Wikipedia

2020 Seattle Sounders FC season

The 2020 season was Seattle Sounders FC's twelfth season in Major League Soccer (MLS), the top flight of professional club soccer in the United States. It was the 37th season played by a professional team bearing the Sounders name, which had originated in 1974 with the first incarnation of the franchise. The team was under the management of Brian Schmetzer in his fourth full MLS season as head coach of the Sounders.

Seattle Sounders FC
2020 season
Wordmark logo of Seattle Sounders FC
General managerGarth Lagerwey
Head coachBrian Schmetzer
StadiumCenturyLink Field
Major League SoccerConference: 2nd
Overall: 6th
MLS Cup PlayoffsRunners-up
U.S. Open CupCanceled
CONCACAF Champions LeagueRound of 16
Campeones CupCanceled
MLS is Back TournamentRound of 16
Cascadia CupNot awarded
Top goalscorerLeague: Raúl Ruidíaz (12)[1]
All: Raúl Ruidíaz (14)[1]
Highest home attendanceLeague: 40,126[1]
(Mar. 1 vs. Chicago)[A]
Lowest home attendanceLeague: 33,080[1]
(Mar. 7 vs. Columbus)[A]
Average home league attendanceLeague: 36,603 (Open matches only)[1]
Biggest winLeague: 7–1 vs. San Jose (Sep. 10)[1]
Biggest defeatLeague: 1–4 at Los Angeles (July 27)[1]
Playoffs: 0–3 at Columbus (Dec. 12)[1]
← 2019
2021 →

Seattle were the reigning MLS Cup champions, having defeated Toronto FC 3–1 in the 2019 final at their home stadium, CenturyLink Field (renamed Lumen Field in November 2020). The season began with two home matches but was suspended on March 12, 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic; the second Sounders match had reduced attendance due to the pandemic's spread in the Seattle metropolitan area. MLS resumed with a special tournament in July hosted in the Orlando area, and teams returned home a month later to play in matches behind closed doors. The Sounders only played 22 regular season matches, mostly against opponents in the Western Conference, due to a shortened schedule and several canceled matches. The 2020 Campeones Cup was canceled along with the 2020 U.S. Open Cup.

Seattle qualified for the 2020 MLS Cup Playoffs as the second-placed team in the Western Conference, determined by points per game due to the unbalanced number of games played by MLS teams during the season. The Sounders defeated Los Angeles FC, FC Dallas, and Minnesota United FC at home to win a second consecutive conference championship and qualify for MLS Cup 2020, where they lost 3–0 to Columbus Crew SC.

Background

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Main article: 2019 Seattle Sounders FC season

Seattle Sounders FC were announced as an MLS expansion team in 2007 and joined the league two years later; the team were the third to use the Sounders name, which had originated with an earlier team in the former North American Soccer League in 1974.[2][3] During their first eleven seasons in MLS, the club won two MLS Cup championships, one Supporters' Shield, and four U.S. Open Cup titles, making them one of the most successful in American soccer.[4] The Sounders had also qualified for the MLS Cup Playoffs during each season, setting an MLS record, and also led the league in average attendance for several years.[5][6] Brian Schmetzer, formerly an assistant coach for the Sounders under Sigi Schmid, was hired as interim head coach in July 2016 and took the job on a permanent basis later that year as he guided the team to their first MLS Cup.[7] The team finished the 2019 season with the second-best record in the Western Conference and won their second MLS Cup title after defeating Toronto FC at CenturyLink Field.[8]

The team debuted a new primary jersey for the season, named "Forever Green", that adds wave-like stripes in several shades of green to the main Rave Green kit used since 2009. The jersey also incorporates three white stripes added for all MLS jerseys to reflect the league's 25th season along with the flag of Cascadia and an outline of Washington.[9][10] The Sounders retained their 2019 secondary jersey, named "Nightfall", a black-and-pink design that was inspired by a sunset at CenturyLink Field during a 2014 match.[11] The 2020 season also marked the second year of a sponsorship agreement with online retailer Zulily, who had their logo displayed on both jerseys.[10] WaFd Bank was announced as the team's first sleeve patch sponsor in July 2020 and had their logo displayed on both shoulders through the end of the season.[12]

Summary

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Roster moves

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The club initially retained 19 players over the offseason and lost several significant players,[13] including winger Víctor Rodríguez, winner of the MLS Cup 2019 most valuable player award;[14] and starting defenders Román Torres and Kim Kee-hee.[13] Backup goalkeeper Bryan Meredith also left the Sounders after he was selected by Inter Miami CF in the 2019 MLS Expansion Draft.[15] At the start of training camp in early January, the Sounders had 21 signed first-team players and were still engaged in talks with several others, but they lacked replacements in defense and for Rodríguez. General manager Garth Lagerwey stated that the club had yet to make major roster decisions due to the ongoing negotiations between the league and the MLS Players Association over a new collective bargaining agreement, which would affect the salary cap. Schmetzer also led a scouting trip to Argentina in December 2019 as part of preparations for the season.[16]

On January 31, 2020, the Sounders announced that they had signed Brazilian midfielder João Paulo, on loan from Botafogo, to a Designated Player contract.[14] The club also signed defenders Yeimar Gómez Andrade, Miguel Ibarra, and Shane O'Neill to replace Torres, Kee-hee, and left-back Brad Smith, who returned to AFC Bournemouth following the end of his loan.[17] Existing midfielder Alex Roldán was also shifted to right-back and signed to a new contract after his option was initially declined during the offseason.[18] The team also added John Hutchinson and Henry Brauner as development coaches during preseason and retained most of their existing technical staff.[19]

Preseason and CONCACAF Champions League

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Midfielder Nicolás Lodeiro (pictured in 2017) was absent during part of preseason and the CONCACAF Champions League round of 16.

The club opened their preseason training camp at Starfire Sports on January 14 amid snowy conditions. Several young, unsigned players were called up to the training camp, as well as members of the Seattle Sounders FC Academy and reserve team Tacoma Defiance; key members of the team, including Jordan Morris and Cristian Roldan, were absent from the training camp due to international callups.[20][21] After four days, the Sounders traveled to Long Beach, California, to open a twelve-day training camp that would also include a pair of friendlies and other scrimmages.[22] The team were defeated 1–0 by Uruguay's Peñarol in their first friendly and won 3–2 against Loyola Marymount University a week later in an extended scrimmage.[23][24]

The Sounders returned to Seattle to play the Sacramento Republic FC of the second-division USL Championship on February 5 at CenturyLink Field. The hosts won 6–2 during the 117-minute match, which was divided between the first team for 72 minutes and a combination of reserves and trialists for the remaining 45 minutes.[25] The team departed the following day to begin a second travelling camp based in Mexico City as part of preparations for the CONCACAF Champions League.[26] In Mexico City, the Sounders played two friendlies on February 12 against local teams, drawing 2–2 with Atlético Zacatepec using most of their starting lineup and defeating the under-20 reserves for UNAM Pumas 2–1.[27][28] Midfielder and captain Nicolás Lodeiro was absent from part of the preseason camps while undergoing treatment for tendinitis in Uruguay and remained unavailable to begin the season.[29][30]

