May 4, 2022 was a historic day for the Seattle Sounders as the team secured its first-ever Concacaf Champions League title.
It was a surreal occasion for the Rave Green, who not only defeated Liga MX powerhouse Pumas UNAM on 5-2 aggregate, but also became the first and only MLS team to win a trophy in the Concacaf-sanctioned tournament.
“I think everybody's exceptionally proud,” said goalkeeper Stefan Frei. “There's a couple [MLS] teams that were so close, and then for us to finally be able to do it, I think was a big statement.”
Fast forward three years later, the success and overall feeling of that day lives on through a new opportunity in store for the Sounders. In December of 2022, FIFA announced that an updated 32 team-format would be integrated into the FIFA Club World Cup, beginning in 2025. Along with Seattle’s qualification to the Club World Cup held in Morocco in 2023, the team’s win over Pumas earned them a spot in the revamped competition set to commence in less than two weeks.
“It's a completely different tournament,” said Head Coach Brian Schmetzer. “The way FIFA has envisioned this is it’s a much grander scale. The champions of each continent, I think that was good, but this is obviously something where FIFA feels it is important to crown a true Club World Cup [winner].”
Pride Night (vs. Austin FC)
Show your colors and celebrate love with a $36 ticket and rainbow Pride socks featuring Sounders branding—a must-have for any supporter. Grab your tickets and make it a night of inclusivity, community, and soccer!
Kickoff at 7:30 p.m. PT on June 28.
The Sounders fell 1-0 to Egyptian side Al Ahly in their Club World Cup debut on February 4, 2023. While goalkeeper Stefan Frei said the upcoming string of matches is not seen as a chance of redemption from their previous appearance, the players are looking forward to competing and showcasing their talents against some of the best clubs from around the world.
“I hope we gained a little bit of knowledge, a little bit of experience out of that, but we're going to treat this as a separate tournament,” said Frei. “We're really excited that we get to play in these matches.”
Unlike Seattle’s previous single-elimination experience in Morocco, the team will have three guaranteed matches with the new inclusion of group stages. Drawn to Group B of the tournament, the Sounders are set to face UEFA Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain, three-time Brazilian Championship victors Botafogo and Spanish giants Atlético Madrid.
“We know how good each team that we play against is going to be, and the talented individuals they have in their teams,” said forward Jesús Ferreira. “And so for us, it is just about being collective, being a unit, and grinding games out.”
The Sounders’ CCL title showcased what the team is capable of at an international level. Beginning on June 15, the Rave Green have the chance to make a statement once again, but this time, on an even bigger stage.
“We're playing at home, playing in Seattle, and we're playing in our stadium…I think we need to use that to fuel us,” said midfielder Obed Vargas. “This team always has a different mentality when we go into big games like those. We showed that in our Champions League run, 2022…I saw different players come out, and I think that's going to happen again.”
