The Seattle Sounders are poised to secure a spot in the Leagues Cup quarterfinals as they host Club Tijuana for their final match of Phase One on Wednesday, August 6. The crucial cross-league clash is set for an 8:00 p.m. PT kickoff at Lumen Field, with the Sounders in a commanding position to advance to the knockout stages.
Following a blistering start to the tournament, the Sounders enter the match with a perfect record of two wins from two games, accumulating six points and a formidable +8 goal difference. Their campaign began with a historic 7-0 dismantling of LIGA MX side Cruz Azul and was followed by a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Santos Laguna. According to information from Sounder at Heart, a win of any kind against Tijuana would guarantee their place in the quarterfinals. A regulation win would likely propel them to the top of the MLS standings within the tournament, while their significant goal difference provides a comfortable cushion should tiebreakers come into play.
On the other side, Club Tijuana enters the match with their fate already sealed. The LIGA MX club has been eliminated from contention for the knockout round after a mixed bag of results, including a 5-2 loss to the LA Galaxy and a 2-1 win over the Colorado Rapids. Despite their elimination, Tijuana features one of LIGA MX’s most exciting young talents in 16-year-old Gilberto Mora, who has already scored two goals in the tournament.
For the Sounders, Head Coach Brian Schmetzer is expected to field a strong lineup with some rotation. The club has confirmed that Osaze De Rosario will get his first start, and Cristian Roldan will wear the captain’s armband. The team will be without several key players due to injury, including João Paulo, Jordan Morris, and Paul Arriola. Winger Georgi Minoungou is also unavailable as he serves a suspension for yellow card accumulation. However, in a positive development, goalkeeper Stefan Frei has cleared concussion protocol and could be available off the bench.
This match marks the first-ever competitive meeting between the Sounders and Club Tijuana. Historically, the Sounders hold a record of 11 wins, 12 losses, and 5 draws against LIGA MX opponents in their MLS era. The 2025 Leagues Cup features a revamped format where the top 18 qualifying MLS teams and all 18 LIGA MX clubs compete. In Phase One, each team plays three matches against opponents from the other league. As detailed by Digital Trends Today, the top four teams from separate MLS and LIGA MX tables will advance to an eight-team, single-elimination bracket, guaranteeing cross-league quarterfinal matchups. The tournament’s top three finishers will earn a spot in the 2026 Concacaf Champions Cup.
Fans can watch the match globally on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV, with Chris Wittyngham and Lori Lindsey on the English broadcast and Diego Pessolano and Daniel Brailovsky on the Spanish call. A local Spanish radio broadcast will be available on El Rey 1360 AM. With everything to play for, the Sounders will be looking to cap off an impressive group stage performance with another victory in front of their home crowd.
