The Seattle Sounders are hosting Liga MX’s Chivas de Guadalajara in their final Phase One match of the 2026 Leagues Cup on Wednesday. Here is everything you need to know:
WHEN AND WHERE: Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m. PT at Lumen Field (TICKETS).
WHERE TO WATCH: The match will be available to watch on Apple TV.
WHERE TO LISTEN: The match will air in Spanish on El Rey 1360AM.
LEAGUES CUP FORMAT: The 2026 Leagues Cup features 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 2025 league performance. Each club will play three Phase One matches against teams from the opposing league with no draws allowed. Matches that end with the score level will go 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 advance to the Knockout Rounds where it will be a single-elimination sprint to the Leagues Cup Final on Sept. 6. This also marks the first tournament where select Mexican clubs will host matches after previously only MLS teams had home-field advantage.
WHAT’S AT STAKE: In addition to continental bragging rights, the top three finishers from Leagues Cup will secure automatic bids to the 2027 Concacaf Champions Cup. The champion will receive a direct spot in the CCC Round of 16.
CURRENT DOMESTIC STANDINGS (W-L-T): Sounders: 7-7-3 (24 points, 9th West, MLS), Chivas: 1-1-1 (4 points, 12th Liga MX Apertura)
FORM GUIDE (all competitions, most recent first): Seattle: WLLLL, Chivas: LDDWL
LEAGUES CUP MATCHDAYS 1 AND 2 RESULTS:
- Sounders: Lost 3-0 at Toluca, defeated Querétaro 3-0
- Chivas: Lost in penalty shootout 5-4 after a 1-1 draw at LAFC, lost 1-0 at FC Dallas
LEAGUES CUP STANDINGS (W-L-PKW-PKL): Sounders: 1-1-0-0 (3 points, 14th MLS), Chivas: 0-1-0-1 (1 point, 9th Liga MX)
HOW THEY ADVANCE: The Sounders are technically still alive in the Leagues Cup but will need a substantial win over Chivas and a lot of help from other MLS teams dropping points to qualify for the Knockout Rounds as one of the top four teams. Chivas, meanwhile, head into Matchday 3 already eliminated from advancing.
Ticket & Bobble 3-Match Pack
Lock in three late-season matches that matter with the Ticket & Bobble 3-Match Pack, including Aug. 19 vs. Austin FC, Sept. 26 vs. Minnesota United FC (Vamos Sounders Match), and Oct. 1 vs. Sporting Kansas City. At each match, you’ll collect an exclusive Sounders player bobblehead, starting with Cristian Roldan on Aug. 19.
ALL-TIME MEETINGS: This will be the third all-time competitive meeting between the two clubs after a home-and-home in the 2018 Concacaf Champions Cup quarterfinals. The Sounders won 1-0 in Seattle before bowing out of the tournament following a 3-0 defeat in Mexico.
BACK TO WINNING WAYS: The Sounders exploded for three goals against Querétaro on Matchday 2 to snap a seven-match losing streak in all competitions.
GOMEZ’S DAY TO REMEMBER: Making his inaugural First Team start, 20-year-old Sounders forward Sebastian Gomez scored and assisted in Seattle’s win over Querétaro.
ABOUT CHIVAS: Chivas are one of the most decorated and supported clubs in Mexico and famously only sign players of Mexican descent. Chivas are two-time Concacaf Champions Cup winners and 12-time Mexican champions, and they were the launching pad for many Mexico legends including Chicharito and Carlos Vela.
PLAYERS TO WATCH:
- Brian Gutierrez, M: A former Chicago Fire Homegrown, Gutierrez joined Chivas last December for a reported $5M fee plus a sell-on clause. The 23-year-old was previously a United States international but changed his allegiance to his parents’ home country of Mexico in 2025. Gutierrez was named to Mexico’s 2026 World Cup squad and made four appearances for El Tri. He has two goals and two assists in 21 appearances for Chivas so far.
- Richard Ledezma, D: Like Gutierrez, Ledezma was also born in the United States and came through an MLS academy with Real Salt Lake before switching his international allegiance from the U.S. to Mexico this year. The 25-year-old wingback joined Guadalajara last year after spending seven years with Dutch giants PSV and a 2023 loan spell with New York City FC.
- Armando González, F: González took Liga MX by storm last year, scoring 24 goals in 34 matches across the Apertura and Clausura seasons, making him the league’s second-highest goalscorer. Nicknamed La Hormiga (“The Ant”), the 23-year-old Mexican international is one of Liga MX’s most exciting attackers.