In the Champions League's round of 16, the club faced Honduran side C.D. Olimpia, who hosted the first leg in San Pedro Sula. The visiting Sounders took a 2–0 lead early in the second half with goals from João Paulo, making his debut for Seattle, and Jordan Morris; several yellow cards were issued by referee Juan Calderón during a scuffle that followed a controversial challenge by Justin Arboleda on goalkeeper Stefan Frei in the first half. Arboleda went on to score twice in the second half to complete a 2–2 draw for Olimpia.[31][32] The Sounders conceded early in the second leg, but goals from João Paulo and Cristian Roldan gave the hosts a 2–1 lead in the second half; a volleyed goal by Carlos Pineda in the 86th minute equalized the match's score at 2–2 and aggregate score at 4–4 with no away goals advantage. After a scoreless extra time, the Sounders lost 2–4 in the penalty shootout and were eliminated from the Champions League.[33]

March and COVID-19 suspension

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Under the original 34-match regular season schedule, the Sounders would face each team in the Western Conference twice and play the remaining ten matches against teams from the Eastern Conference in 2020.[34] As the league had expanded to 26 teams, the now-unbalanced schedule would no longer have teams playing every other MLS team during the season; the Sounders were not expected to play against FC Cincinnati, Orlando City SC, and the Philadelphia Union during the 2020 regular season.[35] The team's first regular season match was played at CenturyLink Field on March 1 against the Chicago Fire, which the Sounders won 2–1 in front of 40,126 spectators. The hosts conceded early in the second half, but halftime substitute Jordan Morris scored two goals, the latter in stoppage time; he also had an earlier assist on a goal by Cristian Roldan that was ruled offside by the referee.[36]

The March 1 match was played amid a local outbreak of COVID-19, which had been detected in the Seattle metropolitan area in late January; the first U.S. death attributed to the disease and a state of emergency declared by Governor Jay Inslee were announced the day before the match.[37][38] The Sounders announced further precautions, including the deployment of hand sanitizer stations at the stadium, that would carry over into the next match.[39] The second match, a 1–1 draw with the Columbus Crew on March 7, had an attendance of 33,080—the lowest for an MLS regular season game in Seattle since 2009.[40] A stadium concessions worker tested positive for COVID-19 after a Seattle Sea Dragons game, but public health authorities permitted the Sounders match to be held with full capacity.[38][41] The club remained in contact with local health officials over the following week and prepared several contingency plans to address the COVID-19 outbreak, including postponement or playing without spectators.[41][42]

The Sounders announced on March 11 that their next home match against FC Dallas, originally scheduled for March 21, would be postponed due to a statewide ban on large gatherings.[43] The following day, MLS suspended the season for a month due to the impact of the pandemic; the Sounders, who had been scheduled to fly to Houston for an away match, also canceled all operations until further notice.[44][45] The U.S. Open Cup was also postponed—and later canceled entirely along with the Campeones Cup, which the Sounders were scheduled to host on August 12.[46][47] The team began holding videoconference practice and conditioning sessions, as well as weekly chat sessions, over Zoom while preparing for the resumption of league activity.[48][49] Players were also shipped a "care package" that included a soccer ball, hand sanitizer, and basic exercise equipment.[50] Sounders majority owner Adrian Hanauer also announced a $500,000 investment into a club relief fund for businesses, workers, and non-profits in Seattle that were affected by the lack of matches at CenturyLink Field.[51] Season ticket holders were given the choice of a refund for the remaining home matches, a credit for future matches in 2020 or 2021, or an early renewal for 2021 using the 2020 season as credit.[52]

MLS is Back in Orlando

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Main article: MLS is Back Tournament
 
Aerial view of the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex near Orlando, Florida, host venue of the MLS is Back Tournament

MLS permitted clubs to begin voluntary workouts and in-person sessions in early May with health and safety protocols in place.[53] The Sounders resumed individualized training sessions at Starfire Sports on May 18 with outdoor social distancing, limited use of indoor facilities, daily temperature and symptom screenings, and use of personal protective equipment.[54][55] The sessions resumed two weeks later than most MLS teams due to stricter local regulations, which also limited group training to passing balls between delineated areas.[56] Among the participants was Jordan Morris, who has type 1 diabetes and would have been at greater risk of complications from COVID-19.[57] Midfielder Harry Shipp, a seven-year league veteran who had been with the club since 2017, announced his retirement from professional soccer in June to pursue a business degree.[58]

During the same month, the league announced that the season would resume through the MLS is Back Tournament, a leaguewide competition that would be hosted behind closed doors the following month.[59] During the tournament, which was played at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex near Orlando, Florida, participating players and staff were isolated in a "bubble", wore masks and socially distanced except while playing, underwent frequent temperature checks and COVID-19 testing, and quarantined upon arrival.[60] Each player was assigned their own room, and each team was given an entire hotel floor; players and staff were not permitted to leave the "bubble" at the Walt Disney World Resort, which included access to restaurants and convention space.[61][62] A rising number of positive COVID-19 cases in Florida and among MLS players prompted the Emerald City Supporters to organize a small protest at the final Sounders training session before their flight to join the tournament.[63]

The Sounders were drawn into Group B along with FC Dallas, the San Jose Earthquakes, and Vancouver Whitecaps FC; the three group stage matches would count towards regular season standings, while the knockout round would not.[64] FC Dallas withdrew from the tournament upon arrival due to a COVID-19 outbreak in their squad and were replaced in the group by the Chicago Fire.[65] The Sounders played through the tournament without midfielder João Paulo due to a quad injury but saw the return of captain Nicolás Lodeiro.[66][67]

The team drew 0–0 with the Earthquakes in the opener, during which Frei made eight saves to preserve a shutout.[68] The team then lost 2–1 to the Fire during a match that required extra preparations for players due to the 9 a.m. start time, including a modified sleep schedule.[69][70] Seattle advanced to the knockout round by finishing second in Group B with four points; Morris earned a penalty kick and scored a goal as the team won 3–0 in their final group stage match against Vancouver, who lost goalkeeper Maxime Crépeau to a broken thumb in the second half.[71][72] The Sounders were eliminated in the round of 16 with a 4–1 loss to Los Angeles FC, who took advantage of a brace by Diego Rossi and several defensive mistakes.[73] Seattle's goal in the 75th minute was scored by Will Bruin, who was playing his first match in 13 months following an anterior cruciate ligament injury.[74]

Regular season resumption

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class=notpageimage|
Map of August–November regular season venues for the 2020 Sounders season

The Sounders returned from Orlando at the end of July and began preparing for the resumption of the regular season at home venues tentatively scheduled for the following month.[75] The remaining schedule was to be played against Western Conference teams in regional blocs to reduce travel and was released in several phases because it was uncertain if further matches could be played as planned.[76][77] Home matches at CenturyLink Field would remain behind closed doors due to state and local regulations with tarps over empty seats and recorded audio from previous matches to simulate a matchday environment for players and the television broadcast. Signs and banners from several supporters groups, including prominent social justice slogans, were also installed in the Brougham End.[78][79] The Cascadia Cup, contested by the Sounders alongside rivals Portland and Vancouver, was not awarded during the 2020 season following a decision by supporters groups to exclude matches without fans in attendance.[80][81] The club also announced a new broadcast contract with Amazon to simulcast locally televised matches on their Prime Video platform for residents of Washington state; the streaming deal had been negotiated in March, but its implementation was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[82]

The team traveled on August 23 to face the Portland Timbers, who had won the MLS is Back Tournament, and won 3–0 behind closed doors at Providence Park with two goals and an assist by Ruidíaz.[83] As part of a multi-sport strike by professional athletes in the United States to protest the shooting of Jacob Blake in Wisconsin, the Sounders refused to play against the LA Galaxy. The away match was postponed as a result of the protest, which also affected other MLS matches.[84] In their first home match since March, Seattle defeated Los Angeles FC 3–1 using their full starting lineup and rose to second in the Western Conference. Ruidíaz scored from a volleyed strike in the eleventh minute which was followed by two goals in the second half by Morris scored a minute apart.[85] The Sounders traveled two days later to play Real Salt Lake, who were permitted to admit over 4,000 spectators into Rio Tinto Stadium, and took the lead twice through a penalty scored by Lodeiro and later a ]header by defender Yeimar Gómez Andrade for his first career MLS goal. Salt Lake equalized after each goal and earned a 2–2 draw with Seattle, who were using a rotated lineup to rest players.[86]

