SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC v. VANCOUVER WHITECAPS FC

Greetings to my brothers and sisters in Green. Our friends from the True North and auld NASL rivals, Vancouver Whitecaps make the trip to The Evergreen for a Saturday night Cascadia belter. I don’t suppose you lot would smuggle me into Canada in an equipment case, would you?

What: MLS league match and Cascadia Cup tie, Seattle Sounders FC v. Vancouver Whitecaps FC.

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

When: 7:30 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time, Saturday 27 September 2025.

At Stake: Points in the league. Although we can’t move up to a higher seed, even with a victory on Sat, a draw or loss combined with an Austin victory would see us slip to the W6 berth. Sounders are currently in 14th place in the league table. The league championship and also 2nd place are now out of reach mathematically.

As far as Cascadia Cup is concerned: We could be level on points with Vancouver if we defeat both Vancouver and Portland. However, the gap in goal difference is nine goals, and it is extremely unlikely we would be able to bridge that gap. We would have to score enough goals to reduce Vancouver’s +6 goal difference to a manageable number and concede no goals. Even if we could manage, say, 4:0 over Whitecaps, we would then have to defeat Portland (in this specific scenario) by at least 2:0. Vancouver have the best defence in the league, and concede an average of 1.17 goals per match. The maths don’t work out for us.

Ahead of us in the qualifying pecking order are:

W1 San Diego 3 matches remaining 57 points (66 maximum points)

W2 Vancouver 4 matches remaining 56 points (68 maximum points)

W3 Minnesota 3 matches remaining 54 points (63 maximum points)

W4 LAFC 5 matches remaining 50 points (65 maximum points)

We are here:

W5 Seattle 4 matches remaining 45 points (57 maximum points)

Nipping at our heels:

W6 Austin 4 matches remaining 44 points (56 maximum points)

W7 Portland 3 matches remaining 43 points (52 maximum points)

Current play-in teams:

W8 Colorado 3 matches remaining 39 points (48 maximum points)

W9 Dallas 4 matches remaining 37 points (49 maximum points)

Where to Watch: MLS Season Pass via Apple TV.

Where to Listen: Some version of KJR via iHeart Media Seattle (I’m not sure about terrestrial coverage), and El Rey 1360 AM.

Is it likely we will defeat Vancouver, who currently have the best defence in the league and sit 4th place in the MLS league table? No. Is it possible to defeat them. Yes. Is it likely we will win Cascadia Cup? No. Is it mathematically possible? Yes. It would require two clean sheets against both Vancouver and Portland, and we’d probably need to beat Vancouver 4:0, but it could be done. Vancouver are younger than us and, arguably, better than us. That said, we mustn’t give up hope. And that’s where we come in.

Round up your mates and get ye to the ground. Make such an unholy noise that it trips the seismic instruments monitoring this region. Look after each other. Tie your scarves proper. Chuff up the lads. They need it. Our first-choice players are likely dog tired and nicked up a bit as well, seeing as we’ve played 43 matches so far this season. I know, it adds up quick, innit?

It’s Cascadia Cup football, under the Saturday night lights 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!!!”

Danny Musovski has scored 16 goals in all competitions this season. I’d say that’s well done.

Also: Why wasn’t he our first-choice centre-forward sooner?

The Good News

Minoungou and Ferreira are showing signs of life in terms of goal scoring. Musovski has hit 16 goals in all competitions. Maybe we can get our attack percolating again. We’ll need to against this lot.

Royal Brougham Park has been a fortress for Sounders this season, with our Boys in Green posting a home record of 13-7-4. To be fair, Vancouver are a bit ordinary (8-8-6) when playing on the road.

Sounders have demonstrated that they can play with the best in North America and the world. Tonight we’ll need to see it.

