SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC v. CLUB INTERNACIONAL DE FUTBOL MIAMI - LEAGUES CUP - FINAL - ROYAL BROUGHAM PARK, OCCIDENTAL, SEATTLE, WASHINGTON

“…Daedalus could not bear to be locked up and let his talents go to waste. Secretly he made two sets of wings, one pair for himself and one pair for his son, Icarus. They were cleverly fashioned of feathers set in beeswax. He showed his son how to use them and warned him not to fly too high or the heat of the sun would melt the wax. Then he led him up to the highest tower, and, flapping their wings, they flew off like two birds. Neither King Minos nor Talos, the robot, could stop their flight. Young and foolish, Icarus could not resist the temptation to rise ever higher into the sky; the whole world seemed at his feet. He flew too close to the sun and the wax began to melt. The feathers came loose, the wings fell apart, and Icarus plunged into the sea and drowned…”

– D’aulaires’ Book of Greek Myths

Greetings to my brothers and sisters in Green. The Barcelona Reunion Tour continues as Miami fly to The Evergreen to face our beloved Sounders in the 2025 Leagues Cup Final.

What: Leagues Cup Final, Seattle Sounders FC v. Club Internacional de Futbol Miami.

Where: Royal Brougham Park, Occidental Avenue, Seattle, Washington.

When: 5:00 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time, Sunday 31 August 2025 CE.

At Stake: That depends on where you are with Leagues Cup. If you don’t like what Leagues Cup has done to the domestic football calendar, then this match, and all matches in this tournament, are meaningless. If you really fancy MLS v. Liga MX, and that’s your jam, Leagues Cup is super-important. If you just think of it as another chance for the Sounders FC to win a trophy this season, then Leagues Cup is a potential means to that end. Although qualification for CONCACAF Champions Cup has already been sealed, winning the tournament earns the cup holder a bye to the Round of 16. So there’s that to consider, in addition to the attractiveness of winning our first trophy since 2022.

Where to Watch: MLS Season Pass via Apple TV, Apple TV+, Univision, and TUDN.

Where to Listen: KJR 950 AM, Sirius XM FC 157, and El Rey 1360 AM.

So. It’s complicated. Both the Sounders and Miami are playing some of their best football of the season. Both clubs knocked off some really tough opposition to get this far, notably the Sounders 7:0 strafing of current CONCACAF Champions Cup holders Cruz Azul, and Miami’s ability to dispatch both Tigres and Pumas.

Miami have spent more money on transfers and have some of the most storied names in football in the squad. Names like Messi, Suarez, Jordi Alba (if he’s fit), Busquets, and De Paul. Players that have won loads of big trophies playing in some of the world’s toughest leagues. Sounders, despite their over-reliance on players 30+ years-old, seem much younger, have been forced to allow their youngers vital match experience, and are maybe more likely to give those elder statesmen of football a fair amount of trouble.

The truth is: It could go either way. That said – why not us?

It’s the Leagues Cup Final, under the Sunday setting sun at Royal Brougham Park. GO ON YOU SOUNDERS!!! GET IN!!!

Before kick-off, please join me in the auld toast: “TO THE SEATTLE SOUNDERS FOOTBALL CLUB…AND VICTORY!!!”

To the victor go the spoils.

The Good News

The form of the two clubs over the last five matches in all competitions is identical at a record of 3-1-1.

Royal Brougham Park has been a fortress for us all season. Sounders are 12-6-4 in all competitions when playing at home. Miami’s away form is good but in no way intimidating at 9-6-6 in all competitions, with this record including four neutral venue matches in CWC, two at Atlanta and two at Miami Gardens. Miami play their home matches in Ft. Lauderdale. Don’t look at me, I didna make that choice.

