Seattle Sounders FC
2024 season
General managerCraig Waibel
Head coachBrian Schmetzer
StadiumLumen Field
Major League SoccerConference: TBD
Overall: TBD
MLS Cup PlayoffsTBD
U.S. Open CupTBD
Leagues CupTBD
Cascadia CupTBD

The 2024 season is the sixteenth season for Seattle Sounders FC in Major League Soccer (MLS), the top flight of professional club soccer in the United States. It will be the 41st season for a professional team bearing the Sounders name, which had originated in 1974 with the first incarnation of the franchise. The team remains under the management of Brian Schmetzer in his eighth full MLS season as head coach of the Sounders.

Background and preseason

The Sounders finished second in the Western Conference during the 2023 regular season and qualified for the MLS Cup Playoffs after missing the 2022 edition.[1] The team were eliminated in the Conference Semifinals by Los Angeles FC, which ended a 19-match home unbeaten streak in the playoffs.[2] Throughout the year, Seattle had one of the best defenses in MLS but were unable to produce many goals, especially during the absence of Cristian Roldan.[3] The roster had not changed significantly during the year due to salary cap constraints and largely was retained from the 2022 season.[4]

The 2024 season will be the first for the Sounders under their updated logo, unveiled in September 2023 as part of the club's 50th anniversary celebrations.[5] It will also be the first season at their new headquarters and training facility, the Sounders FC Center at Longacres in Renton, which is scheduled to open in February.[6] The team is expected to undergo major roster changes after the expiration of contracts for key players according to Craig Waibel, who is in his second year as general manager.[7] Among the departures is former captain and midfielder Nicolás Lodeiro, who has a Designated Player contract that expires during the offseason.[8] He entered free agency on December 12, 2023.[9][10] Seattle's two other Designated Players, Raúl Ruidíaz and Albert Rusnák, have contracts that run through the season.[11][12]

On December 4, 2023, the club announced that they would retain 22 players from the 2023 roster and declined the contract options for backup goalkeeper Stefan Cleveland, midfielder Ethan Dobbelaere, and forward Héber.[13] Goalkeeper Stefan Frei signed a new two-year contract the following day.[14] The Sounders selected three players in the 2024 MLS SuperDraft, including two from colleges in the Pacific Northwest, and acquired defender Jonathan Bell in the Re-Entry Draft.[15][16] Bell was signed on January 12 alongside forward Braudílio Rodrigues, a former Tacoma Defiance player.[17]

The Sounders will open their training camp in the Seattle area on January 16 and then travel to Marbella Football Center Spain for preseason friendlies and additional training. The team is scheduled to return to Seattle in mid-February.[18] The first match of the season will be played on the road due to the installation of new FieldTurf at Lumen Field.[9]

Competitions

In addition to league play, the Sounders will also participate in several cup competitions. Seattle was set to enter the U.S. Open Cup in the third round[19] until MLS announced it would not send its teams to compete in the cup.[20] In July and August, MLS play will halt for the Leagues Cup, an international competition with Liga MX clubs hosted in the United States and Canada.[21]

Major League Soccer

League tables

MLS Western Conference table (2024)
Pos Team Pld W L T GF GA GD Pts Qualification
9 Real Salt Lake 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Qualification for the Wild card round
10 San Jose Earthquakes 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
11 Seattle Sounders FC 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
12 St. Louis City SC 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
13 Sporting Kansas City 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
First match(es) will be played: in 2024. Source: MLS
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) total wins; 3) total goal differential; 4) total goals scored; 5) fewer disciplinary points; 6) away goal differential; 7) away goals scored; 8) home goals differential; 9) home goals scored; 10) coin toss (2 clubs tied) or drawing of lots (≥3 clubs tied)
Overall MLS standings table
Pos Team Pld W L T GF GA GD Pts
23 Real Salt Lake 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
24 San Jose Earthquakes 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
25 Seattle Sounders FC 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
26 St. Louis City SC 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
27 Sporting Kansas City 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
First match(es) will be played: in 2024. Source: MLS
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) total wins; 3) total goal differential; 4) total goals scored; 5) fewer disciplinary points; 6) away goal differential; 7) away goals scored; 8) home goals differential; 9) home goals scored; 10) coin toss (2 clubs tied) or drawing of lots (≥3 clubs tied)

