After nearly four months of waiting, Major League Soccer is finally back. With the release of the schedule on Wednesday, let’s take a look at the five must-watches matches for the two-time defending Western Conference champion Seattle Sounders. (NOTE: All matches listed in chronological order).
1. Home Opener vs. Minnesota United
Friday, April 16
6:30 p.m. PT | FS1
What better way to kick off the 2021 campaign than with a rematch of an instant classic. The Sounders came from 2-0 down in last year’s Western Conference Championship to win 3-2 in what will go down as one of the most memorable nights at Lumen Field in club history. Relive all the magic below.
2. Home vs. Austin FC
Saturday, May 29
1 p.m. PT | Local broadcast
The Sounders host the MLS newcomers in a green-on-green battle at Lumen Field. Austin is led by MLS veterans Matt Besler, Alexander Ring and Nick Lima, as well as Designated Players Cecilio Domínguez and Tomás Pochettino. Austin joins MLS’ Western Conference, so the Sounders will host the Texans in May before visiting Q2 Stadium on July 22.
3. Away at Columbus Crew SC
Saturday, Aug. 21
2:30 p.m. PT | FOX
You’re going to want to circle this one. The Sounders head back to Ohio to take on Columbus Crew SC in a rematch of last year’s MLS Cup. Seattle will be out for vengeance, looking to make amends following its 3-0 loss to Caleb Porter’s side in December. Columbus is in the Eastern Conference, so this will be the two clubs’ only meeting in 2021…unless, of course, they battle for league supremacy in MLS Cup yet again.
4. Home vs. Portland Timbers
Sunday, Aug. 29
7:30 p.m. PT | ESPN
There’s no rest for the weary, as Seattle hosts Portland the following weekend in a match that has everything you could want and more. Late summer Pacific Northwest weather? Check. Playoff implications? You bet. A bitter rivalry nearly 50 years in the making? Assuredly. The last time these two teams met, Will Bruin scored a stoppage-time equalizer. Expect more fireworks this year.
5. Decision Day at Vancouver Whitecaps
Sunday, Nov. 7
3 p.m. PT | TSN
You didn’t think we’d get through this list without some more Cascadia love, did you? Especially not when the Sounders visit the Whitecaps for the final match of the regular season. Seattle has won on Decision Day every year since 2014, and Head Coach Brian Schmetzer & Co. will look to make it eight consecutive years with a victory, one that will be all the sweeter against the Sounders’ Canadian rivals.
