FC DALLAS v. SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC

Greetings to my brothers and sisters in Green. Sounders FC make the voyage from Boston to Dallas, as Planet Texas is the last stop on our two-match road trip. Who wants tacos? I mean, personally I’d prefer Enchiladas Montadas, but, you know, that’s just me.

What: MLS league match, FC Dallas v. Seattle Sounders FC.

Where: Hunt Way, Frisco, Texas.

When: 5:30 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time, Wednesday 14 October 2026 CE.

At Stake: Points in the league for the purpose of MLS Cup qualification. Sounders are currently 13th in the MLS league table on 41 points, 22 points adrift of leaders Nashville. The MLS Cup qualification table for the western region looks like this as of Monday afternoon:

6 LAFC 5 matches remaining 42 points

7 Sounders 6 matches remaining 41 points

8 Colorado 6 matches remaining 37 points

9 LA Galaxy 5 matches remaining 36 points

———————————————————————————————————————————————

10 Portland         6 matches remaining 33 points

11 Salt Lake 6 matches remaining 32 points

12 San Diego 6 matches remaining 32 points

13 Austin 6 matches remaining 31 points

14 Minnesota 6 matches remaining 30 points

15 Kansas City 6 matches remaining 22 points

Relevant matches for midweek:

COL v. MIN || LAFC v. ATX || LAG v. POR || RSL v. SJ || SD v. HOU

Where to Watch: Apple TV.

Where to Listen: KJR 950 AM and El Rey 1360 AM.

Every time things start to go well for our Sounders, I start to get a little squirrelly. The usual formula of MLS football is that parity is built-in and results are extremely difficult to predict. 30th place can sometimes defeat 1st place. You can examine results against common opponents. You can count up goals for and against in all competitions and average them. You can find out if key players are absent or injured. Sometimes from these metrics, you can begin to paint a picture of what might take place when the rubber hits the road. Normally, I can get some kind of a read and that leads to a reasonable thesis. For the midweek fixture in Frisco, every bit of data that you’d think would point to one team being favoured over the other is equally counter-weighted by another data point.

The Dallas have been better against LAFC (1-0-1), Portland (1-1-0), Salt Lake (2-0-0), Austin (1-1-0), and Chivas of Guadalajara (1-0-0). Of those five teams, we have only been able to defeat Salt Lake.

Sounders have been decisively better against St. Louis (3rd best record in MLS) and Vancouver (2nd best record in MLS).

Sounders have been in excellent form of late. Won our last four straight matches, unbeaten in our last nine, and haven’t conceded more than one goal in a match since 19 September at Colorado. Then you look at Dallas’ form since 1 August and realise they have a record over that span of 6-3-2 defeating Austin, Portland, and LAFC -  none of whom we managed to defeat this season.

What does this tell us? I can’t quite get a read on what’s going to happen. If you look at recent history, you realise that we beat the Dallas 2:1 this season back in April. That match was played in Seattle. If you look back a bit further, you will note that we are unbeaten against the Dallas in eight straight league matches (5-3-0) regardless of who was the home team. We’ve won our last four matches against Dallas outright by an aggregate score of 7:3. These direct results seem to paint us as the favourites. Home field advantage for Dallas and the fact they have defeated teams that we weren’t able to beat this season seem to paint a very different picture. It’s all a bit…muddy.

Add into the current scenario that Dallas lost at Charlotte last Sat 3:2. In matches following a loss this season, Dallas have a record of 1-3-1. They have only lost two league matches in a row once this season…to Minnesota United, and the Sounders FC.

They attack better. We defend better. The more data I throw in the hopper, the more it looks like a draw result.

The only things I know for certain about this midweek fixture are: The match will be held in Texas and 6th place Dallas are going to play 13th place Seattle.

If you’re headed to Texas for the match, link up with ours and tie your scarves proper. Behave yourselves in town, and when you take your places on the terraces, let Texans and Dallas supporters know, preferably at ear-splitting levels, exactly what we think of their state that has been fucking up the Union at every turn since before statehood, and also what we think of their football team.