Miami’s key players are getting on in years. They have a lot of miles and matches played on those legs of theirs. Jordi Alba is 36 (if he plays), Busquets is 37, De Paul is 31, Suarez and Messi are both 38. In contrast for the Sounders, Baker-Whiting and Vargas are 20, Minoungou is 23, De Rosario, Ferreira, and de la Vega are 24, Rothrock and Ragen are 26, Alex and Musovski are 29, Jon Bell is 28, and Cristian is 30. This is a definite advantage for Sounders.

My predictions for Sounders in Club World Cup were way off. I predicted that Botafogo would defeat us 0:3, that Atleti would defeat us 0:4 or 0:5, and I expected PSG to defeat us 0:8. Sounders did more than just hold their own against these clubs. We made them sweat the possibility that we might embarrass them with an upset result. Miami’s key players are older than those from the clubs mentioned above. So there is more than just a bit of hope that we’ll get the desired result.

The Bad News

This cup final promises to be a classic struggle of age and experience v. youth and enthusiasm. I don’t think the build-up to this could literally have been scripted better. I have literally no idea which way this one will break. If I were a betting man, I’d not put a single brass farthing on this match, for either club.

Both clubs have unified football philosophies. Miami with Mascherano as Manager is heavily influenced by Argentina and Spain, and the club has many players from Argentina, Spain, and South America, and also many executives from Spain and Argentina. Sounders FC with Schmetzer as Manager are heavily influenced by football here in the Pacific Northwest, and many players and executives in the club are from here. America doesn’t really have a single style of football. It’s a hybrid of the European game, played at pace, and the South American/Central American possession-based game. I just don’t know how that’s going to figure in Sunday night’s result.

The difference between the two clubs statistically, in terms of scoring goals and conceding them, are marginal. Sounders are slightly better in defence, conceding 0.09 goals fewer per match in all competitions. Miami are slightly better at scoring goals, hitting 0.16 more goals per match in all competitions. That means the result could boil down to intangibles, like experience, pedigree, and individual moments of quality which could favour Miami.

We are unfamiliar with this iteration of Miami. The last time we played Miami was in 2022, long before they spent a tonne on the Barcelona Reunion crew. Granted there was probably loads of film to look at in training, but it’s not the same as squaring up against your opponent in person, on the pitch.

Calderon is going to be the Referee for the Final. He was the Referee in our Quarter-Final against Puebla, where he notoriously failed to enforce the rules against Musovski’s marker. There were clearly enough fouls to constitute Persistent Infringement, yet Calderon did not hold players accountable - sometimes for very severe and reckless infractions. This is why Danny lost his shit and lashed out. I can only hope that Calderon will do a better job, but I have a sinking feeling that that’s not going to happen and that this match might start seeming very match-fixy at a critical point.

The Side I Would Select

Based on the available information and assuming our injury list hasn’t changed since it was last available on 23 August, I would select this team.

GK     Thomas

LB     Baker-Whiting

LCH    Ragen

RCH    Gomez Andrade

RB     Kossa-Rienzi

LDM    Vargas

RDM   Cristian

LF     de la Vega

CAM   Ferreira

RF     Rothrock

CF     De Rosario

The Side I Think The Gaffer Will Select

I would be shocked if this weren’t the team.

GK     Thomas

LB     Baker-Whiting

LCH    Ragen

RCH    Gomez Andrade

RB     Alex

LDM    Vargas

RDM   Cristian

LF     de la Vega

CAM   Ferreira

RF     Rothrock

CF     De Rosario

Intangibles

Officiating.

The Referee for the Final will be Juan Gabriel Calderon Perez. Captain “Persistent infringement is just fine with me” to the point Danny Musovski loses his shit. Fucks sakes. Is the fix in?

SEA record with Calderon as Ref: 0-2-0

MIA record with Calderon as Ref: 1-0-0

Even Miami doesn’t play in Miami. Yet.

Miami don’t actually play their home matches in Miami. They play them in Fort Lauderdale, a completely different city. It is mind-bending. Could you imagine Manchester United saying, “And now we unveil our new £2 billion stadium here in scenic Rochdale!” Nothing against Rochdale, I’m just making a comparison. Not a comparison between Rochdale and Fort Lauderdale, or really a comparison in relative distance, I think what I’m trying to sa– fuck it. You get the gist.

