The Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (Concacaf) today announced the dates and times for Sounders FC’s 2022 Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League Round of 16 matchup with Honduran side F.C. Motagua. Motagua is hosting the first leg on Thursday, February 17 at 7:00 p.m. PT in Tegucigalpa before Sounders FC hosts the return leg on Thursday, February 24 at 7:30 p.m. PT at Lumen Field. Both matches are being broadcast via FOX Sports and TUDN in the United States, with further details forthcoming.
Seattle’s matchup with Motagua was determined at the Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League official draw in Miami on December 15. After qualifying for the tournament following the club's 2021 second-place finish in the Western Conference, the Rave Green are facing the Honduran side to begin the club's seventh appearance in the regional tournament. The 16 teams will compete in a knockout competition consisting of two-leg aggregate series, with a champion crowned in May.
Sounders FC is one of four qualified American clubs in the tournament, alongside the Colorado Rapids, New England Revolution and NYCFC, joining Club Léon, Santos Laguna, Cruz Azul and Pumas UNAM of Mexico, CF Montréal Impact and Forge FC of Canada, Comunicaciones FC and CD Guastatoya of Guatemala, Deportivo Saprissa and Santos de Guapiles of Costa Rica, Cavaly AS of Haiti and F.C. Motagua of Honduras.
This marks Seattle's seventh appearance in the tournament, which crowns the best team from North America, Central America and the Caribbean. Sounders FC has advanced to at least the Quarterfinals in four of its previous six appearances, highlighted by a run to the Semifinals in 2012-2013. The Rave Green most recently played in the 2020 tournament, falling to C.D. Olimpia in penalty kicks in the Round of 16. The matchup marks the first contests between Sounders FC and F.C. Motagua.
Sounders FC finished in second place in the Western Conference to end the 2021 season, amassing 60 points with a 17-8-9 record before falling to Real Salt Lake on penalty kicks after 120 minutes of scoreless action in Round One of the Audi 2021 MLS Cup Playoffs. The Rave Green begin the 2022 MLS regular season at home on Sunday, February 27 at 5:00 p.m. PT against newly minted Western Conference side Nashville SC.
