List of Seattle Sounders FC seasons explained

Seattle Sounders FC is a soccer team based in Seattle, Washington, that competes in Major League Soccer (MLS), the most senior soccer league in the United States. The club was established in 2007 as an MLS expansion team, succeeding an existing second-division team of the same name, and began play in 2009 as a member of the Western Conference.[1] The MLS regular season typically runs from February to October and the best-performing team is awarded the Supporters' Shield; the top nine teams from each conference qualify for the MLS Cup Playoffs, a postseason tournament that culminates in the MLS Cup.[2] [3]

In addition to league play, the Sounders compete in the annual U.S. Open Cup tournament organized by the United States Soccer Federation and the Leagues Cup contested by teams from MLS and Liga MX of Mexico.[2] [4] The league and cup tournaments serve as qualifiers for the following year's CONCACAF Champions Cup (formerly the CONCACAF Champions League), an annual international competition between league and cup champions in North America, Central America, and the Caribbean.[5] [6] The CONCACAF Champions Cup winner then qualifies for the next FIFA Club World Cup, which is held annually but will switch to every four years beginning in 2025.[7] [8]

The Sounders are one of the most successful clubs in MLS history,[9] [10] having won eight trophies since entering the league in 2009.[11] They won three consecutive U.S. Open Cup titles from 2009 to 2011 and a fourth in 2014, becoming the second MLS club to do so.[12] [13] The club earned their first Supporters' Shield in 2014, completing a double,[14] and won the MLS Cup in 2016 and 2019 during a run of four finals in five years.[15] They won the CONCACAF Champions League in 2022, becoming the first MLS club to win the competition under its modern format and qualify for the FIFA Club World Cup.[16] [17] The Leagues Cup remains the only major North American competition that the Sounders have not won; the team finished as runners-up in the 2021 edition.[18] Sigi Schmid was the club's head coach from the inaugural MLS season in 2009 until July 2016;[19] he was replaced by Brian Schmetzer, initially as interim coach and later as full head coach.[20] Colombian striker Fredy Montero is the club's all-time top scorer with 76 goals; he joined the club in 2009 and has played for the Sounders in two stints.[21]

As of the end of the 2023 season, the club has played 15 seasons in MLS with 225 wins, 150 losses, and 115 draws—a winning percentage of 0.577. The Sounders qualified for the MLS Cup Playoffs in their first 13 seasons—, they were tied for the MLS record and the second longest among the major sports leagues in the United States behind the National Hockey League's Pittsburgh Penguins.[22] The Sounders led MLS attendance in their first eight years in the league, averaging over 30,000 per season, until they were surpassed by Atlanta United FC in 2017;[23] the club achieved their highest season attendance in 2015 with 44,247 per match.[24], the 236 regular season matches at Lumen Field in Seattle have averaged 38,557 spectators and drawn over 9 million total people; the club has hosted 27 playoff matches that drew an average of 34,777 spectators. The most-attended home Sounders matches were the 2022 CONCACAF Champions League Final's second leg with 68,741—a tournament record—and MLS Cup 2019 with 69,274 spectators.[25]

Key

Key to competitions
Key to colors and symbols:
style=background:#ffd7001st or W Winners
style=background:#c0c0c02nd or RU Runners-up
style=background:#cfaa883rdThird place
style=background:#ffccccLast Last place
style=background:#faecc8;"♦ League top scorer
Italics Ongoing competition
Key to cup record

Seasons

Results of Seattle Sounders FC league and cup competitions by season
SeasonLeague[31] [32] PositionPlayoffsOtherAverage
attendance		Top goalscorer(s)
LeagueCompetitionResultPlayer(s)Goals
200913012113829+94730,943[33] 13
201013014103935+448036,17312
2011134185637+196338,49618
201213415115133+185643,144
17
20131341512424205244,03812
201413420106550+156443,73419
201513415134436+851044,24715
201613414144443+14842,63612
201713414115239+135343,666[34] 12
201813418115237+155940,641[35] 13
2019134161085249+35640,247[36] 15
 †2020122114423+2139 †
    		 †[37] 14
    2021134175333+2060 † †25,125[38] 19
    202213412174746+14133,607[39]
    		12
    202313414114132+953FIFA Club World Cup32,161[40] 14
    +W (1)W (1)W (2)W (4)RU (1)W (1)38,55779[41] [42]

