SEATTLE, WASH. – Major League Soccer today announced its 2018 regular season schedule, a campaign that sees each of its 23 clubs play 34 matches beginning on March 3 and concluding on October 28. Seattle Sounders FC has 13 matches slated for a national television audience on ESPN and FOX's family of networks, beginning with ESPN broadcasting the Rave Green's season-opener against expansion side Los Angeles FC on March 4 on the Xbox Pitch at CenturyLink Field.
Sounders FC is hosting two of its five 2018 Cascadia Cup matchups against Portland and Vancouver, with the club set for three nationally televised fixtures against the Timbers, the only Cascadia side it faces three times this season. The June 30 matchup between Seattle and Portland at CenturyLink Field is set to air on FOX, one of seven MLS matches broadcast on the free-to-air network in 2018. Sounders FC has two matches in 2018 on network FOX, with the second coming on Sunday, July 15 against Atlanta United FC at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
The 2018 MLS season introduces expansion side Los Angeles FC, bringing the league to a total of 23 clubs in its 23rd campaign. In addition to facing off in the season-opener on March 4, the Rave Green are set to play in LAFC’s first-ever match at newly-constructed Banc of California Stadium on Sunday, April 29 (FS1).
Eleven of the club's final 13 matches of 2018 are against Western Conference opponents, culminating with a home match on Decision Day against the San Jose Earthquakes on Sunday, October 28. Other 2018 season highlights include a rematch of the last two MLS Cups against Toronto FC on Wednesday, May 9 at BMO Field, with a national broadcast on FS1, as well as a pair of nationally televised fixtures with the LA Galaxy on August 18 (ESPN) and September 23 (FS1).
A complete listing of Sounders FC's 2018 regional broadcast details is set to be announced at a later date. Of Sounders FC's 13 nationally televised fixtures, six matches are airing on ESPN, five on FS1 and two on network FOX.
Following four-consecutive years of increased attendance, viewership and social media engagement, the league’s 2018 match and national broadcast schedule has been designed to drive continued growth for the league and deliver more matches to MLS fans in the U.S. and Canada. This year’s national broadcast schedule showcases MLS's big events – Heineken Rivalry Week, the MLS All-Star Game presented by Target and Decision Day presented by AT&T – and includes more matches than ever before on the premier networks of the league’s partners: FOX, ESPN, the Univision Network, TSN, CTV and TVA Sports.
During the 2018 MLS regular season, each club plays 34 games, including 17 home games and 17 away games. Teams face each of their conference opponents (10 in the East, 11 in the West) twice during the season with one game at home and one game away. Western Conference teams play one additional intra-conference game and Eastern Conference teams play two. All teams face each non-conference opponent once.
The 2018 MLS regular season opens on Saturday, March 3 and concludes with MLS Decision Day presented by AT&T on Sunday, October 28. The final day of the regular season presents 11 matches all starting at 1:30 p.m. PT in the thrilling climax before the start of the Audi 2018 MLS Cup Playoffs. FS1 will have special coverage of Decision Day. The 2018 Audi MLS Cup Playoffs begin on Wednesday, October 31 and the 2018 MLS Cup is set for Saturday, December 8.
Sounders FC begins its 2018 preseason presented by adidas on Monday, January 22 at Starfire Sports before traveling to out-of-town training camps in Chula Vista, California (January 22-28) and Tucson, Arizona (February 2-8). Prior to the start of camp, Sounders FC begins its preparations for the 2018 campaign with the adidas MLS Player Combine in Orlando from January 11-17 ahead of the first two rounds of the 2018 MLS SuperDraft on Friday, January 19. Seattle currently holds the 22nd and 45th overall picks.
Prior to Seattle's 10th MLS campaign beginning on March 4, Sounders FC is set to face Salvadoran club Santa Tecla FC in the Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League, the region’s premier club championship. The Rave Green hit the road for the first leg in El Salvador on Thursday, February 22 before hosting the second leg on Thursday, March 1 on the Xbox Pitch at CenturyLink Field. Kickoff times for both matches are set for 7:00 p.m. PT.
Sounders FC season tickets are still available, including new 2018 seating options in the 300 level, with full information available at SoundersFC.com or by calling 877-MLS-GOAL. For complete information, details and pricing on 2018 Sounders FC season tickets, fans should call 877-MLS-GOAL or email Sales@SoundersFC.com.