Vancouver are suffering from a significant amount of attrition. They have six players out to injury (Adekugbe, Blackmon, Gauld, Pupe, Schonlau, and Veselinovic), two players suspended (Cubas and Ocampo), and three players that are one booking away from a suspension (Berhalter, Laborda, and Johnson). That leaves the door to a potential Sounders victory open a fair crack. All we have to do is burst through it.

The Bad News

We are developing a nasty habit of conceding late goals. That has to end. Now.

Vargas and Baker-Whiting will be out for at least this match and the next due to their selection to USA and Mexico U-20 squads for the FIFA U-20 World Cup held in Chile. Their youth, work rate, and quality will be missed.

Since our Leagues Cup victory, we are only averaging 1.33 goals/match in the league. That has to end. Now.

Vancouver has the best defence in the league (1.17 goals conceded/match) and scores nearly two goals per match (1.88). This will be a very, very difficult match.

The Side I Would Select

The first-choice players are worn to the bone. If it were up to me, I’d put in as much youth as possible.

GK     Thomas

LB     Nouhou

LCH    Ragen

RCH    Bell

RB     Kossa-Rienzi

LDM    Leyva

RDM    Brunell

LF     de la Vega

CAM   Ferreira

RF     Minoungou

CF     De Rosario

The Side I Think The Gaffer Will Select

No lessons learnt.

GK     Frei

LB     Nouhou

LCH    Ragen

RCH    Gomez Andrade

RB     Alex

LDM    Leyva

RDM    Cristian

LF     Rothrock

CAM    Rusnak

RF     Morris

CF     Musovski

Intangibles

Officiating.

Malik Badawi will be the Referee for Saturday night’s match.

SEA record with Badawi as Ref: 1-1-2

VAN record with Badawi as Ref: 1-0-3

We are being outspent.

SEA 2025 disclosed transfer fees paid €1.45M

VAN 2025 disclosed transfer fees paid €3.54M

General notes on personnel

Vancouver transfers IN:

Ngando - re-signed

Priso - re-signed

Tate Johnson - draft

Nelson (Rosenborg BK) €350,000

Sabbi (Le Havre AC) €1M

Zendejas (Skovde AIK) free

Rios (Guadalajara) loan

Pierre (Philadephia Union) €42,000

Cabrera (FBC Melgar) €1M

Muller (Bayern Munich) free

MacKenzie - reserves

Pupe (FCV Dender) €1M

Schonlau (Hamburg) €150,000

Elloumi - reserves

O’Neill - reserves

Vancouver transfers OUT:

