The Seattle Sounders are hosting Charlotte FC on Saturday in the opening match of the 2025 Major League Soccer season. Here is everything you need to know:
WHEN AND WHERE: Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m. PT at Lumen Field (TICKETS).
WHERE TO WATCH: The match will be available to watch on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.
WHERE TO LISTEN: [insert radio]
2024 RECORDS AND STANDINGS: Sounders: 16-9-9 (57 points, 4th West), Charlotte: 14-11-9 (51 points, 5th East)
PREVIOUS MEETING: The Sounders and Charlotte FC played to a 3-3 draw in North Carolina on June 10, 2023. Raúl RuidÃaz recorded a brace and Cristian Roldan added another for Seattle, while Jaylin Lindsey, Ashley Westwood and Patrick Agyemang scored for the hosts. This will be the third all-time meeting between the two clubs since Charlotte’s debut MLS season in 2022.
KEY SOUNDERS ROSTER MOVES:
• Added: forward Jesús Ferreira, winger Paul Arriola, defender Kim Kee-hee
• Departed: forward Raúl RuidÃaz, midfielder Josh Atencio, winger Léo Chú, defender Nathan
KEY CHARLOTTE ROSTER MOVES:
• Added: winger Wilfried Zaha, midfielder Eryk Williamson
• Departed: forward Karol Świderski, defender Jere Uronen, midfielder Junior Urso
QUICK TURNAROUND: The Sounders will return to Seattle to host Charlotte just three days after opening their 2025 Concacaf Champions Cup run in Guatemala against Antigua GFC. Seattle will host Antigua in the second leg of the home-and-series First Round series on Wednesday, Feb. 26.
CHANGING OF THE GUARD: A year after saying goodbye to club legend Nicolás Lodeiro, the Sounders have moved on from forward Raúl RuidÃaz. Sounders General Manager & Chief Soccer Officer Craig Waibel made waves with two splashy in-league moves this offseason by bringing in forward Jesús Ferreira and winger Paul Arriola, both from FC Dallas. Still just 24, Ferreira has 53 goals and 34 assists in 163 career appearances in MLS and is a former MLS Best XI selection (2022).
DEFENSIVE FORTITUDE: The Sounders allowed the fewest goals in the league last year, conceding just 35 times in 34 matches. They run back the entire back four in Yeimar (2024 MLS Best XI), Jackson Ragen (2024 MLS Defender of the Year Finalist), Alex Roldan and Nouhou. Seattle also reacquired 2019 MLS Cup-winner Kim Kee-hee, who was a Korean League Best XI defender last season.
Single Match Tickets Available Now
Single Match Tickets for the 2025 MLS Regular Season are available now! Join us for a vibrant matchday experience filled with action-packed soccer.
LOCK-DOWN DEFENSE: Charlotte finished second in MLS, right behind the Sounders, in goals allowed last year with just 37 goals allowed. They are led by reigning MLS Goalkeeper of the Year Kristijan Kahlina as well as center back and United States World Cup veteran Tim Ream, who joined from Fulham last summer.
AGYEMANG’S ATTACK: Charlotte was bolstered by the breakout performance of Patrick Agyemang last season, who recorded 10 goals and five assists in just over 1,800 minutes. The 24-year-old also played himself into his first United States Men’s National Team camp and scored twice in his first two caps. Charlotte will be relying on a strong follow-up season, especially with the loan addition of Wilfried Zaha, the former English Premier League and current Galatasaray winger.
