> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.emeraldcityspectrum.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Storylines to Watch as Sounders Return to Training Monday - URL: https://www.emeraldcityspectrum.com/seattle-sounders-training-camp-storylines-2026/ - Published: 2026-01-12T00:17:49.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-08T06:16:25.000Z - Author: Qasim Ali - Tags: Analysis, Sounders, Paul Rothrock, Georgi Minoungou, Paul Arriola, Jesus Ferreira, Cristian Roldan, Obed Vargas, Hassani Dotson, Snyder Brunell, Nikola Petkovic, Jordan Morris, Danny Musovski \[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="2048"\] ![ Seattle Sounders forward Georgi Minoungou celebrates during an MLS game against Austin FC on Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025 at Q2 Stadium in Austin, Texas. (Carlos Barron / Sounders FC Communications) ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1d/f2/1df2f77b-83dd-4bc0-a6d2-6d1bb5df89a3/content/images/2026/10/54803678050_d2791c2f9f_k-format-original-1.jpg) Seattle Sounders forward Georgi Minoungou celebrates during an MLS game against Austin FC on Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025 at Q2 Stadium in Austin, Texas. (Carlos Barron / Sounders FC Communications) \[/caption\] The Seattle Sounders have finally put together a workable roster after an offseason of question marks throughout the XI. From the re-signing of Paul Rothrock to the acquisition of depth pieces like Hassani Dotson in the midfield, head coach Brian Schmetzer has his group positioned to recreate some of the success it found in 2025, when it won the Leagues Cup and scored the most goals in a single season in franchise history. With the roster situated, training is set to resume on Monday at the Providence Swedish Performance Center in Renton, and there are a few questions to be answered for Schmetzer and co. as the ball gets rolling in the new year. ### Who Emerges as the Initial Wing Pairing? Designated player Pedro de la Vega is the darling of Schmetzer's attacking winger group. The Argentinian forward netted the MLS' best goal in the Leagues Cup last season, but more importantly, has provided a ceiling-raising level of technical ability for this attack. But fans shouldn't expect to see the joyful star on the pitch until approximately late April on account of a fractured patella suffered on Decision Day. Piling onto the issues on the wings is the departure of Ryan Kent, who never hit his potential in the blue and green in his lone season. Needless to say, finding some stability on the wings will be a task in the early going of 2026\. What helps is the re-signing of Paul Rothrock, who seemed to be lost to free agency until he came back to the table with Seattle suddenly. His ability to man either wing and relentless work rate figure to make him indispensable as Schmetzer aligns this group. Also returning are Georgi Minoungou and Paul Arriola, the latter of whom will be coming off a torn ACL. Arriola, who showed promise before suffering the second torn ACL of his career against Cruz Azul in the Concacaf Champions Cup last March, will be reintegrated into full-speed play throughout the training period, according to a [Sounders report](https://www.soundersfc.com/news/behind-the-shield-paul-arriola-s-road-to-recovery?ref=emeraldcityspectrum.com). Schmetzer has shown a preference to lean toward experience when assigning minutes, and the health of the former USMNT player will undoubtedly factor in his ability to earn a lion's share of the minutes opposite Rothrock. Georgi, whose Burkina Faso squad was eliminated from AFCON on January 6, is always a wild card on the wing. The jittery forward has individual quality that could rival any player in MLS, but tended to overdribble in 2025 in his capacity as a usual late sub. Now with a chance to notch consistent starts in the absence of de la Vega, Georgi will presumably need to show an ability to control his playmaking to earn a consistent role. Finally, Jesús Ferreira would be the best playmaking piece to slot in across from Rothrock. Ferreira, an All-Star with FC Dallas for being an elite scorer, saw his role change to playmaker for Seattle. He played the 10 and either wing, slotting in wherever Schmetzer could get him throughout 2025\. Given that Ferreira registered 18 starts as a winger last season, Schmetzer may opt to go with experience and consistency — the calling cards of Ferreira in his one season with the