For those of us here in The Evergreen, we can only watch on telly, and try to give that wee bit of faith and energy that we think might push our Boys in Green over the top. As it always is here, it’s pubs and dwellings for stories and tellings. Houses and flats for pints and cats. Boats and ships for pie and chips.

It’s MLS league football under the Wednesday night lights of the Hunt Way football ground. GO ON YOU SOUNDERS!!! GET IN!!!

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

According to the Dallas Observer, “Texas has overtaken Florida as the nation’s leader in school book bans.” That’s how Planet Texas rolls, ya’ll.

The Good News

Sounders have the edge on consistency in the last nine matches. However, with our record being 4-5-0 (17 points out of 27) and Dallas’ being 5-2-2 (17 points out of 27), recent form is quite similar.

We have the 5th best defence in the league, conceding an average of 1.26 goals/match, compared to Dallas’ 1.55 goals conceded/match (tied for 11th best in the league).

We have not lost to the Dallas in league football since 7 May 2022, with Sounders 5-3-0 in that span.

Over our four-match winning streak, both midfielder Hassani Dotson and winger Paul Arreola have hit two goals each.

The Bad News

The danger man for the Dallas is Croatian striker Petar Musa (19 goals, 5 assists). Logan Farrington has 10 goals and five assists but is injured. Everyone else in their squad has no more than 3 goals. Their leading playmaker is Uruguayan Joaquin Valiente (2 goals, 13 assists).

Dallas does not really lose at home. They have a home record of 6-5-2 in all competitions, which can be extended to 7-5-2 if you count their Leagues Cup victory over Queretaro played at Mansfield, Texas. Combine this with the Sounders away record of 5-5-7, and we’re right back square in the same vein of thinking that I pointed out in the intro above.

Dallas scores more goals than we do. They score 1.81 goals per match (all competitions) good for 6th best in the league, to our 1.43 (tied for 15th best).

The Side I Would Select

I’d run with our veteran players again. It’s been three days between matches, so they should have plenty of time for muscle recovery.

GK     Thomas

LB     Nouhou

LCH    Ragen

RCH    Gomez Andrade

RB     Alex

LDM    Dotson

RDM   Cristian

LF     Arriola

CAM   Rusnak

RF     Morris

CF     Joveljic

The Side I Think The Gaffer Will Select

I’d expect these in the team come Wednesday night. It’s the same team I’d select, as Montreal is a much softer opponent. Also, with Colorado and LA Galaxy nipping at our heels, we need these points, and as Dallas are 6th place in the league, it’s a test of our ability to play the types of opponents we can expect in MLS Cup.

GK     Thomas

LB     Nouhou

LCH    Ragen

RCH    Gomez Andrade

RB     Alex

LDM   Dotson

RDM   Cristian

LF     Arriola

CAM   Rusnak

RF     Morris

CF     Joveljic

Intangibles

The Referee for Wednesday night’s match will be Jon Freemon.

DAL record with Freemon as Ref: 3-1-3

SEA record with Freemon as Ref: 1-2-0

DAL aggregate squad estimated transfer value: €48.23M

SEA aggregate squad estimated transfer value: €50.83M

DAL 2026 transfer fees paid: €8.29M* *includes loan fees

SEA 2026 transfer fees paid: €5.2M

Dallas Manager, Eric Quill, has previously worked for FC Dallas Reserves, New Mexico United, and was an assistant with Columbus Crew. Quill holds a United States FA ‘A’ License.

