Following the result of tonight’s Los Angeles FC vs. LA Galaxy match that saw a 5-3 victory for the home side at Banc of California Stadium, Sounders FC is now set to face LAFC in the Western Conference Championship. With the right to play in the 2019 MLS Cup on the line, the Western Conference Championship is being contested in Los Angeles on Tuesday, October 29 (7:00 p.m. PT / ESPN, ESPN Deportes). Thursday night’s result also qualified the Rave Green for the 2020 CONCACAF Champions League, which begins in February.
MEDIA NOTE: There is no Sounders FC player availability tomorrow, October 25 due to the team holding a re-gen session away from Starfire Sports. Head Coach Brian Schmetzer is being made available to media at Starfire Sports Complex tomorrow at 1:00 p.m. PT. Media interested in attending are asked to RSVP with a member of Sounders FC Communications. A complete training schedule ahead of next Tuesday’s match is being distributed on Friday morning.
The Rave Green, who prevailed over Real Salt Lake on Wednesday evening to secure their spot in the conference final, had to wait through tonight’s result to determine their opponent and venue for the penultimate match of the 2019 Major League Soccer postseason. With LAFC’s win over the Galaxy, second-seeded Seattle now faces top-seeded LAFC at Banc of California Stadium on October 29. The Western Conference Championship is currently set to be broadcast on ESPN and ESPN Deportes in a 7:00 p.m. PT kickoff.
With new postseason format this season in MLS, clubs play in three rounds of conference playoffs: the first round, Conference Semifinals and Conference Championship. Each round now consists of one single-elimination match, with the higher-seeded opponent as host. With a win next Tuesday, Sounders FC would claim the Western Conference title and move on to play for the 2019 MLS Cup on November 10.
With LAFC’s win tonight, Sounders FC also qualifies for the 2020 CONCACAF Champions League, which begins in February. Before tonight, MLS’ only unclaimed CCL spot was reserved for the 2019 MLS Cup champion, and the three other teams remaining in the postseason have already clinched a CCL spot (LAFC / Supporters’ Shield, New York City FC / Eastern Conference top seed, Atlanta United FC / U.S. Open Cup, Montreal Impact / Canadian Cup). Seattle now qualifies for the region's continental championship by holding the highest point total among eligible remaining teams.
2019 marks the 11th consecutive season that Sounders FC has qualified for the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs, which sets a new league record as the longest all-time postseason qualification streak. Seattle is set to play in the Western Conference Championship for the fifth time in the last eight seasons, including the third time in the past four campaigns.
