WATCH: Recapping a Strong Sounders Start to 2026 Season
Emerald City Spectrum beat writer Qasim Ali recaps a 3-1-1 start to the 2026 season for the Seattle Sounders, who have already advanced to the Concacaf Champions Cup quarterfinal through late March.
Sounders Trade Georgi Minoungou to Colorado for $2 million
The Seattle Sounders continue to stockpile money and assets, trading Burkina Faso national winger Georgi Minoungou to the Colorado Rapids for $2 million in general allocation money (GAM) on Thursday, per Niko Moreno of Sounder at Heart and confirmed by Tom Bogert of The Athletic.
Georgi, 23, is one of the most dynamic dribblers in the MLS. He came into the league by way of the team's MLS Next Pro side, Tacoma Defiance, before earning a contract through 2029 with the first team. In 34 MLS matches with the team, Georgi scored two goals and picked up 11 starts, usually manning a "super sub" role to add a punch to head coach Brian Schmetzer's offense.
Georgi has been dealing with a lingering foot injury, missing a few games for Seattle before returning to start in the team's 0-0 draw with Minnesota this past Sunday.
Sounders Draw with Minnesota in Scoreless Grudge Match
The Seattle Sounders played to a 0-0 draw with Minnesota United on Sunday morning, which eliminated Seattle in a dramatic three-game series last season.
The Seattle Sounders went into Allianz Stadium looking for a fifth consecutive win away from Lumen Field. They got about a third of what they bargained for, playing to a 0-0 draw with the Loons to move to 3-1-1 on the young season.
Minnesota played its usual low block, dropping five defenders back and daring Seattle to beat them without giving up transition chances. Both sides generated around one expected goal, as there were moments of brilliance, especially toward the end of the game.
In the end, the Sounders kept their fifth clean sheet of the year as they head into a short international break in the middle of the Western Conference standings.
Sounders Finish Off 'Caps, Advance to Concacaf Quarters
"SEEEEEAAAATTTTLEEE. SOOOUUUUNNDDERSS."
The classic chant of Lumen Field echoed through downtown — Spokane, that is — on Wednesday night.
The Rave Green had plenty to be happy about east of the Cascades — their Sounders are Concacaf Champions Cup quarterfinal-bound for the first time since 2022, when they won the continental tournament.
The Sounders did it by first beating the Vancouver Whitecaps 3-0 on the road last week before leveraging two late goals to win the second leg 2-1 at One Spokane Stadium on Wednesday as Lumen Field undergoes FIFA World Cup preparations.
Sounders Epitomize 'Bend Don't Break' in 1-0 Win Over Earthquakes
There were heroes everywhere in the Seattle Sounders' 1-0 MLS win over the San Jose Earthquakes on Sunday afternoon.
Paul Rothrock led a depleted Sounders (3-1-0 W-L-D) front with strong runs that netted a 20th-minute goal, while keeper Andrew Thomas had arguably his best game in 2026 with seven saves.
But what Antino Lopez did in the 74th minute to preserve that scoreline will stand the test of time.
Arriola Picks Up Brace for Sounders in First Leg Domination In Vancouver
From the first moments of the Seattle Sounders' Concacaf Round of 16 clash with the Vancouver Whitecaps on Thursday, Paul Arriola tested his limits. The veteran, subjected to nearly a year of rehab after tearing his ACL in the 2025 edition of the tournament, earned his first start of the year for a Sounders squad mauled by injuries early.
He paid off the team's confidence in him, attacking Vancouver's backline with unceasing runs to the endline. His hard work manifested a brace, as Seattle won the first leg of the two-game series 3-0 in a stunner. Paul Rothrock added the other score after coming on for Arriola late, as it was truly a day to remember for the Pauls of Seattle.
Seattle will finish the series next Wednesday in Spokane as Lumen Field undergoes renovations for the upcoming FIFA World Cup.
It was a signature early win for Seattle, which downed a 3-0-0 Vancouver squad that had looked about as good as any team in North America heading into Thursday.
Sounders Announce Extensions for 4 Players Ahead of Concacaf Run
The Seattle Sounders made sure to hold on to some key pieces of their 2025 Leagues-Cup-winning team, extending four players on Tuesday with multi-year extensions.
Defenders Alex Roldan and Nouhou and strikers Osaze De Rosario and Danny Musovski each inked extensions, with the first three set to stick around through the 2028-29 campaign with options for 2029-30. Musovski's deal runs through 2027-28 with an option for 2028-29.
Roldan and Nouhou have each become staples in the backline, with Roldan occupying the right back spot of the 4-2-3-1 alignment while Nouhou stays on the left. Nouhou, a top talent for Cameroon in the upcoming FIFA World Cup, is arguably the best duelist on a Sounders side full of great defenders.
Sounders Earn Second Clean Sheet, Notch Road Win over St. Louis
A night full of pressing left both sides tired, but the Seattle Sounders prevailed 1-0 over host St. Louis City on Saturday night thanks to an early second-half goal from Kalani Kossa-Rienzi. It was the first road win of the season for the Sounders (2-1-0 W-L-D), who warded off plenty of late chances from City (0-2-1) in front of a rowdy home crowd at Energizer Park.