Bendik - retired

Levonte Johnson (Switchbacks FC) free

Picault (Inter Miami CF) free

Raposo - released

Schopf (Wolfsberger AC) free

Caicedo (Junior FC) €975,000

Armstrong (Sheffield Wednesday) €580,000

Anchor (Pacific FC) loan

Chateau (Vaasan Palloseura) loan

Kreilach (HNK Rijeka) free

Vite (UNAM Pumas) €3.8M

Utvik (Sarpsborg) €250,000

Comparison against common opponents

RSL 2:0 SEA

VAN 2:1 RSL

RSL 2:3 VAN

(against RSL: SEA 0-0-1 -2, VAN 2-0-0 +2) decisive edge VAN

SEA 5:2 LAFC

LAFC 4:0 SEA

VAN 2:2 LAFC

LAFC 0:1 VAN

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

STL 1:0 SEA

SEA 4:1 STL

STL 0:0 VAN

VAN 3:2 STL

(against STL: SEA 1-0-1 +2, VAN 1-1-0 +1) even

SEA 0:0 HOU

HOU 1:3 SEA

HOU 0:3 VAN

VAN 1:1 HOU

(against HOU: SEA 1-1-0 +2, VAN 1-1-0 +3) marginal edge VAN

SJ 1:1 SEA

SEA 3:2 SJ

SJ 2:1 VAN

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

SD 3:0 SEA

SEA 1:0 SD

VAN 3:5 SD

SD 1:1 VAN

(against SD: SEA 1-0-1 -2, VAN 0-1-1 -2) marginal edge SEA

DAL 0:1 SEA

SEA 1:0 DAL

DAL 0:1 VAN

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

COL 1:1 SEA

SEA 3:3 COL

VAN 2:0 COL

COL 3:0 VAN

(against COL: SEA 0-2-0 0, VAN 1-0-1 -1) even

POR 1:1 SEA

POR 1:4 VAN

VAN 1:1 POR

(against POR: SEA 0-1-0 0, VAN 1-1-0 +3) decisive edge VAN

SEA 2:3 MIN

MIN 1:0 SEA

MIN 1:3 VAN

VAN 0:0 MIN

(against MIN: SEA 0-0-2 -2, VAN 1-1-0 +2) decisive edge VAN

SEA 2:0 ATX

ATX 2:1 SEA

VAN 5:1 ATX

ATX 0:0 VAN

(against ATX: SEA 1-0-1 +1, VAN 1-1-0 +4) edge VAN

SEA 1:1 CLB

CLB 2:1 VAN

(against CLB: SEA 0-1-0 0, VAN 0-0-1 -1) marginal edge SEA

SKC 2:3 SEA

SEA 5:2 SKC

VAN 3:0 SKC

SKC 0:2 VAN

(against SKC: SEA 2-0-0 +4, VAN 2-0-0 +5) marginal edge VAN

LAG 0:4 SEA

SEA 2:2 LAG

LAG 0:2 SEA LC

VAN 2:1 LAG

LAG 3:0 VAN

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

SEA 3:0 MIA LC

MIA 3:1 SEA

VAN 2:0 MIA CCC

MIA 1:3 VAN CCC

(against MIA: SEA 1-0-1 +1, VAN 2-0-0 +4) decisive edge VAN

SEA 0:0 CAZ CCC

CAZ 4:1 SEA CCC

CAZ 0:7 SEA LC

CAZ 5:0 VAN CCC

(against CAZ: SEA 1-1-1 +4, VAN 0-0-1 -5) decisive edge SEA

Know Thine Enemy

Vancouver as they lined up in their 1:1 draw with the Treecutters at BC Place on 24 September.

GOALKEEPER

Yohei Takaoka, 29

Japan

Notable Clubs: Yokohama FC (41/0), Sagan Tosu (40/0), Yokohama F. Marinos (71/0), Vancouver Whitecaps FC (96/0)

Estimated Transfer Value: €3M

Notes: Developed by Yokohama FC. Won a J-League title with Yokohama F. Marinos. Named to J-League Best XI 2022. Won two Canadian Championships with Vancouver.

DEFENCE

Tate Johnson, 20

United States

Notable Clubs: Tampa Bay Rowdies (7/0), Vancouver Whitecaps FC (25/1)

Estimated Transfer Value: €1M

Notes: Developed by Indiana Fire Academy and Tampa Bay United. Played his university football for North Carolina (17/1). 

Belal Halbouni, 25

Syria (1/0)

Notable Clubs: Vancouver Whitecaps FC (14/0)

Estimated Transfer Value: €150,000

Notes: Developed by North London SC. Played his university football for Western (16/2).

Mathias Laborda, 26

Uruguay

Notable Clubs: Nacional (83/6), Vancouver Whitecaps (73/7)

Estimated Transfer Value: €2M

Notes: Developed by Nacional. Won 2x Uruguayan Primera Division and a Supercopa Uruguaya with Nacional. Won 2x Canadian Championship with Vancouver Whitecaps FC.

Giuseppe Bovalina, 20

Australia

Notable Clubs: Adelaide United (23/1), Vancouver Whitecaps FC (17/0)

Estimated Transfer Value: €150,000

Notes: Developed by Western Strikers, Croydon Kings, Football SA NTC, and Adelaide United NPL. Played for Australia (4/0) at youth levels.