2018 SOUNDERS FC MLS REGULAR SEASON SCHEDULE
<strong>DAY</strong> |
<strong>DATE</strong> |
<strong>OPPONENT</strong> |
<strong>KICKOFF (PT) / NATIONAL TV</strong> |
<p>Sunday</p> |
<p>March 4</p> |
<p>vs. Los Angeles FC</p> |
<p>2:00 p.m. / ESPN</p> |
<p>Sunday</p> |
<p>March 18</p> |
<p>at FC Dallas</p> |
<p>2:00 p.m.</p> |
<p>Saturday</p> |
<p>March 31</p> |
<p>vs. Montreal Impact</p> |
<p>7:00 p.m. / TVA</p> |
<p>Sunday</p> |
<p>April 15</p> |
<p>at Sporting Kansas City</p> |
<p>1:00 p.m. / ESPN</p> |
<p>Sunday</p> |
<p>April 22</p> |
<p>vs. Minnesota United FC</p> |
<p>1:00 p.m. / ESPN</p> |
<p>Sunday</p> |
<p>April 29</p> |
<p>at Los Angeles FC</p> |
<p>6:00 p.m. / FS1</p> |
<p>Saturday</p> |
<p>May 5</p> |
<p>vs. Columbus Crew SC</p> |
<p>1:00 p.m.</p> |
<p>Wednesday</p> |
<p>May 9</p> |
<p>at Toronto FC</p> |
<p>4:30 p.m. / FS1, TSN</p> |
<p>Sunday</p> |
<p>May 13</p> |
<p>at Portland Timbers</p> |
<p>1:00 p.m. / ESPN</p> |
<p>Saturday</p> |
<p>May 26</p> |
<p>vs. Real Salt Lake</p> |
<p>1:00 p.m.</p> |
<p>Saturday</p> |
<p>June 2</p> |
<p>at Real Salt Lake</p> |
<p>6:30 p.m.</p> |
<p>Saturday</p> |
<p>June 9</p> |
<p>vs. D.C. United</p> |
<p>7:00 p.m.</p> |
<p>Wednesday</p> |
<p>June 13</p> |
<p>at New York Red Bulls</p> |
<p>5:00 p.m.</p> |
<p>Saturday</p> |
<p>June 23</p> |
<p>vs. Chicago Fire</p> |
<p>7:00 p.m.</p> |
<p>Saturday</p> |
<p>June 30</p> |
<p>vs. Portland Timbers</p> |
<p>1:30 p.m. / FOX</p> |
<p>Wednesday</p> |
<p>July 4</p> |
<p>at Colorado Rapids</p> |
<p>6:00 p.m.</p> |
<p>Saturday</p> |
<p>July 7</p> |
<p>at New England Revolution</p> |
<p>4:30 p.m.</p> |
<p>Sunday</p> |
<p>July 15</p> |
<p>at Atlanta United FC</p> |
<p>11:00 a.m. / FOX</p> |
<p>Saturday</p> |
<p>July 21</p> |
<p>vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC</p> |
<p>1:00 p.m. / TSN</p> |
<p>Wednesday</p> |
<p>July 25</p> |
<p>at San Jose Earthquakes</p> |
<p>7:30 p.m.</p> |
<p>Sunday</p> |
<p>July 29</p> |
<p>vs. New York City FC</p> |
<p>2:00 p.m. / ESPN</p> |
<p>Saturday</p> |
<p>August 4</p> |
<p>at Minnesota United FC</p> |
<p>5:00 p.m.</p> |
<p>Sunday</p> |
<p>August 12</p> |
<p>vs. FC Dallas</p> |
<p>5:00 p.m. / FS1</p> |
<p>Saturday</p> |
<p>August 18</p> |
<p>vs. LA Galaxy</p> |
<p>12:30 p.m. / ESPN</p> |
<p>Sunday</p> |
<p>August 26</p> |
<p>at Portland Timbers</p> |
<p>6:30 p.m. / FS1</p> |
<p>Saturday</p> |
<p>September 1</p> |
<p>vs. Sporting Kansas City</p> |
<p>1:00 p.m.</p> |
<p>Saturday</p> |
<p>September 15</p> |
<p>at Vancouver Whitecaps FC</p> |
<p>7:00 p.m. / TSN</p> |
<p>Wednesday</p> |
<p>September 19</p> |
<p>vs. Philadelphia Union</p> |
<p>7:30 p.m.</p> |
<p>Sunday</p> |
<p>September 23</p> |
<p>at LA Galaxy</p> |
<p>4:00 p.m. / FS1</p> |
<p>Saturday</p> |
<p>September 29</p> |
<p>vs. Colorado Rapids</p> |
<p>1:00 p.m.</p> |
<p>Saturday</p> |
<p>October 6</p> |
<p>vs. Houston Dynamo</p> |
<p>TBD</p> |
<p>Wednesday</p> |
<p>October 17</p> |
<p>at Orlando City SC</p> |
<p>4:30 p.m.</p> |
<p>Sunday</p> |
<p>October 21</p> |
<p>at Houston Dynamo</p> |
<p>TBD</p> |
<p>Sunday</p> |
<p>October 28</p> |
<p>vs. San Jose Earthquakes</p> |
<p>1:30 p.m.</p> |