The Sounders returned to CenturyLink Field for a three-match home stand that would feature rematches against several recent opponents, beginning with the Portland Timbers. Seattle conceded early but found an equalizer through Kelvin Leerdam before halftime; however, a late goal by Felipe Mora gave Portland a 2–1 victory.[80] The second match, played under hazy conditions due to smoke from nearby wildfires, was a 7–1 win against the San Jose Earthquakes that set several records.[87] The Sounders became the fastest MLS team to score five goals, doing so in 33 minutes, and tied the record for most goals in the first half; the team also set a franchise record for the most goals scored in a single match.[88] Raúl Ruidíaz and Joevin Jones scored two goals each and also assisted on other goals scored by Jordan Morris, Leerdam, and João Paulo.[87] The Sounders then faced Los Angeles FC and took the lead in the first half through two penalty kicks converted by Lodeiro five minutes apart; one of the penalties was awarded following video review of a handball. Ruidíaz then added a strike in the 82nd minute to give the hosts a 3–0 victory and take them to first place in the Western Conference.[89]

The final two matches of September were played on the road and required same-day flights to Portland and Los Angeles. The Sounders signed two returning defenders, Brad Smith from free agency and Román Torres in a trade with Inter Miami CF, to add depth and options to rotate players for midweek matches.[90][91] The team lost 1–0 to the Timbers, who took an early lead through Yimmi Chará; Portland goalkeeper Steve Clark made six saves as the Sounders had a majority of possession and chances in the second half while unsuccessfully searching for an equalizer.[92] Ruidíaz was suspended for the following match by the MLS Disciplinary Committee for his reaction to a challenge by Pablo Bonilla during the Portland match.[93] A brace from Cristian Roldan and another goal by Jordan Morris helped the Sounders defeat the Galaxy 3–1 to maintain their place atop the conference heading into October.[94]

October and November

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The Sounders played home matches at CenturyLink Field (renamed Lumen Field in November) without spectators for the rest of the 2020 season.

Three players—Ruidíaz, midfielder Gustav Svensson, and defender Xavier Arreaga—were called up to their national teams in October and were expected to miss up to five MLS matches due to a required ten-day quarantine period.[91][95] On October 3, the Sounders hosted Vancouver Whitecaps FC and were kept scoreless in the first half but won 3–1 through a trio of goals scored during a twelve-minute span in the second half. João Paulo, an own goal from Érik Godoy, and a Ruidíaz header contributed to the home side's victory, while the Whitecaps converted a penalty kick that was called for a foul committed by Yeimar Gómez Andrade; a red card was initially issued to Yeimar before it was rescinded through video review.[96] The Sounders won 2–1 in their next home match four days later against Real Salt Lake, with goals from Morris at close range and a Yeimar header off a free kick; Nouhou's own goal in the 68th minute was the only shot on target for the visitors.[97]

Four days later, the Sounders played away to Los Angeles FC for the first time in 2020 and lost 3–1 as both sides fielded lineups without players called up to national teams. Danny Musovski scored twice and assisted another goal for LAFC, and Lodeiro converted a long-range free kick; the Sounders had 18 shots but were unable to finish most of their chances.[98][99] A home match against the Colorado Rapids on October 14 was initially postponed due to a COVID-19 outbreak in the Rapids squad; it was later canceled along with four other unplayed fixtures for Colorado.[100][101] Earlier that week, Ruidíaz tested positive for COVID-19 while with the Peru national team and was placed in quarantine with an unclear timeline for his return to Seattle.[102] The Sounders then faced the San Jose Earthquakes on the road and finished the match with a scoreless draw; both sides managed few chances to score in what was described as a "defensive battle" in contrast to the earlier 7–1 match, which had only one save from each goalkeeper.[103] In their fourth meeting of the season, Seattle and Portland played to a 1–1 draw at CenturyLink Field after several missed chances to score were followed by a late goal from Will Bruin in stoppage time.[104]

Several key players, including Ruidíaz and Svensson, returned from national team duty for a match against Vancouver Whitecaps FC that was played at Providence Park in Portland, Oregon, due to travel restrictions imposed at the Canadian border. The Sounders were limited to one shot on goal in the first half but won 2–0 after Ruidíaz scored and assisted on a Lodeiro goal; the result also allowed the team to clinch their 12th consecutive berth in the MLS Cup Playoffs to maintain their league record.[105] The Sounders then traveled to play the Colorado Rapids on November 1 in the Denver area, their longest away trip of the season.[106] They lost 3–1, eliminating them from Supporters' Shield contention. Seattle had conceded first but Morris scored an equalizer in the 22nd minute; Colorado then scored two goals from long distance and shut down several attempts by the visitors in the second half.[107] Three days later, the Sounders earned a 1–1 draw with the LA Galaxy after Ruidíaz scored in stoppage time; the away fixture replaced the August match that had been postponed due to player protests.[108] Seattle played on Decision Day at home against the San Jose Earthquakes and scored four goals in the second half to earn a 4–1 victory. The Sounders finished the 2020 regular season as the second seed in the Western Conference behind Sporting Kansas City, as determined by points per game because teams did not play the same number of matches, and had only one loss at home.[109][110]

Playoffs

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See also: 2020 MLS Cup Playoffs and MLS Cup 2020

The 2020 playoffs began in late November after a 12-day break for international matches; MLS waived its quarantine requirement for players who returned on charter flights. The Sounders, playing at the newly renamed Lumen Field, opened the first round against Los Angeles FC, who lost four starting players after they tested positive for COVID-19 while playing for their national teams.[111] In the fifth match of the season between the two teams, the Sounders took a 1–0 lead at halftime from an early Lodeiro goal; the scoreline was preserved by Stefan Frei, who saved a penalty taken by Carlos Vela to keep a shutout. Ruidíaz and Morris, who were both involved in the first goal, each scored in the second half to give the hosts a 3–1 victory that mirrored the scoreline of the 2019 Western Conference Final between Seattle and LAFC.[110][112] In the Conference Semifinals, Sounders hosted sixth-seeded FC Dallas in their first meeting since the 2019 playoffs, and won 1–0.[106][113] The Sounders produced nine shots but were stymied by the Dallas defense for most of the match; defender Shane O'Neill scored the lone goal of the match, the second in his MLS career, from a header off a Lodeiro corner kick in the 49th minute.[106]

The Sounders then hosted the Western Conference Final on December 8 against fourth-seeded Minnesota United FC, who had defeated top-seeded Kansas City in an upset victory four days earlier.[114] Seattle clinched their fourth Western Conference championship with a 3–2 comeback victory that also extended their home winning streak in the playoffs to 15 matches.[115][116] Minnesota took a 2–0 lead through their star midfielder Emanuel Reynoso, who scored in the first half and assisted on Bakaye Dibassy's header in the 67th minute. Substitute forward Will Bruin scored in the 75th minute from a rebound on a Ruidíaz shot that had been blocked by a defender; he was then followed by Ruidíaz, who scored the equalizer in the 89th minute from a deflected corner kick. Defender Gustav Svensson, who had missed the first two playoff matches due to a positive COVID-19 test, scored the winning header in stoppage time off a Lodeiro corner kick.[115][117]

