Sounders Notebook: de la Vega Out For Season, Seattle Prepares for Tough Vancouver Side
For eight glorious minutes last Sunday at Lumen Field, Seattle Sounders fans finally got to watch their star winger Pedro de la Vega work the ball around the pitch with ease and finesse. He instinctively floated to the back post late in a 3-0 Leagues Cup win over Querétaro and, at one point, nearly tapped in a rolling pass from Jesús Ferreira before flicking his right leg up to magically keep the chance alive and show some of his much-needed quality.
But in the 85th minute, on a routine challenge, the 25-year-old Argentinian making his season debut after suffering a fractured kneecap last October went down. He didn't look to be in too much pain as the trainers checked on him, but he immediately went to the locker room with a left quadriceps injury. After the game, striker Danny Musovski said he saw the typically joyous de la Vega crying.
We now know why.
After training on Friday, head coach Brian Schmetzer revealed de la Vega's quadriceps "pull" is serious enough to end his 2026 campaign.
"Pedro has a very… significant left quad pull," Schmetzer said. "He is, you know, probably out for the remainder of the year."
Schmetzer confirmed surgery is on the table, but no final decisions have been made on that front as de la Vega comes to terms with his sixth distinct injury in three years with Seattle.
Sounders Injury Luck Worsens as Yeimar, Dotson Hurt in Training
The Seattle Sounders' luck just keeps getting worse.
Fresh off a five-game losing streak due in part to a rash of injuries, the Rave Green were looking to return standout center back Yeimar from a hamstring injury that's had him out since early spring.
But he and midfielder Hassani Dotson picked up new multi-week injuries at training this week, per coach Brian Schmetzer on Friday, to further dampen the spirits. Yeimar, who was coming off a hamstring injury and in line to return soon, picked up a calf injury to put him 4-6 weeks away from seeing the field
Seattle is 7-6-3 (eighth in Western Conference) as it heads into a rematch with a rival Portland Timbers side (6-8-3, 10th) this Saturday night at Providence Park.
Sounders Notebook: Intrasquad Scrimmage Ends 1-1 as Portland Looms
The excitement of the FIFA World Cup has Seattle buzzing about soccer.
Belgium's round of 32 game against Senegal on Wednesday featured a wild comeback that saw the Red Devils pull it out 3-2 in extra time at Lumen Field, or Seattle Stadium, until Monday night. The local Seattle Sounders (7-3-3, 6th in MLS Western Conference) have been sharing a facility with Belgium for the last month, and many were witnesses to the high-level play associated with a World Cup knockout match, as even the Sounders equipment staff got to attend the game, according to head coach Brian Schmetzer.
“They’re excited to be around this whole occasion of the World Cup,” Schmetzer said. “Whether that lifts their play or whether that has a little added pressure, I’d say it’s probably the first… they’re excited.”
The Sounders didn't wait long to put that excitement toward their own development, as the Rave Green held an intrasquad scrimmage on Thursday afternoon that ended in a physical 1-1 draw. It’s all part of the buildup to Seattle’s largest grudge match of every season: A July 16 home game against the Portland Timbers (4-8-2, 13th in west).
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 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.
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.
Recapping Busiest Sounders Season Ever: The Brand and Trophy Case Grow, MLS Ambitions Fade Late
The Seattle Sounders felt it all in the 2025 season, struggling in the early going before turning things around at the Club World Cup to capture their first-ever Leagues Cup trophy before going out in the MLS Cup Playoffs First Round. Should the season be viewed as a success, a failure, or right down the middle?
Sounders Eliminated in Game 3, Minnesota Forces PK Shootout in All-Timer
The No. 5 Seattle Sounders saw a 2-0 lead slip away in Saturday afternoon's Game 3 of the MLS Cup Playoffs First Round with No. 4 Minnesota United, losing 7-6 in penalties after a 3-3 regulation period.
Sounders Offense Explodes, Hangs Four Goals on Minnesota United to Force Game 3
The Seattle Sounders tied up their best-of-three first round series with Minnesota United with a 4-2 win on Monday night as Obed Vargas had a brace.
WATCH: Sounders on Brink of Elimination After Game 1 Loss in Minnesota
The Seattle Sounders dropped Game 1 of their MLS Cup First Round series with Minnesota United on Monday night in a scoreless match that went to a 3-2 penalty shootout. What went wrong and how can they bounce back to keep their season alive in Game 2?
WATCH: Keys to Success for Sounders in Playoff Matchup with Minnesota
The No. 5 Sounders will take on No. 4 Minnesota United in Game 1 of a best-of-three first on Monday night in Minnesota. Getting an opening game win will be crucial for a chance to close things out at home, but how can Seattle break down a team that swept it in the regular season?
Preview: Sounders Draw Defensive-Minded Minnesota in First Round
The Seattle Sounders will take on Minnesota United in a best-of-three first round series starting on October 27. Who has the edge kicking off the MLS Playoffs?
Sounders Head Into Salt Lake Week With Crucial Pieces Missing
The Seattle Sounders are expected to have nine players missing for various reasons ahead of an important home match on Saturday against Real Salt Lake.
Sounders Aim to Stave Off Playoff-Hungry Timbers in Heated PNW Clash
The Seattle Sounders and Portland Timbers will renew their rivalry in the Emerald City on Saturday night as Portland trails Seattle by just two points in the Western Conference late in the MLS season.
Sounders Draw with Vancouver in Wild Cascadia Rivalry Game, Clinch Playoffs
While the Sounders didn’t get a victory over the Whitecaps, a 2-2 draw coupled with other results around the MLS clinched them a playoff spot.
Sounders Foiled at the Death in Austin, Post-Leagues Cup Slide Continues
The Seattle Sounders lost a heartbreaker against Austin FC on Sunday night as CJ Fodrey found Myrto Uzuni to give Austin a 2-1 win in the 96th minute.
Sounders Return to Play Hungry Despite Leagues Cup Win
The Sounders will get back to MLS play on Saturday against a familiar foe in the LA Galaxy, 13 days after hoisting the Leagues Cup trophy in a 3-0 win over Lionel Messi's Inter Miami and ready to make an MLS title run.
“Pacific Northwest Grit”: Sounders Shut Down Messi, Inter Miami For First Leagues Cup Title
The Seattle Sounders took down Inter Miami's star-studded crew in a 3-0 Leagues Cup Final win on Sunday night. The win marked Seattle's first title in the new tournament.
Sounders Fend Off Galaxy to Punch Ticket to Leagues Cup Final Against Messi's Miami
The Seattle Sounders were the clear aggressors in a 2-0 win over the LA Galaxy in the Leagues Cup semifinal on Wednesday night, though a late red card means no Nouhou against Lionel Messi and Inter Miami on Sunday in Seattle. Who stood out for the Sounders, and was Nouhou’s red card deserved?
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