General notes on personnel

Dallas transfers IN:

Binyamin (Hapoel Tel Aviv) €1.49M

Louis - draft

Simmonds - draft

Johansson (Mjallby)

Swann - reserves

Contreras - reserves

Scabin - reserves

Starnes - draft

Sirois (CF Montreal) €127,000

Valiente (Defensor) €1M

Thompson (Lexington SC) loan

Moreno (Fluminense) loan (fee: €560,000)

Daniel (San Jose Earthquakes) €610,000

Holstad (Rhode Island FC) loan

Job (Kongsvinger) €4.5M

Dallas transfers OUT:

Endeley - released

Jackson - released

Lletget (Monterey Bay) free

Pedrinho (Maccabi Netanya) free

Pepi - released

Pondeca (Corpus Christi) free

Ramirez - released

Sainte (El Paso) free

Scott (Lexington SC) free

Urzua - released

Sali (Al-Riyadh) loan

Paes (Ajax) €1.5M

Pomykal - released

Ntsabeleng (Mamelodi Sundowns) undisclosed

Deedson (Sochaux-Montbeliard) free

Comparison against common opponents

LAFC 1:0 DAL

DAL 1:0 LAFC

LAFC 1:0 SEA

(against LAFC: DAL 1-0-1 0, SEA 0-0-1 -1) edge DAL

DAL 3:3 SD

SD 1:0 DAL

SEA 1:1 SD

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

DAL 4:3 HOU

HOU 0:1 SEA

(against HOU: DAL 1-0-0 +1, SEA 1-0-0 +1) even

DAL 1:1 STL

STL 3:3 DAL

STL 0:1 SEA

SEA 4:1 STL

(against STL: DAL 0-2-0 0, SEA 2-0-0 +4) decisive edge SEA

DAL 2:2 LAG

LAG 0:0 DAL

SEA 0:2 LAG

LAG 1:1 SEA

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

DAL 0:1 MIN

MIN 1:2 DAL

MIN 0:0 SEA
SEA 3:1 MIN

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

NYRB 0:2 DAL

SEA 0:0 NYRB

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

DAL 3:1 RSL

RSL 3:4 DAL

RSL 2:1 SEA

SEA 2:0 RSL

(against RSL: DAL 2-0-0 +3, SEA 1-0-1 +1) decisive edge DAL

DAL 2:3 VAN

VAN 5:0 DAL

SEA 0:2 VAN

VAN 0:3 SEA CCC

SEA 2:1 VAN* CCC *Spokane

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

SJ 2:3 DAL

SJ 0:1 SEA

SEA 3:2 SJ

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

COL 1:2 DAL

SEA 2:0 COL

COL 3:3 SEA

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

POR 2:2 DAL

DAL 2:1 POR

SEA 1:5 POR

POR 2:1 SEA

(against POR: DAL 1-1-0 +1, SEA 0-0-2 -5) decisive edge DAL

ATX 1:2 DAL

DAL 0:0 ATX

ATX 3:1 SEA

SEA 1:2 ATX

(against ATX: DAL 1-1-0 +1, SEA 0-0-2 -3) decisive edge DAL

DAL 4:3 SKC

SKC 1:1 SEA

SEA 2:1 SKC

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

DAL 2:0 QUE* LC *Mansfield

SEA 3:0 QUE LC

(against QUE: DAL 1-0-0 +2, SEA 1-0-0 +3) marginal edge SEA

GDL 0:1 DAL* LC *San Jose

SEA 1:2 GDL LC

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

TOL 3:1 DAL LC

TOL 3:0 SEA LC

(against TOL: DAL 0-0-1 -2, SEA 0-0-1 -3) marginal edge DAL

Know Thine Enemy

The Dallas as they lined up in their 3:2 defeat against Charlotte at Mint Street on 10 October.

GOALKEEPER

Daniel, 32

Brazil

Notable Clubs: Internacional (68/0), San Jose Earthquakes (78/0), FC Dallas (5/0)

Estimated Transfer Value: €800,000

Notes: Full name: Daniel de Sousa Britto. Developed by Uniao Rondonopolis and Internacional.

DEFENCE

Nolan Norris, 21

United States

Notable Clubs: FC Dallas (41/1)

Estimated Transfer Value: €500,000

Notes: Developed by FC Dallas. Has played at youth levels for United States (27/3).

Alhassan “Lalas” Abubakar, 31

Ghana

Notable Clubs: Charlotte Eagles (14/2), Michigan Bucks (12/0), Columbus Crew SC (31/2), Pittsburgh Riverhounds (5/0), Colorado Rapids (139/9), FC Dallas (34/2)

Estimated Transfer Value: €300,000

Notes: Full name: Alhassan Abubakar. Played his university football for University of Ghana and also for Dayton (61/4).

