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# WATCH: How Serious Should Fifth Seed-Locked Sounders Take Decision Day vs. NYCFC?
- URL: https://www.emeraldcityspectrum.com/how-serious-seattle-sounders-decision-day-nycfc/
- Published: 2025-10-16T04:53:31.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-08T05:57:39.000Z
- Author: Qasim Ali
- Tags: Analysis, Video, Sounders, Obed Vargas, Brian Schmetzer, Georgi Minoungou, Pedro de la Vega, Jackson Ragen, Alex Roldan, Cristian Roldan, Jon Bell, Reed Baker-Whiting, Jordan Morris, Danny Musovski, Joao Paulo, Paul Rothrock, Albert Rusnak

The Seattle Sounders are in an interesting spot in their season. Sitting at 14-9-10 heading into a Decision Day clash with New York City FC, Seattle is locked into one of their lower seeds under coach Brian Schmetzer, as the Sounders will finish fifth no matter what.

Considering how overworked this squad has been all summer between Club World Cup, Leagues Cup and MLS duties, along with the international duties many players have carried out in the interim, it would make sense to rest. But with so many players returning from international duty and others still ramping up from injury, Schmetzer's best play may be to trot out some of his best players to avoid rusting for next week's playoffs.