Results summary

OverallHomeAway
PldWDLGFGAGDPtsWDLGFGAGDWDLGFGAGD
0 0 0 0 0 0  0 0 0 0 0 0 0  0 0 0 0 0 0  0

Source: MLS

Results by matchday
Matchday12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031323334
StadiumAHAHAAHAHAHAAHAHAAHAHHHAHHAAHHHAAH
Result
Position
Source: MLS
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Regular season

The 2024 regular season schedule was released on December 20, 2023. The Sounders will play 34 matches during the regular season from February 24 to October 19. 28 of the regular season matches will be played against teams in the Western Conference; the six matches against teams from the Eastern Conference will all be played before the Leagues Cup break in July.[21]

February 24 1 Los Angeles FC v Seattle Sounders FC Los Angeles, California
1:30 pm PST Report Stadium: BMO Field
March 2 2 Seattle Sounders FC v Austin FC Seattle, Washington
7:30 pm PST Report Stadium: Lumen Field
March 9 3 Philadelphia Union v Seattle Sounders FC Chester, Pennsylvania
4:30 pm PST Report Stadium: Subaru Park
March 16 4 Seattle Sounders FC v Colorado Rapids Seattle, Washington
12:30 pm PDT Report Stadium: Lumen Field
March 23 5 (HC) San Jose Earthquakes v Seattle Sounders FC San Jose, California
7:30 pm PDT Report Stadium: PayPal Park
March 30 6 LA Galaxy v Seattle Sounders FC Carson, California
7:30 pm PDT Report Stadium: Dignity Health Sports Park
April 6 7 Seattle Sounders FC v CF Montréal Seattle, Washington
7:30 pm PDT Report Stadium: Lumen Field
April 13 8 FC Dallas v Seattle Sounders FC Frisco, Texas
5:30 pm PDT Report Stadium: Toyota Stadium
April 20 9 (CC) Seattle Sounders FC v Vancouver Whitecaps FC Seattle, Washington
7:30 pm PDT Report Stadium: Lumen Field
April 27 10 D.C. United v Seattle Sounders FC Washington, D.C.
4:30 pm PDT Report Stadium: Audi Field
May 5 11 Seattle Sounders FC v LA Galaxy Seattle, Washington
3:30 pm PDT Report Stadium: Lumen Field
May 12 12 (CC) Portland Timbers v Seattle Sounders FC Portland, Oregon
1:30 pm PDT Report Stadium: Providence Park
May 15 13 Real Salt Lake v Seattle Sounders FC Sandy, Utah
6:30 pm PDT Report Stadium: America First Field
May 18 14 (CC) Seattle Sounders FC v Vancouver Whitecaps FC Seattle, Washington
7:30 pm PDT Report Stadium: Lumen Field
May 25 15 St. Louis City SC v Seattle Sounders FC St. Louis, Missouri
5:30 pm PDT Report Stadium: CityPark
May 29 16 Seattle Sounders FC v Real Salt Lake Seattle, Washington
7:30 pm PDT Report Stadium: Lumen Field
June 1 17 Columbus Crew v Seattle Sounders FC Columbus, Ohio
4:30 pm PDT Report Stadium: Lower.com Field
June 8 18 Sporting Kansas City v Seattle Sounders FC Kansas City, Kansas
5:30 pm PDT Report Stadium: Children's Mercy Park
June 15 19 Seattle Sounders FC v Minnesota United FC Seattle, Washington
7:30 pm PDT Report Stadium: Lumen Field
June 19 20 Houston Dynamo FC v Seattle Sounders FC Houston, Texas
7:30 pm PDT Report Stadium: Shell Energy Stadium
June 22 21 Seattle Sounders FC v FC Dallas Seattle, Washington
7:30 pm PDT Report Stadium: Lumen Field
June 29 22 Seattle Sounders FC v Chicago Fire FC Seattle, Washington
7:30 pm PDT Report Stadium: Lumen Field
July 6 23 Seattle Sounders FC v New England Revolution Seattle, Washington
7:30 pm PDT Report Stadium: Lumen Field
July 13 24 Austin FC v Seattle Sounders FC Austin, Texas
5:30 pm PDT Report Stadium: Q2 Stadium
July 17 25 Seattle Sounders FC v St. Louis City SC Seattle, Washington
7:30 pm PDT Report Stadium: Lumen Field
July 20 26 Seattle Sounders FC v Los Angeles FC Seattle, Washington
7:30 pm PDT Report Stadium: Lumen Field
August 24 27 Minnesota United FC v Seattle Sounders FC St. Paul, Minnesota
TBD PDT Report Stadium: Allianz Field
August 31 28 (CC) Portland Timbers v Seattle Sounders FC Portland, Oregon
7:30 pm PDT Report Stadium: Providence Park
September 15 29 Seattle Sounders FC v Sporting Kansas City Seattle, Washington
4:00 pm PDT Report Stadium: Lumen Field
September 18 30 (HC) Seattle Sounders FC v San Jose Earthquakes Seattle, Washington
7:30 pm PDT Report Stadium: Lumen Field
September 28 31 Seattle Sounders FC v Houston Dynamo FC Seattle, Washington
7:30 pm PDT Report Stadium: Lumen Field
October 2 32 (CC) Vancouver Whitecaps FC v Seattle Sounders FC Vancouver, British Columbia
7:30 pm PDT Report Stadium: BC Place
October 5 33 Colorado Rapids v Seattle Sounders FC Commerce City, Colorado
7:30 pm PDT Report Stadium: Dick's Sporting Goods Park
October 19 34 (CC) Seattle Sounders FC v Portland Timbers Seattle, Washington
6:00 pm PDT Report Stadium: Lumen Field