    Notes and References

    1. Web site: Drosendahl . Glenn . April 9, 2015 . Sounders FC makes Major League Soccer debut on March 19, 2009. . . March 14, 2023 . March 14, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230314222113/https://historylink.org/File/11057 . live .
    2. News: Boehm . Charles . December 31, 2022 . 2023 Soccer Almanac: Key dates & tournaments in busy year ahead . MLSsoccer.com . March 14, 2023 . March 14, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230314222108/https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/2023-soccer-almanac-key-dates-tournaments-in-busy-year-ahead . live .
    3. News: Goff . Steven . Steven Goff . February 23, 2023 . MLS season preview: The Starting XI . . March 14, 2023 . March 18, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230318225948/https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2023/02/23/mls-season-preview/ . live .
    4. News: Evans . Jayda . February 25, 2023 . Playoff changes and more: Three things to know before Sounders open 2023 season . . March 14, 2023 . March 14, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230314222110/https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/sounders/playoff-changes-and-more-three-things-to-know-before-sounders-open-2023-season/ . live .
    5. News: Evans . Jayda . February 5, 2023 . Sounders taking plenty of positives from Club World Cup, but could different moves have kept them in it? . The Seattle Times . March 14, 2023 . March 14, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230314222107/https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/sounders/sounders-taking-plenty-of-positives-from-club-world-cup-but-could-different-moves-have-kept-them-in-it/ . live .
    6. News: Straus . Brian . June 1, 2022 . Concacaf Reveals Qualifying Criteria for Expanded Champions League . . March 14, 2023 . January 24, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230124203104/https://www.si.com/soccer/2022/06/01/concacaf-champions-league-2024-qualification-format-criteria . live .
    7. March 14, 2023 . Concacaf confirms qualification route for CCL clubs into new expanded FIFA Club World Cup . . March 14, 2023 . March 14, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230314205910/https://www.concacaf.com/en/champions-league/news/concacaf-confirms-qualification-route-for-ccl-clubs-into-new-expanded-fifa-club-world-cup/ . live .
    8. Web site: Lowy . Zach . January 30, 2023 . Soccer 101: FIFA Club World Cup . . March 17, 2023 . March 17, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230317084354/https://www.stlcitysc.com/news/soccer-101-fifa-club-world-cup . live .
    9. News: Arthur . Ben . November 7, 2019 . A snapshot: Just how good have the Sounders been in the MLS? . . March 14, 2023 . March 14, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230314223358/https://www.seattlepi.com/sports/sounders/article/How-does-Sounders-dominance-success-compare-to-14815578.php . live .
    10. News: Stejskal . Sam . May 5, 2022 . With Champions League breakthrough, Seattle Sounders stake their claim to title of best club in MLS history . . subscription . March 17, 2023 . May 20, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220520064738/https://theathletic.com/3295831/2022/05/05/seattle-sounders-concacaf-champions-league/ . live .
    11. News: Warshaw . Bobby . December 13, 2019 . Warshaw: Best MLS clubs of the decade . MLSsoccer.com . March 16, 2023 . March 17, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230317043517/https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/mls-best-clubs-decade-no-1-seattle-sounders . live .
    12. Web site: Boehm . Charles . September 13, 2016 . Open Cup: Perusing the historic tournament's most successful clubs . MLSsoccer.com . November 11, 2016 . November 12, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20161112093426/http://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2016/09/13/open-cup-perusing-historic-tournaments-most-successful-clubs . live .
    13. News: Evans . Jayda . November 22, 2020 . Could the 2020 Sounders be Seattle's best team yet? Here's a look at how they stack up with past MLS Cup teams. . The Seattle Times . March 14, 2023 . March 14, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230314222108/https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/sounders/could-the-2020-sounders-be-seattles-best-team-yet-heres-a-look-at-how-they-stack-up-with-past-mls-cup-teams/ . live .