In their fourth MLS Cup final in five years, the Sounders traveled to face the Columbus Crew, the only conference semifinalist they had played earlier in the season.[113] The final was played in front of 1,500 spectators at Mapfre Stadium, which was expected to be permanently closed the following year.[118] Three Crew players—Darlington Nagbe, Pedro Santos, and Vito Wormgoor—were declared "medically not cleared to play" due to COVID-19, and Sounders defender Xavier Arreaga remained home for the birth of his child.[119][120] The hosts scored twice from set-pieces within six minutes in the first half and another in the second—all involving midfielder Lucas Zelarayán—to defeat the Sounders 3–0.[121] Schmetzer made half-time substitutions to add attackers, but the team only forced two saves out of Columbus's goalkeeper and were denied a third MLS Cup championship.[122]

Non-competitive matches

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Key

  Win   Draw   Loss   Void   Upcoming fixture

Preseason

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January 22 Closed-door scrimmage Seattle Sounders FC   0–1   Peñarol Long Beach, California
11:00 a.m. (PST) Report Urretaviscaya   37' Stadium: George Allen Field
Attendance: 0
January 29 Closed-door scrimmage Seattle Sounders FC 3–2 Loyola Marymount University Los Angeles, California
10:50 a.m. (PST) Ruidíaz   14'
Delem   55'
Bwana   98'		 Report   23'
  43'		 Stadium: Sullivan Field
Attendance: 0
Note: 105-minute scrimmage
February 5 Closed-door scrimmage Seattle Sounders FC 6–2 Sacramento Republic FC Seattle, Washington
11:00 a.m. (PST) Ruidíaz   2'
Shipp   9'
Morris   35'
Dhillon   78', 97'
A. Roldan   117'		 Report Werner   72'
Iwasa   96'		 Stadium: CenturyLink Field
Attendance: 0
Note: 120-minute scrimmage
February 12 Closed-door scrimmage Seattle Sounders FC   2–2   Club Atlético Zacatepec Mexico City, Mexico
8:30 a.m. (PST) Leyva   8'
Ruidíaz   2'
Morris   33'		 Report Castillo   63'
Barboza   83' (pen.)		 Stadium: Centro Alto Rendimiento
Attendance: 0
February 12 Closed-door scrimmage Seattle Sounders FC   2–1   Club Universidad Nacional U-20 Mexico City, Mexico
10:30 a.m. (PST) Bwana   20'
Robles   61'		 Report   40' Stadium: Centro Alto Rendimiento
Attendance: 0

Competitions

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Key

  Win   Draw   Loss   Void   Upcoming fixture

Major League Soccer

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Main article: 2020 Major League Soccer season

League tables

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Pos Team
 Pld W L T GF GA GD Pts PPG Qualification
1 Sporting Kansas City 21 12 6 3 38 25 +13 39 1.86 Qualification for the playoffs first round and Leagues Cup
2 Seattle Sounders FC 22 11 5 6 44 23 +21 39 1.77
3 Portland Timbers 23 11 6 6 46 35 +11 39 1.70 Qualification for the playoffs first round and
2021 CONCACAF Champions League[a]
4 Minnesota United FC 21 9 5 7 36 26 +10 34 1.62 Qualification for the playoffs first round
5 Colorado Rapids 18 8 6 4 32 28 +4 28 1.56
Source: MLS[123]
Rules for classification: 1) points per game; 2) total wins per match played; 3) total goal differential per match played; 4) total goals scored per match played; 5) fewest disciplinary points per match played; 6) away goal differential per away match played; 7) away goals scored per away match played; 8) home goal differential per home match played; 9) home goals scored per home match played; 10) coin toss or drawing of lots.
Notes:
  1. ^ As MLS is Back tournament winners
2020 MLS overall standings
Pos Team
 Pld W L T GF GA GD Pts PPG Qualification
4 Columbus Crew SC (C) 23 12 6 5 36 21 +15 41 1.78 2021 CONCACAF Champions League[a]
5 Orlando City SC 23 11 4 8 40 25 +15 41 1.78 2021 Leagues Cup[b]
6 Seattle Sounders FC 22 11 5 6 44 23 +21 39 1.77 2021 Leagues Cup[c]
7 New York City FC 23 12 8 3 37 25 +12 39 1.70 2021 Leagues Cup[d]
8 Portland Timbers (M) 23 11 6 6 46 35 +11 39 1.70 2021 CONCACAF Champions League[e]
Source: MLS[124]
Rules for classification: 1) points per game; 2) total wins per match played; 3) total goal differential per match played; 4) total goals scored per match played; 5) fewest disciplinary points per match played; 6) away goal differential per away match played; 7) away goals scored per away match played; 8) home goal differential per home match played; 9) home goals scored per home match played; 10) coin toss or drawing of lots.
(C) Champions; (M) MLS is Back tournament champions
Notes:
  1. ^ As MLS Cup 2020 champions (USA1)
  2. ^ As 4th, Eastern Conference (MLS2)
  3. ^ As 2nd, Western Conference (MLS3)
  4. ^ As 5th, Eastern Conference (MLS4)
  5. ^ As MLS is Back tournament winners (USA3)

Results summary

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Overall Home Away
Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts W D L GF GA GD W D L GF GA GD
22 11 6 5 44 23  +21 39 8 3 1 30 10  +20 3 3 4 14 13  +1

Last updated: November 8, 2020.
Source: MLS[125]

Result by matchday
Matchday1234567891011121314151617181920212223
StadiumHHNNNAAHAHHHAAHHAHAHAAH
ResultWDDLWWDWDLWWLWWWLCDDWLW
Source: MLS[126]
A = Away; H = Home; N = Neutral; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss; C = Canceled