Players

Roster

As of January 12, 2024[22]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality. Squad includes all players who had first team contracts or appearances during the 2024 season across all competitions. Ages listed for each player is calculated from February 24, 2024, the first matchday of the MLS regular season.

Seattle Sounders FC first team roster[22]
No. Name Nationality Position Age Signed Previous club Notes
3Xavier Arreaga EcuadorDF292019Ecuador Barcelona S.C.
5Nouhou Tolo CameroonDF262017United States Seattle Sounders FC 2
6João Paulo BrazilMF322020Brazil Botafogo
7Cristian Roldan United StatesMF282015United States Washington Huskies
9Raúl Ruidíaz PeruFW332018Mexico MoreliaDP
11Albert Rusnák SlovakiaMF292022United States Real Salt LakeDP
13Jordan Morris United StatesFW292016United States Stanford CardinalHGP
16Alex Roldán El SalvadorDF272018United States Seattle Redhawks
21Reed Baker-Whiting United StatesMF182021United States Tacoma DefianceHGP
23Léo Chú BrazilMF232021Brazil GrêmioInternational
24Stefan Frei (c) SwitzerlandGK372014Canada Toronto FC
25Jackson Ragen United StatesDF252022United States Tacoma Defiance
26Andrew Thomas RussiaGK252021United States Stanford Cardinal
28Yeimar Gómez Andrade ColombiaDF312020Argentina Unión de Santa FeInternational
29Jacob Castro United StatesGK242023United States San Diego State AztecsHGP
33Cody Baker United StatesDF202023United States Tacoma DefianceHGP
35Paul Rothrock United StatesMF252023United States Tacoma Defiance
39Stuart Hawkins United StatesDF172023United States Tacoma DefianceHGP
73Obed Vargas United StatesMF182021United States Tacoma DefianceHGP
77Sota Kitahara United StatesMF212023United States Tacoma DefianceHGP
84Josh Atencio United StatesMF222020United States Tacoma DefianceHGP
99Dylan Teves United StatesFW232022United States Washington HuskiesHGP
–Jonathan Bell JamaicaDF262024United States St. Louis City SC
–Braudílio Rodrigues PortugalFW242024United States Tacoma Defiance
–Nathan  BrazilDF282024United States San Jose EarthquakesInternational