    14. News: Bolster . John . December 15, 2014 . Stories of the Year: Seattle Sounders win Supporters' Shield, US Open Cup . MLSsoccer.com . March 16, 2023 . March 17, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230317043519/https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/stories-year-seattle-sounders-win-supporters-shield-us-open-cup . live .
    15. News: Reineking . Jim . December 11, 2020 . MLS Cup storylines: Are Seattle Sounders a dynasty in the making? Can Columbus Crew be defeated at home? . . March 14, 2023 . March 14, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230314222108/https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mls/2020/12/11/mls-cup-2020-key-storylines-leagues-25th-championship-game/3875844001/ . live .
    16. News: Liljenwall . Ari . January 30, 2023 . Seattle Sounders: What to know about MLS's first Club World Cup participant . MLSsoccer.com . March 14, 2023 . March 14, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230314223613/https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/seattle-sounders-fc-what-to-know-about-mls-s-first-club-world-cup-participant . live .
    17. News: Straus . Brian . May 5, 2022 . It's Only Fitting That Seattle Breaks MLS's CCL Glass Ceiling . Sports Illustrated . March 14, 2023 . May 19, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220519223224/https://www.si.com/soccer/2022/05/05/seattle-sounders-ccl-title-mls-lagerwey-pumas-liga-mx . live .
    18. News: Mondello . Joseph . July 18, 2023 . "We try to win every trophy": Sounders set sights on 2023 Leagues Cup campaign . SoundersFC.com . July 27, 2023.
    19. News: Pentz . Matt . July 26, 2016 . Sounders part ways with longtime coach Sigi Schmid . The Seattle Times . March 16, 2023 . October 21, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211021055131/https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/sounders/sounders-part-ways-with-longtime-coach-sigi-schmid/ . live .
    20. News: Pentz . Matt . November 11, 2016 . Sounders remove interim tag, hire coach Brian Schmetzer on a full-time basis . C1 . The Seattle Times . November 11, 2016 . October 25, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211025195032/https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/sounders/sounders-remove-interim-tag-hire-coach-brian-schmetzer-on-a-full-time-basis/ . live .
    21. News: Evans . Jayda . December 14, 2022 . Sounders' all-time leading scorer Fredy Montero will return for 2023 season . The Seattle Times . March 17, 2023 . March 17, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230317071130/https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/sounders/sounders-all-time-leading-scorer-fredy-montero-will-return-for-2023-season/ . live .
    22. News: Evans . Jayda . October 2, 2022 . Sounders' 13-year playoff streak comes to end after loss in Kansas City . The Seattle Times . March 14, 2023 . October 16, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221016173740/https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/sounders/sounders-13-year-playoff-streak-comes-to-end-after-loss-in-kansas-city/ . live .
    23. News: October 24, 2017 . MLS Passes Serie A, Ligue 1 in Attendance Figures . Sports Illustrated . March 17, 2023 . March 17, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230317071140/https://www.si.com/soccer/2017/10/24/mls-surpasses-serie-ligue-1-popularity-stakes-after-new-attendance-records-2017 . live .
    24. News: Goff . Steven . September 17, 2017 . Professional soccer attendance records fall in Atlanta and Cincinnati . The Washington Post . March 17, 2023 . December 20, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201220190813/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/soccer-insider/wp/2017/09/17/professional-soccer-attendance-records-fall-in-atlanta-and-cincinnati/ . live .
    25. News: May 4, 2022 . Seattle Sounders set CCL attendance record in 2022 Final vs. Pumas . MLSsoccer.com . March 17, 2023 . May 20, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220520064733/https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/seattle-sounders-set-ccl-attendance-record-in-2022-final-vs-pumas . live .
    26. News: Zgoda . Jerry . August 9, 2022 . As MLS gains ground on Mexico's Liga MX, their All-Star Game helps to grow both leagues . . March 16, 2023 . March 17, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230317062440/https://www.startribune.com/mls-gains-ground-on-mexico-liga-mx-both-leagues-benefit-from-all-star-soccer-game-matchup/600197066/ . live .