Keeper Andrew Thomas earned that clean sheet, picking up five saves while Sounders defenders escorted five shots away on their own. Paul Arriola got his first extended run of the season, while veteran defensive pieces like Cristian Roldan and Jackson Ragen shined to hold St. Louis to a goose egg.
While points on the road are something to celebrate, as the Sounders check off game two of five consecutive MLS fixtures on the road while Lumen Field undergoes World Cup alterations, it wasn't all good.
Sounders Continue to Struggle in Sandy, Suffer First Loss of 2026 vs. RSL
The Seattle Sounders ran into a familiar wall in Real Salt Lake on Saturday night, losing 2-1 against a short-handed young squad in Sandy.
Standing out for RSL was 18-year-old Zavier Gozo, who had a definitive hand in each goal, and keeper Rafael Cabral, whose six saves placed the 35-year-old firmly atop man-of-the-match conversations.
Cristian Roldan opened his 2026 scoring account with a header off a corner from Albert Rusnak, but his score started what turned out to be a doomed comeback attempt. By the end of the night, the Sounders extended arguably the most notorious current club streak — Seattle is now 0-13-3 at America First Field since 2011.
Sounders Overcome Tough Calls, Injuries in 2-0 Season-Opening Win
In one of the clunkier games of soccer ever played under the lights of Lumen Field, the hometown Sounders emerged with a 2-0 win over the Colorado Rapids to open the 2026 season.
Paul Rothrock took over early for an injured Jordan Morris, picking up a hustle-driven assist and a second-half goal to add to his local legend. Keeper Andrew Thomas wasn't tested much, but logged a clean sheet in his first game after being named the starter.
All in all, the Sounders were in another weight class from a younger Colorado squad, winning practically every moment of the game.
Sounders Transfer Reed Baker-Whiting to Nashville for $800,000
The Seattle Sounders handled business in Renton against USL side Louisville City FC on Sunday. But while Osaze De Rosario put up his second straight preseason friendly brace, general manager Craig Waibel and company moved on from another young player in the program.
Niko Moreno of Sounder at Heart first reported the transfer of 20-year-old defender Reed Baker-Whiting to fellow MLS side Nashville S.C. for $800,000, later confirmed by multiple reports. The move puts an end to speculation of where the uber-talented player would find minutes, as he notched just 544 in 2025, primarily in the backline.
He heads to a contending Nashville team needing more creators and will likely get a chance to play a more attacking role as the former Defiance prospect, who once drew European attention, gets a fresh start.
Sounders Split Friendlies in Spain as De Rosario Shines; Backline Injuries Pile Up
The Seattle Sounders have plenty to sort out in the way of getting their lineup ready for Feb. 22's MLS opener against Colorado. The team took steps toward answering some questions on Thursday, wrapping up their multi-week trip to Portugal and Spain with a pair of friendlies in Marbella, Spain.
Seattle claimed the first game against Swedish side Hammarby IF 3-1, thanks to an impressive brace from Osaze De Rosario and a score from Jesús Ferreira. The latter contest, featuring mostly young or reserve talent, didn't go so well as the Sounders lost 3-0 to Ukrainian side FC Metalist 1925.
Here are some quick storylines to come out of the team's final few days in Spain.
WATCH: Who Has Biggest Opportunity for Sounders After Obed Vargas’ Transfer to Atletico Madrid?
Losing Obed Vargas presents a major loss for the Sounders heading into the 2026 season. But with his departure comes opportunity with several returning players set to benefit.
Obed Vargas Leaving Sounders, Joins Atletico Madrid in Waning Hours of Transfer Window
The 20-year-old Mexican All-Star had his eyes set on Europe at the conclusion of his deal with the Seattle Sounders and makes his move to Spanish Club Atletico Madrid on Sunday.
Sounders First Day of Training Camp Notebook: Anticipated Competition Begins
The Seattle Sounders returned to training on Monday as the team prepares for preseason trips to Portugal and Spain.
Storylines to Watch as Sounders Return to Training Monday
The Seattle Sounders will start the training for the 2026 campaign on Monday, looking to follow a spectacular 2025 season with more success. What should fans be watching as the team starts prepping for a new campaign?
He's Back: Rothrock and Sounders Come to Unlikely Agreement; Ballard Stalwarts Join Club
Paul Rothrock came to a surprise re-signing in Seattle on Tuesday, but that’s not all from the Brougham End for the week. What else is Sounders GM Craig Waibel doing for roster construction as December rolls on?
Stefan Frei Re-signs With Sounders Through 2027, Set for Battle with Andrew Thomas
Stefan Frei, soon to 40 years old, reportedly re-signed with the Sounders on Friday morning after mulling retirement, setting the stage for quite the competition in the net.
Sounders Finalize Club Options, Leyva Possibly on the Move
The Seattle Sounders have 22 players rostered after deciding on their club options for the 2026 season.
Sounders Offseason Frenzy: João Paulo to Depart, Rothrock to Test Free Agency
The Seattle Sounders enter the 2025 offseason with a wealth of club options to address and a big-ticket free agent to negotiate with, leaving a ton of business to tend to in coming weeks.
ALL SEATTLE SPORTS, ALL THE TIME
Explore our latest Seattle sports content by clicking on your favorite team(s) below!