MIDFIELD

Sebastian Berhalter, 24

United States (7/0)

Notable Clubs: Columbus Crew SC (9/0), Austin FC (18/0), Vancouver Whitecaps FC (102/6)

Estimated Transfer Value: €3M

Notes: Developed by Hammarby IF and Columbus Crew SC. Played his university football for North Carolina (16/0). Won an MLS Cup with Columbus Crew SC. Won three Canadian championships with Vancouver Whitecaps FC.

Kenji Cabrera, 22

Peru (2/0)

Notable Clubs: FBC Melgar (98/13), Vancouver Whitecaps FC (4/1)

Estimated Transfer Value: €1.6M

Notes: Full name: Kenji Giovanni Cabrera Nakamura. Developed by Esther Grande and Alianza Lima. Has played for Peru (14/0) at youth levels.

Ralph Priso-Mbongue, 23

Canada

Notable Clubs: Toronto FC (25/2), Colorado Rapids (32/0), Vancouver Whitecaps FC (38/0)

Estimated Transfer Value: €500,000

Notes: Developed by Clairlea-Westview SC, North Toronto Nitros, and Toronto FC. Won a Canadian Championship with Toronto FC. Played for Canada (10/0) at youth levels.

FORWARD

Jayden Nelson, 23

Canada (10/2)

Notable Clubs: Toronto FC (45/1), Rosenborg (35/5), SSV Ulm (6/0), Vancouver Whitecaps FC (21/2)

Estimated Transfer Value: €2.5M

Notes: Developed by Brampton YSC and Toronto FC. Played for Canada (13/5) at youth levels. Won a Canadian Championship with Toronto FC. Named Canadian Men’s Youth International Player of the Year 2019.

Rayan Elloumi, 18

Canada

Notable Clubs: Vancouver Whitecaps FC (4/1)

Estimated Transfer Value: not listed

Notes: Developed by Edmonton Juventus SC, Edmonton BTB SC, and Vancouver Whitecaps FC.

Emmanuel Sabbi, 27

United States (1/0)

Notable Clubs: Hobro (69/13), OB (78/16), Le Havre (45/5), Vancouver Whitecaps FC (25/7)

Estimated Transfer Value: €1.5M

Notes: Developed by Ohio Premier, Chicago Magic PSG, and Las Palmas.

Familiar Faces

None.

Squads

Sounders FC from:

Frei, Thomas, Castro, Bell, Gomez Andrade, Kim, Kossa-Rienzi, Nouhou, Ragen, Alex, Brunell, Leyva, Cristian, Joao Paulo, Rusnak, de la Vega, De Rosario, Ferreira, Minoungou, Morris, Musovski, Rothrock.

Vancouver from:

Takaoka, Laborda, Priso, Nelson, Sabbi, Halbouni, Muller, Rios, Berhalter, Cabrera, Ahmed, White, Ngando, Bovalina, Johnson, Zendejas, Boehmer, Pierre, Anchor, O’Neill, Badwal, Elloumi, Mackenzie.

Injury List

(as listed on mlssoccer.com at press time)

Sounders FC -

OUT: Kent (hamstring), Arriola (knee), Hawkins (quadriceps).

MATCHDAY DECISION: none.

Vancouver -

OUT: Adekugbe (achilles), Blackmon (knee), Gauld (knee), Pupe (hamstring), Schonlau (achilles), Veselinovic (knee).

MATCHDAY DECISION: Halbouni (hip).

Discipline

(as listed on mlssoccer.com at press time)

Sounders FC: No players suspended. Ragen out next match if booked.

Vancouver: Cubas and Ocampo will serve a one-match ban. Berhalter, Laborda, and Johnson out next match if booked.

Fun Fact

Sounders midfielder/forward Jesus Ferreira has scored 57 career MLS league goals. Ferreira has scored the most goals by an MLS player under 25 years of age in the history of the league.