The Seattle Sounders are visiting Cascadia rival the Vancouver Whitecaps on Sunday on MLS Decision Day. Here is everything you need to know:
WHEN AND WHERE: Kickoff is at 3 p.m. PT at BC Place in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
WHERE TO WATCH: The match will be televised on FOX 13+, KUNS and Prime Video.
WHERE TO LISTEN: The match will air on 1090 KJR AM and El Rey 1360AM.
2021 RECORDS AND STANDINGS: Sounders: 17-8-8 (59 points, 1st West), Whitecaps: 12-9-12 (48 points, 6th West)
PREVIOUS MEETINGS: The Sounders are 1-0-1 against the Whitecaps this season, with both matches coming at Lumen Field. The two teams drew 2-2 on June 26 before the Sounders won 4-1 on Oct. 9.
FORM GUIDE (most recent first): Seattle: DLLDL, Vancouver: DWDWW
CONTROL YOUR DESTINY: The Sounders enter the final match of the regular season in pole position to finish first place in the Western Conference. With a victory, Seattle will lock up the No. 1 seed, get a first-round bye, guarantee home-field advantage until MLS Cup and…
CCL SPOT ON THE LINE: The first and second finishers in the West will earn 2022 Concacaf Champions League berths. The No. 1 seed in the conference opposite the Supporters’ Shield-winners is given a place, as well as the United States-based MLS team with the next-best record since the U.S. Open Cup was not played this year. The second-place finisher in the West is guaranteed to end the regular season with more points than the second-place team in the East.
CASCADIA CUP UP FOR GRABS: The Sounders have even more to play for on Sunday, with regional glory at stake. Seattle can clinch its third consecutive Cascadia Cup if it earns at least a draw on the road.
LONG TIME NO BC: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and international travel restrictions between the United States and Canada, the Sounders have not played at BC Place in Vancouver in over two and a half years. The last time Seattle traveled to its northern rival was in a scoreless draw on March 30, 2019.
TRIUMVIRATE IS BACK: Monday’s 1-1 draw with the LA Galaxy featured Nicolás Lodeiro, Raúl Ruidíaz and Jordan Morris on the pitch together for the first time this season, with Morris making his season debut after recovering from an ACL injury in February. Seattle is hoping its trio of 2020 MLS Best XI players can help lead the club back to MLS Cup for the fifth time in six seasons.
FINAL CHANCE AT THE GOLDEN BOOT: Ruidíaz enters the final weekend of the regular season one goal back in the MLS Golden Boot race. He and D.C. United’s Ola Kamara are tied for second with 17 goals behind New York City FC’s Taty Castellanos with 18. One more goal for Ruidíaz, who returned from injury and scored earlier this week, will also set a club record for goals in a single season.
POINT AND THEY’RE IN: The Sounders aren’t the only team in control of its own destiny. After spending most of the season in the Western Conference basement, the Whitecaps are one of the hottest teams in MLS and can secure an unlikely playoff berth with a win or draw on Sunday. They can still qualify with a loss, but they will need help from other results around the league.
SARTINI SURGE: Since parting ways with Head Coach Marc Dos Santos on Aug. 27, the Whitecaps are 7-2-4 in 13 matches under interim coach and Director of Methodology Vanni Sartini. Vancouver was 5-7-8 in 20 matches before Sartini took over.
HOME-FIELD ADVANTAGE: Despite starting the year playing their home matches at Real Salt Lake’s Rio Tinto Stadium, the Whitecaps are tied for first in the Western Conference with 10 home wins. Since returning to Vancouver on Aug. 21, the ‘Caps are 7-1-0 at BC Place.