    27. News: January 31, 2023 . Get to Know Your Cup . . March 16, 2023 . March 17, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230317060623/https://www.ussoccer.com/stories/2023/01/get-to-know-your-cup . live .
    28. News: June 6, 2023 . Concacaf launches Concacaf Champions Cup . CONCACAF . June 6, 2023.
    29. News: Myers . Jacob . September 29, 2021 . What is the Campeones Cup? Everything you need to know about Columbus Crew vs. Cruz Azul . . March 16, 2023 . December 1, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221201080201/https://www.dispatch.com/story/sports/2021/09/29/campeones-cup-columbus-ohio-what-know-crew-vs-cruz-azul-lower-com-field/5899333001/ . live .
    30. News: Maurer . Pablo . Pentz . Matt . November 5, 2021 . 'Maybe this was just a horrible idea': MLS is Back, remembered by those who built and lived in the bubble . The Athletic . subscription . March 16, 2023 . March 17, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230317061458/https://theathletic.com/2936966/2021/11/05/maybe-this-was-just-a-horrible-idea-mls-is-back-remembered-by-those-who-built-and-lived-in-the-bubble/ . live .
    31. Web site: MLS Communications Department, Elias Sports Bureau . February 23, 2024 . 2024 Fact and Record Book . 27 . Major League Soccer . . June 5, 2024.
    32. Web site: Supporters' Shield Standings . MLSsoccer.com . March 17, 2023 . March 17, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230317073519/https://www.mlssoccer.com/standings/2023/supporters-shield#season=2009&live=true . live .
    33. News: Kennedy . Paul . September 15, 2017 . Atlanta United sets sights on U.S. pro soccer record . . subscription . March 16, 2023 . https://archive.today/20230404031141/https://www.socceramerica.com/publications/article/74923/atlanta-united-sets-sights-on-us-pro-soccer-reco.html . April 4, 2023.
    34. News: Kennedy . Paul . October 23, 2017 . Crowd Count: MLS tops 22,000 mark for first time . Soccer America . subscription . March 16, 2023 . March 17, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230317044219/https://www.socceramerica.com/publications/article/75402/crowd-count-mls-tops-22000-mark-for-first-time.html . live .
    35. News: Kennedy . Paul . October 29, 2018 . Behind the numbers: MLS average attendance down, but ticket revenues jump almost 10 percent . Soccer America . subscription . March 16, 2023 . March 17, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230317052705/https://www.socceramerica.com/publications/article/80164/behind-the-numbers-mls-average-attendance-down-b.html . live .
    36. News: Kennedy . Paul . October 8, 2019 . MLS average attendance falls, ticket revenues increase again . Soccer America . subscription . March 16, 2023 . October 28, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221028231146/https://www.socceramerica.com/publications/article/83852/mls-average-attendance-falls-ticket-revenues-incr.html . live .
    37. News: Evans . Jayda . March 12, 2020 . Due to coronavirus concerns, Sounders cancel all operations at practice facility after MLS season suspension . The Seattle Times . March 17, 2023 . April 21, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220421053814/https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/sounders/due-to-coronavirus-concerns-sounders-cancel-all-operations-at-practice-facility-after-mls-season-suspension/ . live .
    38. News: Suggs . Donnell . January 7, 2022 . Heading into 2022, Atlanta United outdrawing even popular European clubs . . March 17, 2023 . January 7, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220107130253/https://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/news/2022/01/07/atlanta-united-soccer-mercedes-benz-stadium.html . live .
    39. News: Kennedy . Paul . October 13, 2022 . Crowd Count: MLS attendance tops 10 million for first time . Soccer America . subscription . https://archive.today/20221028215033/https://www.socceramerica.com/publications/article/93895/crowd-count-mls-attendance-tops-10-million-for-fi.html . October 28, 2022 . March 16, 2023.
    40. News: Kennedy . Paul . October 22, 2023 . MLS breaks attendance record . . subscription . November 27, 2023.
    41. Web site: Squad: Seattle Sounders FC . Soccerway . . December 11, 2023.
    42. December 14, 2022 . Sounders FC Re-Signs Forward Fredy Montero . Seattle Sounders FC . March 16, 2023 . March 17, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230317044218/https://www.soundersfc.com/news/sounders-fc-re-signs-forward-fredy-montero-x6066 . live .

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