Coaching staff

As of January 2024[23]
Technical staff
Head coach United States Brian Schmetzer
Assistant coach United States Preki
Director of goalkeeping United States Tom Dutra
Assistant coach United States Freddy Juarez
Assistant coach England Andy Rose

Transfers

For transfers in, dates listed are when Seattle Sounders FC officially signed the player to the roster. Transactions where only the rights to the players are acquired are not listed. For transfers out, dates listed are when Seattle Sounders FC officially removed the players from its roster, not when they signed with another club. If a player later signed with another club, his new club will be noted, but the date listed here remains the one when he was officially removed from the Seattle Sounders FC roster.[24]

In

Incoming transfers for Seattle Sounders FC
Player[24] No.[24] Pos.[24] Previous team Notes Date[24]
Brazil Nathan –DFUnited States San Jose Earthquakes One-year contract with option for 2025[25] January 11, 2024
Jamaica Jonathan Bell –DFUnited States St. Louis City SC Acquired through 2023 MLS Re-Entry Draft on December 14, 2023.[26] January 12, 2024
Portugal Braudílio Rodrigues –FWUnited States Tacoma Defiance One-year contract with options for 2025 and 2026; college priority rights traded from New York City FC for natural third-round pick in 2025 MLS SuperDraft[27] January 12, 2024

Draft picks

Draft picks were not automatically signed to the team roster. Only those who are signed to a contract were listed as transfers in. Only trades involving draft picks and executed after the start of the 2024 MLS SuperDraft are listed in the notes.

2024 MLS SuperDraft picks for Seattle Sounders FC
Player Round[28] Pick[28] Pos.[28] Previous team[28] Notes
United States Kalani Kossa-Rienzi 1st23DFUnited States Washington Huskies
United States Antino Lopez 2nd52DFUnited States Duke Blue Devils
Sierra Leone Buba Fofanah 3rd81FWUnited States Portland Pilots

Out

Outgoing transfers for Seattle Sounders FC
Player[24] No.[24] Pos.[24] New team Notes Date[24]
United States Stefan Cleveland 30GKUnited States Austin FC[29] Option declined[30] December 4, 2023
United States Ethan Dobbelaere 45MFUnited States D.C. United[31] Option declined[30] December 4, 2023
Brazil Héber 19FW Option declined[30] December 4, 2023
France Abdoulaye Cissoko 92DF Out of contract[30] December 4, 2023
Uruguay Nicolás Lodeiro 10MFUnited States Orlando City SC[32] Out of contract[30] December 4, 2023
Colombia Fredy Montero 12FW Out of contract[30] December 4, 2023
United States Kelyn Rowe 22MF Out of contract[30] December 4, 2023