Match results

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March 1 MLS 1 Seattle Sounders FC 2–1 Chicago Fire FC Seattle, Washington
12:00 p.m. (PST)
Report
Stadium: CenturyLink Field
Attendance: 40,126
Referee: Alex Chilowicz
March 7 MLS 2 Seattle Sounders FC 1–1 Columbus Crew SC Seattle, Washington
7:00 p.m. (PST)
Report
Stadium: CenturyLink Field
Attendance: 33,080
Referee: Jair Marrufo
March–July: MLS season suspended due to COVID-19 pandemic
July 10 MLS 3[B] Seattle Sounders FC 0–0 San Jose Earthquakes Bay Lake, Florida
6:00 p.m. (PDT) Arreaga   24' Report Thompson   19' Stadium: ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex
Attendance: 0 (behind closed doors)
Referee: Drew Fischer
July 14 MLS 4[B] Chicago Fire FC 2–1 Seattle Sounders FC Bay Lake, Florida
6:00 a.m. (PDT)
Report
Stadium: ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex
Attendance: 0 (behind closed doors)
Referee: Rosendo Mendoza
July 19 MLS 5[B] Seattle Sounders FC 3–0 Vancouver Whitecaps FC Bay Lake, Florida
7:30 p.m. (PDT)
Report
Stadium: ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex
Attendance: 0 (behind closed doors)
Referee: Robert Sibiga
August 23 MLS 6 Portland Timbers 0–3 Seattle Sounders FC Portland, Oregon
7:00 p.m. (PDT) Report
Stadium: Providence Park
Attendance: 0
Referee: Jair Marrufo
Note: Match was not eligible for Cascadia Cup due to lack of fans in attendance.[127]
August 30 MLS 8 Seattle Sounders FC 3–1 Los Angeles FC Seattle, Washington
7:00 p.m. (PDT)
Report
Stadium: CenturyLink Field
Attendance: 0 (behind closed doors)
Referee: Kevin Stott
September 2 MLS 9 Real Salt Lake 2–2 Seattle Sounders FC Sandy, Utah
6:30 p.m. (PDT)
Report
Stadium: Rio Tinto Stadium
Attendance: 4,026
Referee: Malik Badawi
September 6 MLS 10 Seattle Sounders FC 1–2 Portland Timbers Seattle, Washington
7:00 p.m. (PDT)
Report
Stadium: CenturyLink Field
Attendance: 0 (behind closed doors)
Referee: Ismail Elfath
Note: Match was not eligible for Cascadia Cup due to lack of fans in attendance.[127]
September 10 MLS 11 Seattle Sounders FC 7–1 San Jose Earthquakes Seattle, Washington
7:00 p.m. (PDT)
Report
Stadium: CenturyLink Field
Attendance: 0 (behind closed doors)
Referee: Allen Chapman
September 18 MLS 12 Seattle Sounders FC 3–0 Los Angeles FC Seattle, Washington
7:00 p.m. (PDT)
Report
Stadium: CenturyLink Field
Attendance: 0 (behind closed doors)
Referee: Joseph Dickerson
September 23 MLS 13 Portland Timbers 1–0 Seattle Sounders FC Portland, Oregon
7:00 p.m. (PDT)
Report
Stadium: Providence Park
Attendance: 0 (behind closed doors)
Referee: Allen Chapman
Note: Match was not eligible for Cascadia Cup due to lack of fans in attendance.[127] The MLS Disciplinary Committee issued a suspension to Raúl Ruidíaz on review of the match.[128]
September 27 MLS 14 LA Galaxy 1–3 Seattle Sounders FC Carson, California
7:30 p.m. (PDT)
Report
Stadium: Dignity Health Sports Park
Attendance: 0 (behind closed doors)
Referee: Jair Marrufo
October 3 MLS 15 Seattle Sounders FC 3–1 Vancouver Whitecaps FC Seattle, Washington
7:00 p.m. (PDT)
Report
Stadium: CenturyLink Field
Attendance: 0 (behind closed doors)
Referee: Timothy Ford
Note: Match was not eligible for Cascadia Cup due to lack of fans in attendance.[127]
October 7 MLS 16 Seattle Sounders FC 2–1 Real Salt Lake Seattle, Washington
7:00 p.m. (PDT)
Report
Stadium: CenturyLink Field
Attendance: 0 (behind closed doors)
Referee: David Gantar
October 11 MLS 17 Los Angeles FC 3–1 Seattle Sounders FC Los Angeles, California
4:00 p.m. (PDT)
Report
Stadium: Banc of California Stadium
Attendance: 0 (behind closed doors)
Referee: Ramy Touchan
October 14 MLS 18 Seattle Sounders FC N.P. Colorado Rapids Seattle, Washington
7:00 p.m. (PDT) Preview
(Archived)		 Stadium: CenturyLink Field
Note: The match was initially postponed due to COVID-19 within the Rapids squad, but MLS later announced on October 29 that postponed matches with the Rapids would not be rescheduled.[100]
October 18 MLS 19 San Jose Earthquakes 0–0 Seattle Sounders FC San Jose, California
7:30 p.m. (PDT) Judson   53' Report Gómez Andrade   76' Stadium: Earthquakes Stadium
Attendance: 0 (behind closed doors)
Referee: Kevin Stott
October 22 MLS 20 Seattle Sounders FC 1–1 Portland Timbers Seattle, Washington
7:30 p.m. (PDT) Bruin   90'+3' Report
Stadium: CenturyLink Field
Attendance: 0 (behind closed doors)
Referee: Ismail Elfath
Note: Match was not eligible for Cascadia Cup due to lack of fans in attendance.[127] Match rescheduled from October 24.[129]
October 27 MLS 21 Vancouver Whitecaps FC 0–2 Seattle Sounders FC Portland, Oregon
7:00 p.m. (PDT)
Report
Stadium: Providence Park
Attendance: 0 (behind closed doors)
Referee: Fotis Bazakos
Note: Match played in Portland due to travel restrictions between Canada and the United States due to COVID-19. Match was not eligible for Cascadia Cup due to lack of fans in attendance.[127]
November 1 MLS 22 Colorado Rapids 3–1 Seattle Sounders FC Commerce City, Colorado
6:00 p.m. (PST)
Report
Stadium: Dick's Sporting Goods Park
Attendance: 0 (behind closed doors)
Referee: Ismir Pekmic
November 4 MLS 7 LA Galaxy 1–1 Seattle Sounders FC Carson, California
8:00 p.m. (PST)
Report
Stadium: Dignity Health Sports Park
Attendance: 0 (behind closed doors)
Referee: Silviu Petrescu
Note: Rescheduled from August 24 due to a player protest.[129]
November 8 MLS 23 Seattle Sounders FC 4–1 San Jose Earthquakes Seattle, Washington
3:30 p.m. (PST)
Report López   57' Stadium: CenturyLink Field
Attendance: 0 (behind closed doors)
Referee: Jair Marrufo

MLS Cup Playoffs

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See also: 2020 MLS Cup Playoffs

The MLS Cup Playoffs retained the single-elimination format that debuted in 2019 but was temporarily expanded to 18 teams—ten from the Eastern Conference and eight from the Western Conference as determined by points per game. A play-in round was added for the four lowest-ranked Eastern Conference entrants; the rest of the playoff matches were played between November 21 and December 12 with hosting determined by overall finish on the table.[130][131]

November 24 First round Seattle Sounders FC 3–1 Los Angeles FC Seattle, Washington
7:30 p.m. (PST)
Report
Stadium: Lumen Field
Attendance: 0 (behind closed doors)
Referee: Kevin Stott
December 1 Conference Semifinal Seattle Sounders FC 1–0 FC Dallas Seattle, Washington
6:30 p.m. (PST)
Report
Stadium: Lumen Field
Attendance: 0 (behind closed doors)
Referee: Robert Sibiga
December 7 Conference Final Seattle Sounders FC 3–2 Minnesota United FC Seattle, Washington
6:30 p.m. (PST)
Report
Stadium: Lumen Field
Attendance: 0 (behind closed doors)
Referee: Ismail Elfath
December 12 MLS Cup 2020 Columbus Crew SC 3–0 Seattle Sounders FC Columbus, Ohio
5:30 p.m. (PST)
Report
Stadium: Mapfre Stadium
Attendance: 1,500
Referee: Jair Marrufo

CONCACAF Champions League

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Main article: 2020 CONCACAF Champions League

Round of 16

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February 20 First leg Olimpia   2–2   Seattle Sounders FC San Pedro Sula, Honduras
7:00 p.m. (PST)
Report
Stadium: Estadio Olímpico Metropolitano
Referee: Juan Gabriel Calderón (Costa Rica)
February 27 Second leg Seattle Sounders FC   2–2
(4–4 agg.)
(2–4 p)		   Olimpia Seattle, Washington
7:00 p.m. (PST)
Report
Stadium: CenturyLink Field
Attendance: 34,016
Referee: Iván Barton (El Salvador)
Penalties

U.S. Open Cup

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Main article: 2020 U.S. Open Cup

The Sounders were scheduled to enter the 2020 U.S. Open Cup in the round of 32 on May 19 or May 20 along with the twelve highest seeded teams as determined by the 2019 standings and participation in the CONCACAF Champions League.[132] The tournament was suspended by the United States Soccer Federation on March 13, 2020, and later canceled entirely on August 17 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[46][133]

