Less than a full month after their second consecutive trip to MLS Cup, the Seattle Sounders now know their 2018 slate after the league announced the full schedule on Thursday. Before we hop into the most intriguing matches of the bunch, some quick notes:
- Seattle opens at home this year after starting on the road for the first time in franchise history last season while renovations were done at CenturyLink Field. The Sounders will open against expansion franchise LAFC, which will visit Seattle on March 4.
- The Sounders only have one stretch all season where they play three consecutive matches away from home. Colorado (July 4), New England (July 7) and Atlanta (July 15).
- Seattle will face rivals Portland three times and Vancouver twice, with both sides visiting CenturyLink Field once apiece.
- The Sounders visit the four teams in the warmest climates — FC Dallas (March 18), Sporting Kansas City (April 15), Orlando City (Oct. 17) and the Houston Dynamo (Oct. 21) — in the spring and fall, missing any brutal summer heat.
Now let’s take a look at which games to mark on your calendar, in chronological order:
LAFC, March 4 (CenturyLink Field)
2017 record and finish: N/A
Key players: Carlos Vela, Diego Rossi, Laurent Ciman
The Sounders waste no time getting to know their new Western Conference foes to the south, as they look to make a name for themselves in their inaugural season. LAFC boasts two 2017 Sounders in goalkeeper Tyler Miller, who was selected in the
Expansion Draft
, and midfielder Calum Mallace, who was taken in the Re-Entry Draft. LAFC has generated a lot of hype, especially with the hiring of Head Coach Bob Bradley and coup of Mexican international Carlos Vela, but they still have only 10 players on their roster as of the schedule release. The unknown only piques more interest.
Toronto FC, May 9 (BMO Field)
2017 record and finish: 20-5-9 (69 points, 1st East); MLS Cup Champions
Key players: Jozy Altidore, Sebastian Giovinco, Michael Bradley
There will not be a more highly anticipated cross-conference match in MLS all season than on May 9 when the Sounders return to BMO Field, the ground where they split the last two MLS Cups with Toronto FC. TFC defeated Seattle 2-0 a little less than a month ago to avenge their penalty-kick loss in 2016, and the two teams will square off again in what could potentially be yet another preview of the 2018 final. Toronto returns stars Jozy Altidore, Sebastian Giovinco and Michael Bradley, as well as instrumental pieces in Víctor Vázquez, Marky Delgado and Justin Morrow. Seattle enters 2018 with 22 of its same players, including a re-signed Clint Dempsey, and will be looking for payback on the shores of Lake Ontario.
Portland Timbers, June 30 (CenturyLink Field)
2017 record and finish: 15-11-8 (53 points, 1st West); Lost in Conference Semifinals
Key Players: Diego Valeri, Sebástian Blanco, Fanendo Adi
It’s a match that needs no introduction. The Sounders welcome the Timbers to CenturyLink Field for the first and only home tilt in what will be the 101st meeting between the two storied clubs after they meet in Portland in May. The Timbers won the Western Conference regular season over the Sounders last year on a tiebreaker, and they were largely led by 2017 league MVP Diego Valeri. The Argentine No. 10 scored in an MLS-record nine consecutive games down the stretch and carried an injury-depleted roster to the top of the conference nearly by himself before Houston upended Portland in the West semifinals. This year, though, they will be without the service of United States international Darlington Nagbe, who was traded to Atlanta United in December (more on him shortly). The Sounders have still never lost to the Timbers at home in MLS regular-season play, boasting a 7-0-3 record.
Atlanta United, July 15 (Mercedes-Benz Stadium)
2017 record and finish: 15-9-10 (55 points, 4th East); Lost in Knockout Round
Key Players: Miguel Almirón, Josef Martinez, Darlington Nagbe
Atlanta topped Seattle in attendance last season, marking the first time the Sounders did not lead the league. Thanks to a gorgeous new home at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, where owner Arthur Blank’s NFL Falcons also play, the Five Stripes will feature the most intense atmosphere the Sounders play in outside of Cascadia all season. Seattle and Atlanta played to a scoreless draw in their first-ever meeting at CenturyLink Field last year, but with several stars missing on both sides, they will get a more honest crack at each other mid-July.
Atlanta made a record-breaking splash in December when they sent a potential $1.65M in allocation money to Portland for Darlington Nagbe. The 27-year-old midfielder joins one of the best young midfield corps in the league featuring Miguel Almirón, who took home the MLS Newcomer of the Year Award following his nine-goal, 14-assist performance. Throw in forward Josef Martinez, who scored 19 goals in just 20 games last year, as well as fellow South Americans Yamil Asad and Hector Villalba and the Seattle-Atlanta matchup has the makings for tons of fireworks.
Houston Dynamo, Oct. 6 (CenturyLink Field)
2017 record and finish: 13-10-11 (50 points, 4th West); Lost in Conference Championship
Key Players: Alberth Elis, Cubo Torres, Mauro Manotas
Seattle welcomes Houston to CenturyLink Field in the first meeting since the Sounders routed the Dynamo to capture their second consecutive Western Conference Championship. Seattle won convincingly 3-0 (5-0 on aggregate) to sink Houston in one of the Rave Green’s best performances all season. Longtime Dynamo forward Will Bruin had three goals in four games last year against his former club, including a goal and an assist in the return leg of the conference finals. Houston surprised most with its massive turnaround from last in the West in 2016 to a final four team in 2017, and the Dynamo are still equipped with loads of young talent. Erick “Cubo” Torres had a resurrection last season, and with the likes of Alberth Elis, Romell Quioto, Mauro Manotas and Tomás Martínez, the penultimate match of the regular season could very well be a playoff preview.
Sounders FC season tickets are still available, including new 2018 seating options in the 300 level. For complete information, details and pricing on 2018 Sounders FC season tickets, fans should call 877-MLS-GOAL or email Sales@SoundersFC.com.
