It’s been a little over three months since the Seattle Sounders became MLS Cup champions for the second time. With the 2020 MLS season just around the corner – single match tickets became available today – here are five home matches you can’t miss at CenturyLink Field this year.
1. Chicago Fire
Sunday, March 1
12:00 p.m. PT | ESPN
The Sounders kick off the 2020 season by hosting the new look – literally – Chicago Fire at CenturyLink Field. Seattle has never lost a match at home against the Fire, portending a bright start to the Rave Green’s title defense. It’s difficult to predict how this match will play out, as the visitors are still in the process of hiring a Sporting Director, Head Coach and have three Designated Player spots to fill. But if it’s anything like prior meetings between these two clubs, expect plenty of fireworks in the final third.
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2. LAFC
Saturday, July 25
12:00 p.m. PT | ABC
You won’t want to miss this rematch of the 2019 Western Conference Final. The last time these two sides met, the Sounders outclassed the Supporters’ Shield winners 3-1 at Banc of California Stadium to advance to MLS Cup. League pundits and fans alike expected the Gold & Black to bulldoze through the playoffs, but their historic campaign came to a halt as the Sounders went on to win the championship. With Seattle and LAFC squaring off again down in California a week later, these two fixtures could be decisive in the battle for Western Conference supremacy.
Plus, who doesn’t want to see Xavier Arreaga absolutely shut down Carlos Vela again?
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3. Portland Timbers
Saturday, August 22
1:00 p.m. PT | ESPN
The greatest rivalry in American soccer, Seattle hosts Portland during a jam-packed summer schedule. Last season, the Sounders secured back-to-back Cascadia Cup titles with a gutsy 2-1 victory at Providence Park, laying the foundation for a strong finish to the campaign and a run to MLS Cup. This meeting at CenturyLink Field in August will likely determine whether the Sounders can become the first team in the MLS era to three-peat as champions of Cascadia.
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4. LA Galaxy
Sunday, September 13
3:30 p.m. PT | FS1
The top two MLS teams of the last decade, at least according to Bobby Warshaw, Seattle and LA are set to face off in the final weeks of the 2020 MLS regular season. Dating back to 2017, the Sounders have scored 14 goals while posting a 3-1-2 record against Galaxy. When the Rave Green won their first MLS Cup in 2016, there was a shift in the power balance of the Western Conference. Look for the Sounders to cement their status ahead of LA in the MLS pecking order with another big win at CenturyLink Field.
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5. Nashville SC
Sunday, October 4
1:30 p.m. PT
Over the last four years, Seattle’s seeding in the postseason has come right down the wire on Decision Day. And under the new single-elimination format, small variations in the standings can lead to massive advantages once the playoffs get underway. Hosting the MLS newcomers on the final day of the regular season, the October 4 matchup should boast an electric environment.