Inter made a shit tonne of money on transfers.

Miami made €21.56M in transfer fees on the players they sold this season.

We’re being outspent.

SEA 2025 disclosed transfer fees paid: €1.45M

MIA 2025 disclosed transfer fees paid: €9.43M

General notes on personnel

Miami transfers IN:

Picault (Vancouver Whitecaps FC) free

Allende (Celta Vigo) loan

Ustari (Audax Italiano) undisclosed

Lujan (San Lorenzo) €775,000

Rios Novo (Lanus) loan

Segovia (Casa Pia) €2.5M

Falcon (Colo Colo) €1.95M

Baltasar Rodriguez (Racing Club) loan

Obando (Barcelona SC) loan

Yarbrough (San Jose) free

De Paul (Atletico Madrid) loan

Silvetti (Newell’s Old Boys) €4.2M

Miami transfers OUT:

Freire (UNAM Pumas) end of loan

Jensen (Union Omaha) free

Kryvtsov - released

Negri (San Diego FC) expansion draft

Rojas (River Plate) free

Sunderland (Dordrecht) free

Valencia - released

Gomez (Brighton & Hove Albion) €13M

dos Santos (San Diego FC) €95,000

Campana (New England Revolution) €2.4M

Emerson Rodriguez (Ludogorets Razgrad) €1.11M

Farias (Estudiantes) €4.34M

Taylor (Austin FC) €615,000

Gressel (Minnesota United FC) free

Martinez (River Plate) end of loan

Afonso (Atlanta United FC) €190,000

Redondo (Elche) €2.15M

Callender (Charlotte FC) €645,000

Comparison against common opponents

SEA 2:2 CLT

MIA 1:0 CLT

(against CLT: SEA 0-1-0 0, MIA 1-0-0 +1) edge MIA

SEA 5:2 LAFC

LAFC 4:0 SEA

LAFC 1:0 MIA CCC

MIA 3:1 LAFC CCC

(against LAFC: SEA 1-0-1 -1, MIA 1-0-1 +1) marginal edge MIA

SEA 0:0 HOU

HOU 1:3 SEA

HOU 1:4 MIA

(against HOU: SEA 1-1-0 +2, MIA 1-0-0 +3) even

SJ 1:1 SEA

SEA 3:2 SJ

SJ 3:3 MIA

(against SJ: SEA 1-1-0 +1, MIA 0-1-0 0) edge SEA

DAL 0:1 SEA

SEA 1:0 DAL

MIA 3:4 DAL

(against DAL: SEA 2-0-0 +2, MIA 0-0-1 -1) decisive edge SEA

SEA 3:0 NSH

MIA 2:1 NSH

(against NSH: SEA 1-0-0 +3, MIA 1-0-0 +1) marginal edge SEA

SEA 2:3 MIN

MIN 1:0 SEA

MIN 4:1 MIA

(against MIN: SEA 0-0-2 -2, MIA 0-0-1 -3) marginal edge SEA

VAN 3:0 SEA

VAN 2:0 MIA CCC

MIA 1:3 VAN CCC

(against VAN: SEA 0-0-1 -3, MIA 0-0-2 -4) marginal edge SEA

SEA 1:1 CLB

CLB 0:1 MIA

MIA 5:1 CLB

(against CLB: SEA 0-1-0 0, MIA 2-0-0 +5) decisive edge MIA

SKC 2:3 SEA

SEA 5:2 SKC

SKC 0:1 MIA CCC

MIA 3:1 SKC CCC

(against SKC: SEA 2-0-0 +4, MIA 2-0-0 +3) marginal edge SEA

ATL 2:2 SEA

ATL 1:2 MIA

(against ATL: SEA 0-1-0 0, MIA 1-0-0 +1) edge MIA

LAG 0:4 SEA

LAG 0:2 SEA CCC

MIA 3:1 LAG

(against LAG: SEA 2-0-0 +6, MIA 1-0-0 +2) decisive edge SEA

SEA 0:2 PSG CWC

PSG 4:0 MIA CWC

(against PSG: SEA 0-0-1 -2, MIA 0-0-1 -4) marginal edge SEA

Know Thine Enemy

Miami as they lined up in their 3:1 Leagues Cup Semi-Final victory over Orlando at the 55th Street football ground in Fort Lauderdale on 27 August.