References

  1. ↑ Dunau, Casey (October 26, 2023). "A bandwagon fan's guide to the Audi 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs". MLSsoccer.com. Retrieved December 3, 2023.
  2. ↑ Evans, Jayda (November 26, 2023). "Sounders can't find equalizer against LAFC, fall in conference semifinal". The Seattle Times. Retrieved December 3, 2023.
  3. ↑ Doyle, Matthew (November 28, 2023). "What the 2023 MLS season meant for Seattle Sounders FC". MLSsoccer.com. Retrieved December 12, 2023.
  4. ↑ Evans, Jayda (August 26, 2023). "Analysis: Sounders have stood pat and it will cost them again this season". The Seattle Times. Retrieved December 12, 2023.
  5. ↑ Evans, Jayda (September 26, 2023). "Here's a look at the Sounders' new crest and colors". The Seattle Times. Retrieved December 3, 2023.
  6. ↑ Evans, Jayda (February 16, 2022). "Sounders FC unveils plans for new training facility and team headquarters at Longacres in Renton". The Seattle Times. Retrieved December 12, 2023.
  7. ↑ Oshan, Jeremiah (November 30, 2023). "Upcoming offseason will be most significant in Sounders history". Sounder At Heart. Retrieved December 3, 2023.
  8. ↑ Burke, Elias (November 29, 2023). "With Lodeiro out, Seattle Sounders enter a transition period with high expectations". The Athletic. Retrieved December 12, 2023.
  9. 1 2 Evans, Jayda (December 13, 2023). "Sounders close book on 2023 season, hint at 'really impactful' additions this offseason". The Seattle Times. Retrieved December 14, 2023.
  10. ↑ Liljenwall, Ari (December 12, 2023). "Nicolas Lodeiro bids farewell to Seattle Sounders: "A true club legend"". MLSsoccer.com. Retrieved December 12, 2023.
  11. ↑ Bogert, Tom (December 4, 2023). "Seattle Sounders offseason guide: Priorities and moving on from the Lodeiro era". The Athletic. Retrieved December 12, 2023.
  12. ↑ Evans, Jayda (February 4, 2022). "Sounders announce extensions for Raul Ruidiaz, Joao Paulo and Xavier Arreaga". The Seattle Times. Retrieved December 12, 2023.
  13. ↑ Evans, Jayda (December 4, 2023). "Sounders announce end-of-season roster". The Seattle Times. Retrieved December 12, 2023.
  14. ↑ Evans, Jayda (December 5, 2023). "Sounders keeper Stefan Frei officially re-signs with Seattle". The Seattle Times. Retrieved December 12, 2023.
  15. ↑ Evans, Jayda (December 19, 2023). "Sounders select UW's Kalani Kossa-Rienzi with their top pick in the MLS SuperDraft". The Seattle Times. Retrieved January 8, 2024.
  16. ↑ Oshan, Jeremiah (December 14, 2023). "Sounders are one of two teams to participate in Re-Entry Draft". Sounder At Heart. Retrieved January 8, 2024.
  17. ↑ Evans, Jayda (January 12, 2024). "Sounders add to their depth by adding two players". The Seattle Times. Retrieved January 13, 2024.
  18. ↑ "Sounders FC Announces Full 2024 Preseason Schedule" (Press release). Seattle Sounders FC. January 12, 2024. Retrieved January 13, 2024.
  19. ↑ "Fourth and Final Qualifying Round Schedule Set for 2024 U.S. Open Cup". U.S. Soccer. October 25, 2023. Retrieved December 3, 2023.
  20. ↑ Floyd, Thomas (December 15, 2023). "MLS to skip U.S. Open Cup, nation's oldest soccer tournament". The Washington Post. Retrieved December 16, 2023.
  21. 1 2 Oshan, Jeremiah (December 20, 2023). "Sounders release 2024 schedule". Sounder At Heart. Retrieved December 21, 2023.
  22. 1 2 "Roster". SoundersFC.com. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
  23. ↑ "Coaches". SoundersFC.com. Retrieved January 8, 2024.
  24. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "2024 MLS Transactions". MLSsoccer.com. Retrieved January 8, 2024.
    "Sounders FC Transaction Tracker". SoundersFC.com. Retrieved January 8, 2024.
  25. ↑ "Sounders FC Signs Defender Nathan" (Press release). Seattle Sounders FC. January 11, 2024. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
  26. ↑ "Sounders FC Signs Defender Jonathan Bell" (Press release). Seattle Sounders FC. January 12, 2024. Retrieved January 13, 2024.
  27. ↑ "Sounders FC Signs Forward Braudílio Rodrigues" (Press release). Seattle Sounders FC. January 12, 2024. Retrieved January 13, 2024.
  28. 1 2 3 4 "Sounders FC Drafts Three Players in 2024 SuperDraft Presented by Adidas" (Press release). Seattle Sounders FC. December 19, 2023. Retrieved January 8, 2024.
  29. ↑ "Austin FC sign goalkeeper Stefan Cleveland". MLSsoccer.com. December 24, 2023. Retrieved January 8, 2024.
  30. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Sounders FC Announces Roster Decisions to Conclude 2023 Season" (Press release). Seattle Sounders FC. December 4, 2023. Retrieved January 8, 2024.
  31. ↑ "D.C. United Select Ethan Dobbelaere From End-of-Year Waiver List". D.C. United. December 15, 2023. Retrieved January 8, 2024.
  32. ↑ "Orlando City add key free-agent midfielder from Seattle". Orlando Sentinel. January 4, 2024. Retrieved January 8, 2024.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.