Seattle Sounders and Austin FC take the field this Saturday at Lumen Field with one goal in mind — climbing the Western Conference standings. Funny enough, the teams share more than just ambition right now.
They’re locked at 26 points after 19 matches and sitting side by side in sixth place. What separates them is their current momentum. Austin is coming off back-to-back wins and made good use of the league break to recharge. Seattle, on the other hand, returns from a demanding stretch at the FIFA Club World Cup and hasn’t played an MLS game since early June.
In a matchup like this, a win could push either team into the top five. A loss could make the road to the playoffs a whole lot bumpier.
Seattle returns from the Club World Cup with lineup questions
The Sounders just wrapped up a rare chapter in MLS history. They represented the league at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, facing Botafogo, Atlético de Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain. Their last outing ended in a 2-0 loss to PSG. Before that, their most recent league match was a tense one against Vancouver Whitecaps in early June. In that game, Seattle had two players sent off, Jonathan Bell and Nouhou, both of whom will miss the clash with Austin.
So far, Seattle’s league record stands at seven wins, six draws and five losses. They’re still in the playoff picture, but they can’t afford to get too comfortable.
Albert Rusnák leads the charge on offense with seven goals and three assists. He’ll be key for Seattle as they get back into MLS play, especially at home, where they usually thrive.
Austin comes in rested and riding high
Austin FC is stepping back onto the pitch after taking full advantage of the league break. While other clubs were off competing in the Club World Cup, Austin got some much-needed rest. Their last match was a 2–1 home win over New York Red Bulls on June 14. It was their second straight win, and both of those games saw them scoring in the sixth minute. That kind of quick start could put pressure on a Seattle team still finding its rhythm again.
Brandon Vázquez is in great form right now. He scored the winner against the Red Bulls, bringing his season tally to eight goals and cementing himself as the team’s go-to forward.
Still, there’s one stat that won’t go away. With just 15 goals scored, Austin is tied with CF Montréal for the fewest in MLS this season. The expected goals stat helps paint the full picture. Austin’s expected total is 25, which means they’ve been creating solid chances but not finishing them. That gap between chance creation and actual goals has been holding them back.
Even so, Lumen Field hasn’t been much of a fortress for Seattle when it comes to Austin. In 2023, Austin came in and left with a 2-1 win. Last year, they walked away with a 0–0 draw. That recent track record gives them every reason to believe they can keep the streak going. If they do, it would be a third straight win in the season and a serious statement in the playoff race. Three points on the road would keep them right near the top and turn up the heat on their Western Conference rivals.