team. The drawback of starting Ferreira would be the limited options at Schmetzer’s disposal to swap in for Albert Rusnák late in games, who’s primed for another strong season at the playmaking 10\. But missing a DP on the wing may force Schmetzer’s hand. Seattle came out of the gates slowly in 2025, and getting a handle on the wings will be a key factor in determining if history repeats itself in 2026. ### How Does the Reserve Midfield Shakeout? General manager Craig Waibel appeared to fill in the blanks this offseason, swapping outgoing defensive midfielders like Danny Leyva and João Paulo for Dotson and a young transfer in Nikola Petković (whose move was made official on Thursday). Those two, along with a young and promising Defiance signee in Snyder Brunell, will be competing for reps in relief of the All-Star pairing of Cristian Roldan and Obed Vargas at the double-pivot spots. While the Sounders don't need to worry about playing as many games as they did in 2025 due to the Club World Cup, having reliable backups proved crucial to surviving a brutal slate of games, especially in the summer. João Paulo and Leyva built a rapport so solid in an alignment as taxing as the double-pivot that there wasn't much of a noticeable drop-off when Schmetzer needed to rotate Roldan and Vargas out of the XI. Chemistry and system familiarity aren't things that can be rushed, but Brunell's solid performance at the back end of 2025 should give him a solid footing to be a staple in the rotation. Dotson, meanwhile, is coming off a career low in minutes after a meniscus injury derailed his 2025 season with Minnesota United. A former first-round pick in 2019, the 28-year-old should replace a good measure of the veteran presence Seattle lost in João Paulo, but a return to his normal self will be something to watch in training. After all, the Federal Way native was able to return for United's playoff run in November, having started 150 regular-season games for the Loons over seven seasons. Petković, on loan from Charlotte FC through 2026, provides even more youth to this team at just 22 years old. The Serbian national has 18 MLS appearances over two seasons and has notched six starts. Charlotte, which finished fourth in the Eastern Conference in 2025, provided a competitive setting that Petković just couldn’t break through in, as he played under 100 minutes last season. Nevertheless, Petković managed an appearance for the Serbian national team when he was just 20, and presents a wild card in a relatively unproven reserve midfield — although he's been known for offensive creation instead of defense in his short career. Expect Brunell to start on the front foot as Dotson's return to form after an injury-riddled 2025 could help Schmetzer quell any concerns about midfield depth. ### Does Musovski Oust Morris? Danny Musovski's ascendance to being Seattle’s leading scorer in 2025 wasn’t on anyone’s bingo card. The reserve striker took full advantage of multiple injuries to Sounders all-time leading scorer Jordan Morris en route to a 14-goal campaign in MLS play, but was relegated to a reserve role once Morris got healthy for the playoffs. While Morris had some signature moments, fans clamored over the benching of the “Moose,” as Morris couldn’t match the output of the team’s leading scorer. By the end of the season, Morris’ 0.60 xG per 90 minutes were dwarfed by the 0.81 put forward by Musovski. Morris, who dealt with multiple ailments including a serious shoulder injury, looked to play-make at times instead of scoring on his own. Musovski, instead, was the more aggressive of the two and scored many of his goals by being in the right place at the right time. While both guys are sure to get substantial minutes regardless of who starts at the nine, this attack looks different depending on who leads the charge. ### A Promising 2026 While it will look different, especially at the outset, the Sounders have many of the pieces that pushed them to an exhilarating 2026 season. Schmetzer has never had an issue getting his team to buy into the "next man up" mentality, and his ability to empower role players like Georgi and newcomers like Dotson will be a storyline all season. With all this in mind, it would be premature to assume that Seattle will figure everything out in the preseason. Regardless, it all starts in training. The Sounders will start the process of taking stock of what they have on Monday in Renton. Seattle will begin its MLS slate on February 22.