The Seattle Sounders are hosting LAFC on Saturday in their first of two meetings this season. Here is everything you need to know:
WHEN AND WHERE: Kickoff is at 12:08 p.m. PT at Lumen Field (TICKETS).
WHERE TO WATCH: The match will be televised on ABC and ESPN Deportes.
WHERE TO LISTEN: The match will air on 93.3 KJR FM and El Rey 1360 AM.
2022 RECORDS AND STANDINGS: Sounders: 6-6-1 (19 points, 7th West), LAFC: 9-3-2 (29 points, 1st West)
FORM GUIDE (all competitions, most recent first): Seattle: WWLWW, LAFC: WLWLL
CELEBRATING JUNETEENTH
Celebrate Juneteenth with Sounders FC as we face LAFC in a meeting between two of the top teams in the West.
PREVIOUS MEETING: LAFC defeated the Sounders 3-0 in Los Angeles on Oct. 26 last year behind goals from Brian Rodríguez, Latif Blessing and Cristian Arongo.
SEATTLE WELCOMES THE WORLD: Seattle was named as a host city for FIFA World Cup 2026 on Thursday, bringing the biggest sports event on the planet to the Emerald City in just a few short years. You can learn more HERE.
RUIDÍAZ OUT: A tough break for the Sounders as leading goalscorer Raúl Ruidíaz will be sidelined with a pulled hamstring. The Peruvian Designated Player has seven goals in his last six matches in all competitions.
INTERNATIONALS RETURN: Seattle will have the services of Jordan Morris (United States), Cristian Roldan (United States) and Albert Rusnák (Slovakia), who all missed Tuesday’s 4-0 win over the Vancouver Whitecaps while away on international duty. Nouhou was available off the bench after his stint with Cameroon but did not play.
SOUNDERS SURGING: Following a slow start to the MLS season while balancing a Concacaf Champions League title run, Seattle has come alive of late, winning four of its last five matches and vaulting above the playoff line with matches in hand.
STINGY D: Part of Seattle’s recent success has been its dominance defensively. The Sounders have allowed just three goals in the last five matches, including two clean sheets.
NEW MAN IN CHARGE: Following the departure of Bob Bradley to Toronto FC, LAFC hired Steve Cherundolo as Bradley’s replacement. Cherundolo, a former longtime United States international who played under Bradley’s direction for the USMNT, is off to a flying start early in his first MLS head coaching job.
VETERAN ADDITIONS: LAFC brought in some major reinforcements from around MLS this past offseason. U.S. international Kellyn Acosta (Colorado), Canadian international Maxime Crépeau (Vancouver), Ismael Tajouri-Shradi (NYCFC), Ilie Sánchez (Sporting KC) and Ryan Hollingshead (FC Dallas) have all been productive assets for Cherundolo so far this year.