GOALKEEPER

Oscar Ustari, 39

Argentina (2/0)

Notable Clubs: Independiente (63/1), Getafe (41/0), Boca Juniors (12/0), Newell’s Old Boys (36/0), Atlas (42/0), Liverpool Montevideo (18/0), Pachuca (124/0), Audax Italiano (13/0), Inter Miami CF (20/0)

Estimated Transfer Value: €100,000

Notes: Developed by Rivadavia and Independiente. Won a Copa Argentina with Boca Juniors. Won a Liga MX title with Pachuca. Won an MLS league championship with Inter Miami CF.

DEFENCE

Jordi Alba, 36

Catalonia (5/0) and Spain (93/9)

Notable Clubs: Cornella (15/3), Gimnastic (35/4), Valencia (74/5), Barcelona (313/17), Inter Miami CF (56/7)

Estimated Transfer Value: €1.5M

Notes: Full name: Jordi Alba Ramos. Developed by Hospitalense, Barcelona, Cornella, and Valencia. Won 6x La Liga championships, 5x Copa del Rey, 4x Supercopa de Espana, a UEFA Champions League, and a FIFA World Club Cup with Barcelona. Won an MLS league championship and a Leagues Cup with Inter Miami CF. Won a UEFA European Championship and UEFA Nations League with Spain. Named to UEFA European Championship Team of the Tournament 2012. Named to UEFA Champions League Team of the Season 2014-15. Named to MLS Best XI 2024.

Gonzalo Lujan, 24

Argentina

Notable Clubs: San Lorenzo (78/0), Inter Miami CF (20/0)

Estimated Transfer Value: €2M

Notes: Full name: Gonzalo Lujan Melli. Developed by San Lorenzo.

Maximiliano Falcon, 28

Uruguay

Notable Clubs: Rentistas (32/3), Colo Colo (104/5), Inter Miami CF (17/1)

Estimated Transfer Value: €1.5M

Notes: Full name: Maximiliano Joel Falcon Picart. Developed by Nacional. Won an Uruguayan 2nd division league championship with Rentistas. Won 2x Copa Chile and 2x Supercopa de Chile with Colo Colo.

Ian Fray, 23

United States

Notable Clubs: Inter Miami CF (38/3)

Estimated Transfer Value: €500,000

Notes: Developed by Weston FC, Miramar United, and Inter Miami CF. Won a Leagues Cup and an MLS league championship with Inter Miami CF.

MIDFIELD

Baltasar Rodriguez, 22

Argentina

Notable Clubs: Racing Club (52/6), Inter Miami (7/1)

Estimated Transfer Value: €4.5M

Notes: Developed by Racing Club. Played for Argentina U23s (5/1). Won a Copa Sudamericana and Recopa Sudamericana with Racing Club.

Sergio Busquets, 37

Catalonia (8/0) and Spain (143/2)

Notable Clubs: Barcelona (481/11), Inter Miami CF (65/1)

Estimated Transfer Value: €1.5M

Notes: Full name: Sergio Busquets Burgos. Developed by Badia, Barbera Andalucia, Lleida, Jabac Terrassa, and Barcelona. Won 9x La Liga championships, 7x Copa del Rey, 7x Supercopa de Espana, 3x UEFA Champions League, 3x UEFA Super Cup, and 3x FIFA Club World Cup with Barcelona. Won an MLS league championship and a Leagues Cup with Inter Miami CF. Won a FIFA World Cup and UEFA European Championship with Spain. Named La Liga’s Breakthrough Player 2009. Named to UEFA European Championship Team of the Tournament 2012. Named to UEFA Champions League Squad of the Season 2014-15. Named to La Liga Team of the Season 2015-16. Named UEFA Nations League Finals Player of the Tournament 2021.

