, 2023. Retrieved March 16, 2023.
  56. ↑ Kennedy, Paul (October 22, 2023). "MLS breaks attendance record" . Soccer America . Retrieved November 27, 2023.
  57. ↑ Silverman, Alex (October 22, 2024). "MLS sets attendance record in 2024 with 5% uptick over last season". Sports Business Journal . Retrieved November 30, 2024.
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