MLS Playoffs | Regular Season

Jun 9, 2025 at 2am UK

BC Place Stadium

Vancouver Whitecaps vs Seattle Sounders

Match preview

The Whitecaps' memorable run to the CONCACAF Champions Cup final came to an end last weekend, as they self-destructed in a 5-0 defeat to Cruz Azul.

Sunday's match will be a significant test for the team after one of the few setbacks they have suffered under Jesper Sørensen.

Two of their next three matches in this competition will be played in Vancouver, where they have won five MLS matches this year — just one fewer than their total for the whole of the 2024 regular season.

While the team found it easy to score at the beginning of 2025, they have struggled recently, failing to score in consecutive competitive fixtures, including a Champions Cup defeat in which they did not register a single shot.

Nevertheless, they are currently on a 10-match unbeaten run in domestic competitions, and a win or draw on Sunday would set a new club record for the longest point streak in their MLS era.

The Caps have not suffered back-to-back defeats in all competitions since losing their final four regular-season games in 2024.

Last weekend, we witnessed an uncharacteristically poor defensive performance by the Seattle Sounders at home against Minnesota United.

Brian Schmetzer’s team saw their two-match clean sheet run come to an end, conceding two more goals last Sunday than they had in their previous three league games.

Like Vancouver, the Sounders have not suffered consecutive defeats this season, but they are winless in their last two MLS away games.

Seattle have claimed just one league victory this year when conceding first, but have not lost when scoring the opener.

During the previous regular season, the Sounders had the joint-most away wins in the Western Conference (eight), but they have the third fewest so far this year (two).

The Rave Green have won their last two visits to BC Place against the Caps and won this exact fixture last season 3–0.

Recent Performance

Vancouver Whitecaps Major League Soccer form:WWDDWD

Vancouver Whitecaps form (all competitions):DDDWDL

Seattle Sounders Major League Soccer form:WLDWWL

Team News

The only player of concern for the Whitecaps is captain Ryan Gauld, who is nearing a return from a knee injury. Meanwhile, Brian White (USA), Pedro Vite (Ecuador), Jayden Nelson (Canada) and Tate Johnson (USA Under-20s) will be unavailable due to the international break.

Also away for the international break are Andres Cubas (Paraguay), Giuseppe Bovalina (Australia Under-23s), Sebastian Berhalter (USA), Ali Ahmed (Canada) and Sam Adekugbe (Canada).

Yohei Takaoka only faced one shot on target against Minnesota as he recorded his seventh clean sheet of the domestic campaign.

As for Seattle, Jordan Morris and Yeimar Gómez Andrade missed their previous game due to hamstring strains, Kim Kee-Hee sat out with a sore calf, and Paul Arriola did not feature due to a knee injury.

Three of their players are on international duty: Reed Baker-Whiting has been called up to the USA Under-20s, Stuart Hawkins to the US Under-19s, and Osaze De Rosario to the Guyana team.

The Sounders' only goals against the Loons last weekend came from Kalani Kossa-Rienzi and an own-goal from Nicolas Romero.

Possible starting lineup

Vancouver Whitecaps possible starting lineup:

Takaoka; Laborda, Veselinovic, Blackmon, Ocampo; Badwal, Priso, Ngando; Sabbi, Rios, Kreilach

Seattle Sounders possible starting lineup:

Frei; A. Roldan, Burney, Bell, Tolo; Vargas, C. Roldan; De la Vega, Rusnak, Rothrock; Musovski