May 19/20 Round of 32 N.P.
Note: The first three rounds were temporarily suspended on March 13, 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[134] The 2020 tournament was canceled on August 17, 2020.[135]

Campeones Cup

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Main article: 2020 Campeones Cup

As defending MLS Cup champions, the Sounders qualified to host the Campeones Cup, an exhibition match scheduled to be played on August 12 at CenturyLink Field. The opponent was to be the winner of the 2020 Campeón de Campeones, a Mexican super cup contested by the winners of the Liga MX Apertura and Clausura seasons.[136] The match was canceled on May 19, 2020, along with the MLS All-Star Game and Leagues Cup, to prevent fixture congestion for the restarted regular season during the COVID-19 pandemic.[47]

August 12 Seattle Sounders FC   N.P.   Campeón de Campeones winner Seattle, Washington
Stadium: CenturyLink Field
Note: Canceled due to COVID-19 pandemic.[47]

MLS is Back Tournament

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Main article: MLS is Back Tournament

Group stage

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July 10 Matchday 1 (MLS 3)[B] Seattle Sounders FC 0–0 San Jose Earthquakes Bay Lake, Florida
6:00 p.m. (PDT) Arreaga   24' Report Thompson   19' Stadium: ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex
Attendance: 0 (behind closed doors)
Referee: Drew Fischer
July 14 Matchday 2 (MLS 4)[B] Chicago Fire FC 2–1 Seattle Sounders FC Bay Lake, Florida
6:00 a.m. (PDT)
Report
Stadium: ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex
Attendance: 0 (behind closed doors)
Referee: Rosendo Mendoza
July 19 Matchday 3 (MLS 5)[B] Seattle Sounders FC 3–0 Vancouver Whitecaps FC Bay Lake, Florida
7:30 p.m. (PDT)
Report
Stadium: ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex
Attendance: 0 (behind closed doors)
Referee: Robert Sibiga
Group B results
Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 San Jose Earthquakes 3 2 1 0 6 3 +3 7 Advanced to knockout stage
2 Seattle Sounders FC 3 1 1 1 4 2 +2 4
3 Vancouver Whitecaps FC 3 1 0 2 5 7 −2 3
4 Chicago Fire 3 1 0 2 2 5 −3 3
Source: MLS[137]

Knockout stage

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July 27 Round of 16[B] Seattle Sounders FC 1–4 Los Angeles FC Bay Lake, Florida
8:00 p.m. (PDT)
Report
Stadium: ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex
Attendance: 0 (behind closed doors)
Referee: Jair Marrufo

Players

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For the 2020 season, the Sounders were permitted a maximum of 30 signed players on the first team, of which 10 roster positions were designated for supplemental and reserve players.[138] A base salary cap of $4.9 million applied to the non-supplemental players with exceptions for the club's three designated players—João Paulo, Nicolás Lodeiro, and Raúl Ruidíaz—who each counted for a reduced amount.[139][140] The Sounders also had eight available international slots that were filled by players from outside the United States who did not have a green card;[141][142] the main roster at the start of the season had players who represented 13 nationalities.[143]

Roster

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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 2020 season. Age listed for each player is calculated from December 12, 2020, the final matchday of the season.

Seattle Sounders FC first team roster[144]
No. Name Nationality Position Age Signed Previous club Base salary[145] Notes
1 Trey Muse   United States GK 21 2019   Indiana Hoosiers (USA) $73,763 HGP
2 Brad Smith   Australia DF 26 2020   AFC Bournemouth (ENG) $81,375
3 Xavier Arreaga   Ecuador DF 26 2019   Barcelona S.C. (ECU) $393,600 International
4 Gustav Svensson   Sweden MF 33 2017   Guangzhou R&F (CHN) $570,000 International
5 Nouhou Tolo   Cameroon DF 23 2017   Seattle Sounders FC 2 (USA) $88,200 International
6 João Paulo   Brazil MF 29 2020   Botafogo (BRA) $1,000,000 DP; on loan
7 Cristian Roldan   United States MF 25 2015   Washington Huskies (USA) $660,000
8 Jordy Delem   Martinique MF 27 2017   Seattle Sounders FC 2 (USA) $160,000
9 Raúl Ruidíaz   Peru FW 30 2018   Morelia (MEX) $2,040,000 DP, International
10 Nicolás Lodeiro (c)   Uruguay MF 31 2016   Boca Juniors (ARG) $2,120,000 DP
11 Miguel Ibarra   United States MF 30 2020   Minnesota United FC (USA) $210,000
13 Jordan Morris   United States FW 26 2016   Stanford Cardinal (USA) $1,000,000 HGP
16 Alex Roldán   El Salvador DF 24 2018   Seattle Redhawks (USA) $81,375
17 Will Bruin   United States FW 31 2017   Houston Dynamo (USA) $425,000
18 Kelvin Leerdam   Suriname DF 30 2017   Vitesse (NED) $650,000
19 Harry Shipp   United States MF 29 2017   Montréal Impact (CAN) Not listed
24 Stefan Frei   Switzerland GK 34 2014   Toronto FC (CAN) $500,000
27 Shane O'Neill   United States DF 27 2020   Orlando City SC (USA) $81,375
28 Yeimar Gómez Andrade   Colombia DF 28 2020   Unión de Santa Fe (ARG) $275,000 International
29 Román Torres   Panama DF 34 2020   Inter Miami CF (USA) $263,000
30 Stefan Cleveland   United States GK 26 2020   Chicago Fire (USA) $81,375
33 Joevin Jones   Trinidad and Tobago DF 29 2019   Darmstadt 98 (GER) $482,004 International
37 Shandon Hopeau   United States MF 22 2020   Tacoma Defiance (USA) $63,547 HGP
45 Ethan Dobbelaere   United States MF 18 2020   Tacoma Defiance (USA) $63,547 HGP
70 Handwalla Bwana   Kenya FW 21 2018   Washington Huskies (USA) $81,375 HGP
75 Danny Leyva   United States MF 17 2019   Tacoma Defiance (USA) $63,547 HGP
84 Josh Atencio   United States MF 18 2020   Tacoma Defiance (USA) $63,547 HGP
87 Alfonso Ocampo-Chavez   United States MF 18 2019   Tacoma Defiance (USA) $63,547 HGP
94 Jimmy Medranda   Colombia DF 26 2020   Nashville SC (USA) $170,504
99 Justin Dhillon   United States FW 25 2019   Tacoma Defiance (USA) $81,375 HGP

On loan

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Seattle Sounders FC players on loan
No. Name Nationality Position Age Signed Base salary[145] On loan to Notes
15 Emanuel Cecchini   Argentina MF 23 2019 $333,000   Unión de Santa Fe (ARG) Until the end of the season[146]

Appearances and goals

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A total of 27 players made at least one appearance for the Sounders during the 2020 season across all competitions.[147] Four players made appearances in all 29 of the team's matches: goalkeeper Stefan Frei, defender Nouhou Tolo, midfielder Cristian Roldan, and forward Jordan Morris.[148] Of those Frei played all available minutes, and Roldan had the most minutes of any outfield player: 1,890 minutes during the regular season and 630 minutes in other competitions.[147][148] Raúl Ruidíaz was the team's leading goalscorer in 2020 with 14 goals;[149] captain Nicolás Lodeiro had the most assists at 13 in the regular season and playoffs.[150][151]

