Sounders Begin 2025 Season in Concacaf Champions Cup

SEATTLE, Wash. — The Seattle Sounders officially launch their 2025 campaign tonight as they face Guatemala’s Antigua GFC in the Concacaf Champions Cup. The match is set to kick off at 5 PM PT at Estadio Pensativo.

This marks the eighth time the Sounders have entered Concacaf’s premier club competition, and their first encounter against Antigua, who have qualified for this tournament for the first time in nearly a decade after a strong showing in the Central American Cup.

Antigua GFC secured their spot in the Champions Cup by reaching the semifinals of the Central American Cup, where they triumphed over Costa Rican heavyweight Herediano in the quarterfinals. Currently, they occupy second place in the Apertura tournament with a league-best offense, scoring 18 goals in eight matches. Their last outing culminated in a commanding 6-0 victory.

Meanwhile, the Sounders enter the match following an impressive preseason, where they outscored their opponents 19-7 over approximately 600 minutes of play. standout player Pedro de la Vega led the squad with four goals in four preseason matches.

Sounders head coach Brian Schmetzer expressed his optimism ahead of the contest, emphasizing the team’s goal for the season: “We need to focus on scoring more goals.” Jesú Ferreira and Pedro de la Vega will support Jordan Morris in the attack, while Albert Rusnák is available from the bench due to a quadriceps issue.

Antigua manager Javier Lopez will deploy a strong lineup, bolstered by their recent success, which includes key players Dewinder Bradley and Diego Fernandez. With a track record of resilient performances, Lopez is expected to leverage his team’s offensive prowess against the Sounders.

The Sounders’ injury report shows Rusnák as questionable, while Reed Baker-Whiting remains sidelined with a hamstring injury. As both teams aim to assert their dominance early in the tournament, the anticipation for this match builds.

Fans can watch the match live on Fox Sports channels, with streaming available through FoxSports.com and Vix+. Highlight reels and updates will be shared throughout the contest.