Seattle Sounders FC may have been a founding member of Major League Soccer, but they have history, traditions, and a fan base that are second to none. After playing their inaugural game in 2009, the Sounders have wasted no time in becoming one of the most successful MLS teams on the field and one of the most revered in the stands.

The Phoenix Rising

The Sounders were reborn out of a North American Soccer League team of the same name that played from 1974 to 1983. The team experienced marginal success playing both indoor and outdoor soccer for 10 years. The Sounders name was used again from 1994 to 2008 for a team in the America Professional Soccer League and ultimately the First Division of the United Soccer League. Seattle won USL championships in 2005 and 2007 before being dissolved following the 2008 season and becoming an MLS franchise.

In just over 10 seasons, the Sounders have made their mark on the MLS. The club reached the playoffs in each of its first 10 seasons. The Sounds won the U.S. Open Cup four times in those 10 years. They also won their first-ever Supporters’ Shield in 2014 and were crowned MLS champions in 2016. Much of their success is thanks to manager Brian Schmetzer, who played for the Sounders in the early 80s, coached the USL team from 2002 to 2008, joined the MLS Sounders as an assistant in 2009 and became the club’s manager in 2016, immediately leading them to MLS Cup glory.

West Coast Rivals

Seattle two major rivals near their home in the Pacific Northwest: the Portland Timbers and Vancouver Whitecaps. The three teams battle it out for the Cascadia Cup every year. The trophy actually dates back to 2004 while the three clubs were still playing in the USL. The Sounders also compete for the Heritage Cup with the San Jose Earthquakes, a rivalry that dates back to when both teams competed in the NASL under the same club names.