Player statistics (all competitions)[147][148]
No. Player Nationality Pos. Regular season Playoffs MLS is Back
(knockout)[B] 		Champions League Total Discipline
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals    
1 Trey Muse   USA GK 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2 Brad Smith   AUS DF 5 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 9 0 1 0
3 Xavier Arreaga   ECU DF 14 0 0 0 1 0 2 0 17 0 5 0
4 Gustav Svensson   SWE MF 12 0 2 1 1 0 0 0 15 1 0 0
5 Nouhou Tolo   CMR DF 22 0 4 0 1 0 2 0 29 0 1 0
6 João Paulo   BRA MF 19 2 4 0 0 0 2 2 25 4 7 0
7 Cristian Roldan   USA MF 22 2 4 0 1 0 2 1 29 3 1 0
8 Jordy Delem   MTQ MF 17 0 1 0 0 0 2 0 20 0 3 0
9 Raúl Ruidíaz   PER FW 17 12 4 2 1 0 2 0 24 14 2 0
10 Nicolás Lodeiro   URU MF 20 7 4 1 1 0 0 0 25 8 3 0
11 Miguel Ibarra   USA MF 12 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 13 0 0 0
13 Jordan Morris   USA FW 22 10 4 1 1 0 2 1 29 12 1 0
16 Alex Roldán   SLV DF 18 0 4 0 0 0 1 0 23 0 2 0
17 Will Bruin   USA FW 15 1 2 1 1 1 0 0 18 3 1 0
18 Kelvin Leerdam   SUR DF 21 3 3 0 1 0 2 0 27 3 2 0
19 Harry Shipp   USA MF 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0
24 Stefan Frei   SUI GK 22 0 4 0 1 0 2 0 29 0 1 0
27 Shane O'Neill   USA DF 18 0 4 1 1 0 2 0 25 1 4 0
28 Yeimar Gómez Andrade   COL DF 19 2 4 0 0 0 1 0 24 2 5 0
29 Román Torres   PAN DF 3 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 5 0 0 0
30 Stefan Cleveland   USA GK 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
33 Joevin Jones   TRI DF 13 2 4 0 1 0 2 0 20 2 1 0
37 Shandon Hopeau   USA MF 5 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 6 0 1 0
45 Ethan Dobbelaere   USA MF 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 2 0 0 0
70 Handwalla Bwana   KEN FW 5 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 7 1 0 0
75 Danny Leyva   USA MF 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 3 0 0 0
84 Josh Atencio   USA MF 5 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 6 0 0 0
87 Alfonso Ocampo-Chavez   USA MF 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
94 Jimmy Medranda   COL DF 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0
99 Justin Dhillon   USA FW 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 2 0 0 0

Coaching staff

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Technical staff[153]
Position Name Nationality
Head coach Brian Schmetzer   United States
Assistant coach Preki   United States
Assistant coach Gonzalo Pineda   Mexico
Assistant coach Djimi Traoré   Mali
Director of goalkeeping Tom Dutra   United States

Transfers

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The MLS season had two transfer windows during which teams were able to register new players from outside of the league and those who required an International Transfer Certificate. The primary window from February 12 to May 5 was scheduled to be followed by the secondary window from July 7 to August 5;[154] due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the secondary window was split into a two-day window from July 6–7 for the MLS is Back Tournament and a longer window from August 12 to October 29 for the rest of the regular season. Rosters were finalized on October 21, the final day of the regular season.[155] Between the transfer windows, teams are allowed to sign free agents or other U.S.-based players, including those traded between MLS teams for other players, general allocation money, or various league slots.[138][156]

For transfers in, dates listed are when the Sounders officially signed the players to the roster. Transactions where only the rights to the players are acquired are not listed. For transfers out, dates listed are when the Sounders officially removed the players from the 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.[157]

In

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Incoming transfers for Seattle Sounders FC[157]
No. Player Nat. Pos. Previous team Notes Date
30 Stefan Cleveland   United States GK   Chicago Fire FC (USA) Traded for First Round pick (26th overall) in the 2020 MLS SuperDraft and received Second Round pick (35th overall) in the 2020 MLS SuperDraft.[158] November 26, 2019
27 Shane O'Neill   United States DF   Orlando City SC (USA) Free transfer[159] January 14, 2020
6 João Paulo   Brazil MF   Botafogo (BRA) On loan until end of season with an option for 2021[139] January 31, 2020
28 Yeimar Gómez Andrade   Colombia DF   Unión de Santa Fe (ARG) Undisclosed fee[160] February 5, 2020
11 Miguel Ibarra   United States MF   Minnesota United FC (USA) Free transfer[161] February 20, 2020
45 Ethan Dobbelaere   United States MF   Seattle Sounders FC Academy (USA) Homegrown Player[162] June 15, 2020
84 Josh Atencio   United States MF   Tacoma Defiance (USA) Homegrown Player[162] June 15, 2020
37 Shandon Hopeau   United States MF   Tacoma Defiance (USA) Homegrown Player[163] June 30, 2020
2 Brad Smith   Australia DF   AFC Bournemouth (ENG) Free transfer[164] September 17, 2020
29 Román Torres   Panama DF   Inter Miami CF (USA) Traded for a conditional first round selection in the 2021 MLS SuperDraft.[165] September 28, 2020
94 Jimmy Medranda   Colombia DF   Nashville SC (USA) Traded for Handwalla Bwana and received $225,000 in general allocation money with a potential $25,000 bonus.[166] October 21, 2020

Draft picks

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See also: 2020 MLS SuperDraft

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 2020 MLS SuperDraft are listed in the notes.

2020 MLS SuperDraft picks for Seattle Sounders FC[167]
Player Nationality Round Pick Pos. Previous team Notes
Danny Reynolds   England 2nd 35 DF   UNC Wilmington Seahawks (USA) Signed with Tacoma Defiance in February.[168]
Timo Mehlich   Germany 2nd 52 MF   UNLV Rebels (USA) Signed contract with Rio Grande Valley FC before draft.[168]
Julian Avila-Good   Canada 3rd 78 MF   Seattle Redhawks (USA)

Out

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Outgoing transfers for Seattle Sounders FC[157]
No. Player Nat. Pos. New team Notes Date
35 Bryan Meredith   United States GK   Inter Miami CF (USA) Selected with the 9th pick of the MLS Expansion Draft.[169] November 19, 2019
3 Jonathan Campbell   United States DF Retired Option declined[170] November 20, 2019
12 Saad Abdul-Salaam   United States DF   FC Cincinnati (USA) Option declined,[170] selected in second stage of the Re-Entry Draft. November 20, 2019
29 Román Torres   Panama DF   Inter Miami CF (USA) Option declined[170] November 20, 2019
8 Víctor Rodríguez   Spain MF   Elche CF (ESP) Option declined[170] November 20, 2019
23 Luis Silva   Mexico FW Unknown Option declined[170] November 20, 2019
20 Kim Kee-hee   South Korea DF   Ulsan Hyundai FC (KOR) Out of contract[170] November 20, 2019
11 Brad Smith   Australia DF   AFC Bournemouth (ENG) Out of contract (end of loan)[170] November 20, 2019
15 Emanuel Cecchini   Argentina MF   Unión de Santa Fe (ARG) On loan through the end of the year[146] January 31, 2020
19 Harry Shipp   United States MF None Retired[58] June 16, 2020
87 Alfonso Ocampo-Chavez   United States MF   Tacoma Defiance (USA) On loan until end of USL season[171] August 3, 2020
45 Ethan Dobbelaere   United States MF   Tacoma Defiance (USA) On loan until end of USL season[172] September 3, 2020
70 Handwalla Bwana   Kenya MF   Nashville SC (USA) Traded for Jimmy Medranda and $225,000 in general allocation money with a potential $25,000 bonus.[166] October 21, 2020