Yannick Bright, 23

Italy

Notable Clubs: Inter Miami CF (41/1)

Estimated Transfer Value: €1.5M

Notes: Developed by Alcione, US Seguro, and Arconatese. Played his university football for New Hampshire (69/3). Won an MLS league championship with Inter Miami CF.

Rodrigo De Paul, 31

Argentina (78/2)

Notable Clubs: Racing Club (65/6), Valencia (34/1), Udinese (177/33), Atletico Madrid (134/11), Inter Miami CF (3/0)

Estimated Transfer Value: €25M

Notes: Developed by Racing Club. Won a FIFA World Cup, 2x Copa America, and a CONMEBOL UEFA Cup of Champions with Argentina. 2x named to Copa America Team of the Tournament. Named to La Liga Team of the Season 2024-25.

FORWARD

Luis Suarez, 38

Uruguay (143/69)

Notable Clubs: Nacional (41/18), Groningen (29/10), Ajax (110/81), Liverpool (110/69), Barcelona (191/147), Atletico Madrid (67/32), Gremio (45/24), Inter Miami CF (49/26)

Estimated Transfer Value: €1.8M

Notes: Full name: Luis Alberto Suarez Diaz. Developed by Sportivo Artigas, Urreta, and Nacional. Won 4x Uruguayan league titles with Nacional. Won a Dutch Cup and an Eredivisie title with Ajax. Won an English Football League Cup with Liverpool. Won 4x La Liga championship, 4x Copa del Rey,  2x Supercopa de Espana, a UEFA Champions League, a UEFA Super Cup, and a FIFA Club World Cup with Barcelona. Won a La Liga championship with Atletico Madrid. Won an MLS league championship with Inter Miami CF. Won a Copa America with Uruguay. A laundry list of individual honours that I’m not going to type out.

Lionel Messi, 38

Argentina (193/112)

Notable Clubs: Barcelona (520/474), Paris Saint-Germain (58/22), Inter Miami CF (44/40)

Estimated Transfer Value: €18M

Notes: Developed by Grandoli, Newell’s Old Boys, and Barcelona. To see the incredibly long list of his club, international, and individual honours, click here.

Familiar Faces

Miami defender Ryan Sailor played his university football for Washington (49/10).

Squads

Sounders FC from:

Sousa, Burney,Cristian, Ferreira, de la Vega, Rusnak, Rothrock, Bell, Alex, Vargas, Kim, Baker-Whiting, Frei, Ragen, Thomas, Gomez Andrade, Castro, Baker, Brunell, Shour, Kingston, Leyva, Kossa-Rienzi, Gomez, Minoungou, De Rosario.

Miami from:

Lujan, Busquets, Aviles, De Paul, Segovia, Suarez, Messi, Rodriguez, Picault, Sailor, Fray, Jordi Alba, Ustari, Allende, Yarbrough, Obando, Cremaschi, Allen, Rios Novo, Falcon, Ruiz, Bright, Weigandt, Morales.

Injury List

Best guess and press conference claims for Sounders FC. I’ve listed the full squad for Miami, as this injury report for them is over a week old, but I’ll list it below anyway.

Sounders FC -

OUT: Kent (hamstring), Morris (shoulder), Joao Paulo (knee), Arriola (knee), Hawkins (quadriceps).

MATCHDAY DECISION: none.

Miami -

OUT: Jordi Alba (knee), Obando (hamstring).

MATCHDAY DECISION: Rodriguez (hip).

Discipline

Sounders FC: Nouhou must serve a one-match ban. Musovski will serve the second match of his two-match ban.

Miami: No players suspended.

Fun Fact

According to the Sounders website, over 60,000 tickets were sold for this match.