Osaze Urhoghide, 26

Netherlands

Notable Clubs: Sheffield Wednesday (19/0), Oostende (34/0), Amiens (35/2), FC Dallas (50/4)

Estimated Transfer Value: €2M

Notes: Developed by CD Hounslow United and Wimbledon.

Herman Johansson, 28

Sweden (3/0)

Notable Clubs: Sandvikens (23/9), Mjallby (117/17), FC Dallas (25/0)

Estimated Transfer Value: €1.8M

Notes: Developed by BK Ornen and Friska Viljor. Won a Swedish league title with Mjallby.

MIDFIELD

Kaick, 20

Brazil

Notable Clubs: Gremio (1/0), FC Dallas (55/5)

Estimated Transfer Value: €3.5M

Notes: Full name: Kaick da Silva Ferreira. Developed by Gremio.

Christian Cappis, 27

United States

Notable Clubs: Hobro (62/1), Brondby (49/6), Molde (2/0), Viking (26/0), FC Dallas (39/1)

Estimated Transfer Value: €600,000

Notes: Developed by Texans SC Houston and FC Dallas. Won a Norwegian championship with Viking.

Patrickson Delgado, 22

Ecuador

Notable Clubs: Independiente Juniors (41/5), Independiente del Valle (6/0), FC Dallas (71/8)

Estimated Transfer Value: €3M

Notes: Developed by Independiente del Valle. Has played for Ecuador U20s (9/0).

FORWARD

Shaq Moore, 29

United States (21/1)

Notable Clubs: Huracan (6/0), Levante (6/0), Reus (9/0), Tenerife (90/1), Nashville SC (66/1), FC Dallas (60/4)

Estimated Transfer Value: €1.5M

Notes: Developed by IMG Academy, FC Dallas, and Huracan. Won a CONCACAF Gold Cup with United States. Named to CONCACAF Gold Cup Best XI 2021.

Logan Farrington, 24

United States

Notable Clubs: FC Dallas (88/19)

Estimated Transfer Value: €4M

Notes: Developed by Bavarian United SC. Played his university football for Wisconsin-Milwaukee (47/20) and Oregon State (21/15).

Joaquin Valiente, 25

Uruguay

Notable Clubs: Defensor (105/13), Barcelona SC (38/5), FC Dallas (26/2)

Estimated Transfer Value: €2.5M

Notes: Full name: Joaquin Valiente Cioli. Developed by CA Colonia Valdense and Defensor.

Familiar Faces

None.

Squads

Dallas from:

Daniel, Collodi, Sirois, Abubakar, Alvaro, Ibeagha, Moore, Norris, TOrquato, Urhoghide, Binyamin, Cappis, Delgado, Garcia, Holstad, Johansson, Kaick, Ramiro, Sarver, Swann, Valiente, Job, Kamungo, Louis, Moreno, Musa, Simmonds.

Sounders FC from:

Frei, Thomas, Anchor, Gomez Andrade, Hawkins, Kim, Kossa-Rienzi, Lopez, Nouhou, Alex, Ragen, Sailor, Brunell, Kingston, Clark, Cristian, Dotson, Rusnak, Arriola, Ferreira, Gomez, Joveljic, Morris, Musovski.

Injury List

(as listed on mlssoccer.com at press time)

Dallas -

OUT: Farrington (lower body, we’ll say varicose veins in the groin), Anderson Julio (lower body, we’ll say swollen prostate).

MATCHDAY DECISION: none.

Sounders FC -

OUT: Rothrock (hamstring), De la Vega (quadriceps), Petkovic (knee).

MATCHDAY DECISION: none.

Discipline

(as listed on mlssoccer.com at press time)

Dallas: No players suspended. Daniel and Norris out next match if booked.

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

Fun Fact

Sounders sold their last open International roster slot on 9 October to the Salt Lake for the better part of €45,000. (per Sounders FC Communications)