Player awards

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The attacking trio of Nicolás Lodeiro, Jordan Morris, and Raúl Ruidíaz were named to the 2020 MLS Best XI at the end of the regular season; the Sounders were one of two teams, along with Supporters' Shield winners Philadelphia Union, to have three players in the Best XI.[173] Ruidíaz also finished as runner-up for the MLS Golden Boot with 12 regular season goals; Lodeiro's 10 assists were tied for most in the league.[174] Lodeiro and Morris were finalists for the Landon Donovan MVP Award and finished third and fourth, respectively, in voting.[175]

The Sounders announced their team awards, decided through votes from the team's players and technical staff, in December 2020. Morris was named the team's most valuable player, and Yeimar Gómez Andrade earned Defender of the Year. Cristian Roldan won Humanitarian of the Year for his work in several charity causes as well as initiatives to increase voter turnout and 2020 census participation;[149] he was also a finalist for the MLS Humanitarian of the Year Award.[176]

Aftermath

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Several analysts described the 2020 roster for the Sounders as the best in the team's history and able to compete for a potential championship;[5] they finished the regular season with the second-best goal differential in MLS and third-most goals scored.[193] During the playoffs, Brian Schmetzer said that they felt "like we've had three preseasons" due to disruptions in the schedule and that "just too many weird things that have happened and it's been tough."[5] Following the MLS Cup, which he described as "a failure", Schmetzer said he was "very proud" of the team's performance during the season.[194] The Seattle Times said that the Sounders "didn't play to [their] potential consistently until the postseason" and that the team's defense had "shown weakness" in the playoffs, which was exploited by Columbus.[195]

Following the end of the season, the Sounders closed their COVID-19 relief fund after it had raised and distributed $1.1 million in grants to 785 people and 134 businesses affected by the pandemic and lack of fan traffic for home matches.[196] During the offseason, Schmetzer signed a multi-year contract extension to remain as head coach, and sporting director and head scout Chris Henderson left the club to join Inter Miami CF.[197][198] The team also lost several veteran players after their contracts had expired and planned to use more homegrown and young players to replace them through the 2021 season.[199] Jordan Morris was loaned for six months to Welsh side Swansea City AFC in the EFL Championship, but he only played five matches before a second career anterior cruciate ligament injury in February 2021. Morris returned to Seattle for surgery and eight months of recovery, later appearing at the end of the regular season.[200]

The Sounders began the 2021 season with a 13-match unbeaten run and finished second in the Western Conference but were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs in a penalty shootout.[201] The club had also qualified for the 2021 Leagues Cup, a single-elimination tournament against clubs from Liga MX, as one of the top two teams in the 2020 MLS standings without a CONCACAF Champions League berth.[202] The Sounders advanced to the final, played in the Las Vegas area, and finished as runners-up to Mexico's Club León.[203] The 2021 season also saw the return of fans to Lumen Field for home matches, beginning with a reduced capacity of 7,000 in March and later increasing to normal capacity in July. Fans were required to present proof of COVID-19 vaccination or a negative test to enter the stadium as part of state guidelines.[204] As of 2023, the 2020 season is the most recent MLS Cup appearance for the Sounders.[205]

Notes

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  1. ^ a b Only two home matches—on March 1 and March 7—were played in front of fans; the Sounders played behind closed doors for the rest of the regular season and playoffs due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Group stage matches during the MLS is Back Tournament counted as part of the regular season standings, but knockout matches did not.[152]
  3. ^ Positions for the MLS Team of the Week may differ from the player's listed position.

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h "Seattle Sounders FC Performance Stats – 2020–21". ESPN. Retrieved October 22, 2023.
  2. ^ Smith, Lauren (November 6, 2019). "Seattle's rich soccer history has had many defining moments, but none quite like this". The News Tribune. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
  3. ^ Drosendahl, Glenn (April 8, 2015). "Seattle Sounders FC". HistoryLink. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
  4. ^ Arthur, Ben (November 7, 2019). "A snapshot: Just how good have the Sounders been in the MLS?". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
  5. ^ a b c 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. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
  6. ^ "MLS Passes Serie A, Ligue 1 in Attendance Figures". Sports Illustrated. October 24, 2017. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
  7. ^ Tenorio, Paul (November 2, 2020). "Brian Schmetzer contract talks stalled; current Sounders deal expires in 2020". The Athletic. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
  8. ^ Goff, Steven (April 23, 2023). "Seattle Sounders claim MLS Cup for 2nd time in 4 seasons by roaring past Toronto FC, 3-1". The Washington Post. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
  9. ^ "Sounders FC unveils new Rave Green primary kit for 2020-2021 seasons" (Press release). Seattle Sounders FC. February 5, 2020. Retrieved February 4, 2024.
  10. ^ a b "The Sounders' 2020 primary jersey boasts a second MLS Cup star and some retro flair". The Seattle Times. February 5, 2020. Retrieved February 4, 2024.
  11. ^ Iniguez, Alex (February 25, 2019). "Sounders reveal sunset-inspired black and pink secondary uniforms, nicknamed 'nightfall'". The Seattle Times. Retrieved February 4, 2024.
  12. ^ "Sounders FC announces WaFd Bank as jersey sleeve patch partner for 2020 season" (Press release). Seattle Sounders FC. July 8, 2020. Retrieved February 4, 2024.
  13. ^ a b Evans, Jayda (December 13, 2019). "Explaining the Sounders' CONCACAF Champions League draw — and a history lesson". The Seattle Times. Retrieved December 14, 2019.
  14. ^ a b Evans, Jayda (January 31, 2020). "Sounders make major signing to bring in Brazilian midfielder Joao Paulo as third designated player". The Seattle Times. Retrieved April 13, 2023.
  15. ^ "Vancouver Whitecaps acquire GK Bryan Meredith in trade with Inter Miami CF". MLSsoccer.com. January 29, 2020. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
  16. ^ Evans, Jayda (January 13, 2020). "As the Sounders open training camp, roster holes and MLS labor talks are front and center". The Seattle Times. Retrieved April 13, 2023.
  17. ^ Evans, Jayda (February 29, 2020). "Sounders preview: A look at each position group on the Sounders' 2020 roster". The Seattle Times. Retrieved April 13, 2023.
  18. ^ "Sounders re-sign Alex Roldan to first-team contract at a new position". The Seattle Times. February 18, 2020. Retrieved April 13, 2023.
  19. ^ Evans, Jayda (February 29, 2020). "Sounders preview: A look at each position group on the Sounders' 2020 roster". The Seattle Times. Retrieved April 24, 2023.
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  193. ^ Krulish, Mark (December 14, 2020). "Sounders magic runs out in 3-0 MLS Cup loss to Columbus". Bainbridge Island Review. Retrieved February 5, 2024.
  194. ^ Krasnoo, Ryan (December 13, 2020). "Seattle Sounders rue 'squandered opportunity' to repeat as MLS Cup champions, prepared to make amends". SoundersFC.com. Retrieved February 5, 2024.
  195. ^ Evans, Jayda (December 13, 2020). "After not finding the right combinations in the MLS Cup final, Sounders face numerous offseason questions". The Seattle Times. Retrieved February 5, 2024.
  196. ^ Evans, Jayda (December 19, 2020). "Sounders raise, donate more than $1 million to local restaurants affected by fans' absence at games". The Seattle Times. Retrieved April 25, 2023.
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