The Seattle Sounders are hosting Inter Miami on Sunday in the Leagues Cup Final. Here is everything you need to know:
WHEN AND WHERE: Kickoff is at 5 p.m. PT at Lumen Field (TICKETS).
WHERE TO WATCH: The match will be available to atch on MLS Season Pass, Apple TV+, Univision and TUDN.
WHERE TO LISTEN: The match will air in English on 950 KJR AM and SiriusXM FC 157 and in Spanish on El Rey 1360AM.
LEAGUES CUP FORMAT: The 2025 Leagues Cup featured all 18 Liga MX teams and the top 18 qualifying clubs from MLS. Teams were divided into Eastern and Western regions and grouped into tiers based on 2024 league performance. Each club played three group stage matches against teams from the opposing league with no draws allowed. Matches that ended with the score level went straight to penalty shootouts with both teams receiving a point and the winner of the shootout receiving an additional point. The top four clubs from each league advanced to the Knockout Rounds culminating in the Leagues Cup Final on Aug. 31.
WHAT’S AT STAKE: Both Seattle and Miami have qualified for the 2026 Concacaf Champions Cup, but in addition to Leagues Cup supremacy, the winner of Sunday’s match will earn a bye to the Round of 16.
PHASE ONE RESULTS AND FINISH:
Sounders: 1st in MLS table: Defeated Cruz Azul 7-0, defeated Santos Laguna 2-1, defeated Tijuana 2-1
Miami: 2nd in MLS table: Defeated Atlas 2-1, defeated Necaxa 5-4 in penalties after a 2-2 draw in regulation, defeated Pumas 3-1
KNOCKOUT ROUND RESULTS:
Sounders: Defeated Club Puebla 4-3 on penalties after a scoreless draw in regulation in Quarterfinals, defeated LA Galaxy 2-0 in Semifinals
Miami: Defeated Tigres 2-1 in Quarterfinals, defeated Orlando City 3-1 in Semifinals
FIFA CLUB WORLD CUP BOOST: Perhaps it’s no coincidence that both the Sounders and Inter Miami have advanced to the Leagues Cup Final after being two of just three MLS teams that participated in this summer’s FIFA Club World Cup. In the 14 matches since exiting, the Sounders are 10-1-3, while Miami is 10-2-2.
PREVIOUS MEETING: Inter Miami defeated the Sounders 1-0 at Lumen Field on April 16, 2022, behind a goal from Robbie Robinson.
LAST TROPHY ON THE LINE: The Sounders have won every trophy available to them since entering MLS in 2009, with four U.S. Open Cups, two MLS Cups, a Supporters’ Shield and a Concacaf Champions Cup to their name. Securing the Leagues Cup title would complete the trophy cabinet and make them the first MLS team to win all five annual competitions.
DERO STEPS UP: With forward Danny Musovski suspended for the Semifinals, Osaze De Rosario stepped up and led the line for Seattle, scoring the icing goal in Seattle’s win over LA in Southern California on Wednesday. It was De Rosario’s fourth First Team goal, and he’ll get the nod again in the Final with Musovski suspended for that contest as well.
DE LA VEGA FLYING: Pedro de la Vega is in the form of his Sounders career and looking every bit like the Designated Player attacker he was brought in to be. The Argentine has five goals in his last seven starts in all competitions including scoring the early opener against the Galaxy.
LEAGUES CUP DOMINANCE: The Sounders have outscored their Leagues Cup opponents 13-2 in five matches while posting three clean sheets in the process. They are spreading the wealth in attack with eight different Sounders having found the back of the net.
GOALS GALORE: Miami is tied with Orlando City for the most goals scored in MLS play this season with 54. Miami, however, has played three fewer matches than their Florida neighbors.
LATE (LATE) DRAMA: Miami has had to pull out some late-match heroics throughout its Leagues Cup journey. The Herons needed a goal in the sixth minute of stoppage time from Marcelo Weigandt to beat Atlas in their opener, a goal in the second minute of stoppage time from Jordi Alba to draw Necaxa in their second Phase One game, an 89th-minute penalty from Luis Suárez to defeat Tigres in their Quarterfinal contest and an 88th-minute go-ahead goal from Lionel Messi to sneak past Orlando City in the Semifinals.
PLAYERS TO WATCH:
- Lionel Messi, F: A player who needs no introduction, Messi is widely considered the greatest player to ever play. The 38-year-old Argentine shows no signs of slowing down, as he’s second in MLS in goals scored (19) and goal contributions (29) all while playing just 1,610 minutes in the league.
- Luis Suárez, F: One of the most prolific strikers of his generation, Suárez has been more of a playmaker this season, tallying six goals and 10 assists in MLS. Messi’s good friend and longtime teammate at Barcelona has three goals so far in Leagues Cup.
- Telasco Segovia, M: With respect to the likes of Sergio Busquets, Rodrigo De Paul and Jordi Alba, Segovia is having a breakout year for Miami. The 22-year-old Venezuela international has seven goals and five assists in MLS and a joint-team-high three goals in Leagues Cup.
