Football Season Guide

Seattle had the best defensive record in the entire MLS in 2024 (35 goals conceded in 34 games). This gave them 4th place in the West. Then the Sounders reached the Conference Finals but there lost to the future MLS Cup winners Galaxy. The 2016 and 2019 champs have reached the post-season in 15 of their 16 MLS seasons. Coach Schmetzer starts his 9th year in charge. All that continuity and clear belief in the process should make Seattle a solid contender for a top 6 finish again. No major departures were witnessed so far this winter. Refreshed the options in attack though. Chu struggled to make enough starts in the autumn. So did veteran Ruidiaz. Both were released. Replaced them with a duo from Dallas – Paul Arriola and Jesús Ferreira. A year ago big money were paid for another bright winger Pedro de la Vega. He missed most of 2024 injured though. Now healthy and a year older De la Vega could become the star contributor he was expected to be last season. Rusnak should continue to be the heartbeat of the midfield. Obel Vargas, will turn 20 in August, is also ready to become an outright regular in that zone. Nothing much will change in defence where Sounders are expected to remain excellent. If anything they have even more experience at the back now 35 years old CB Kee-hee Kim has joined.