In one week, the Sounders will re-commence international competition when the team enters the 2025 edition of Leagues Cup.
The Sounders have been here before, competing against top-tier Liga MX sides in a high-stakes tournament that brings a different type of atmosphere than what a regular season match typically provides at Lumen Field. The objective is to use this environment to their advantage as the team hosts three Phase One matches versus reigning Concacaf Champions Cup winners Cruz Azul (July 31 at 7:30 p.m. PT | Watch on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV | TICKETS), Santos Laguna, (Aug. 3 at 7:30 p.m. PT | Watch on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV | TICKETS), and Club Tijuana (Aug. 6 at 8 p.m. PT | Watch on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV | TICKETS).
“We've done really well in previous editions of the Leagues Cup,” said Head Coach Brian Schmetzer. “We're going to go out there and try and win as many games as we can.”
The intensity that comes with the North America showdown is clear. Whether it be the obvious rivalry between the MLS and Liga MX teams, or the opportunity to punch a ticket to the 2026 Concacaf Champions Cup, the energy buzzing from both the players and the fans is a unique experience in American sports.
Leagues Cup 2025
The battle for North America is back and it’s bigger than ever.
This summer, 36 of the best — all 18 clubs from Liga MX and the top 18 qualifying teams from MLS — will clash for regional supremacy, with the top three finishers punching their ticket to the Concacaf Champions Cup.
The Sounders’ 4-0 victory over Liga MX powerhouse Pumas UNAM in last year’s Leagues Cup competition is a prime example of that.
“It was such an exciting game,” said Schmetzer post-match. “I hope everybody enjoyed the night, because I did as a fan, not just a coach, not just the winning coach, but I thought the atmosphere was great.”
The rivalry displayed between the two clubs left the crowd boisterous throughout the entirety of the 90 minutes.
“What I would tell you is that those players were ready for this game,” added Schmetzer. “And I know Gustavo [Lema] had his team ready for his game. And so what you saw was a very entertaining Leagues Cup match.”
On the contrary, it's in tournaments like this where the overall atmosphere pushes the team to perform at an extremely high level.
“You could hear how loud their fans were. And ours were louder,” said goalkeeper Andrew Thomas. “You could feel the head-to-head, not just on the field, but in the crowd. It was awesome. I mean, we fed off that, for sure. I certainly did.”
A can’t miss event, fans can catch a glimpse of the undeniable liveliness of Leagues Cup matches when the Sounders face Cruz Azul in their first Phase One battle of the tournament next Thursday at Lumen Field.
