Looking for a Longshot: Previewing the Sounders Hosting Chivas, August 12th, 2026
By Charles Hamaker
Seattle, WA - The Seattle Sounders FC will most likely fail to defend their Leagues Cup victory from last season, as they’ll need a big-time victory tonight against Liga MX’s Chivas de Guadalajara in addition to help from several MLS sides to advance past the group stage. The Sounders had a solid victory last time out, a 3-0 result over Querétaro F.C. on Sunday afternoon, and another strong result would be good for morale. A win tonight wouldn’t solve the club's problems, but it could certainly be great for their momentum as the Sounders shift focus back to MLS play later this week. Here’s a preview of Sounders vs Chivas on Wednesday night, August 12th, 2026.
A look at the Sounders situation
Unfortunately for Seattle, it’s pretty unlikely that the Sounders will be advancing past the group stage of Leagues Cup, failing to defend their title from last year, a glorious victory over Lionel Messi and Inter Miami in the final before a packed house at Lumen Field. Seattle came into the tournament on an ugly streak, having lost six MLS regular-season matches before a loss to Toluca in the opening match of the Leagues Cup group stage, making it seven straight across all competitions.
During that span, the Sounders failed to score more than one goal in any match, and tallied just three goals across those seven competitions. Seattle’s attack this year has dried up substantially after 2025, when the Rave Green scored in bunches and at will, but that’s not all. The Sounders defense was leaking goals during this span after being very stout before it, touting one of the best units in MLS prior to the 5-1 embarrassment against Portland on July 16th.
Expect Seattle’s lineup to be rotated, given that they’re likely to be eliminated before they even set foot on the turf at Lumen Field, the current schedule congestion they’re facing, and the injury list that still features notable names.
“We are going to be cautious with some guys that are carrying knocks or have had heavy minutes. What’s going to happen is we’re going to get young guys on the field, and they’re going to give excitement and desire. We’re going to coach them up to be as good as they can, to meet the moment, and if the game needs it, I’m going to bring the veterans on because I want to win.”
Of course, Seattle would like to put on a strong performance for themselves and for the fans at Lumen Field, coming off that ugly losing streak and trying to set the proper tone for the rest of the year. Thankfully for the Sounders, they’re going to spend most of early to mid-August at home, with this match against Chivas representing the second of four consecutive contests at Lumen Field. Home cooking against Querétaro F.C. and potentially Chivas could be a great launch pad for a return to MLS play coming up on Sunday.
How can the Sounders advance in the competition? Well, it’ll take a miracle. Seattle needs to win by at least four goals, and they’ll need Austin FC, Chicago Fire, and FC Dallas to lose. Additionally, LAFC can’t do anything better than losing a shootout, Nashville SC can’t win by more than a goal, AND the Portland Timbers, NYCFC, Inter Miami, and the Philadelphia Union cannot win by more than two goals. Think you understand it all? Good, because I hardly do and I’m the one who typed it up.
Seattle’s injury list
Midfielder Cristian Roldan remains out for the Sounders in this match against Chivas, but he participated in some full-sided drills during Seattle's training on August 11th. This is the first time Cristian has been able to participate like this since the quad injury he sustained during the World Cup with the United States men’s national team.
After coming out of the match back on Sunday, a few minutes after he subbed on, forward Pedro de la Vega underwent an MRI that revealed a strained quad. The club is now waiting for a second test to help determine the severity of the injury that he suffered, and what his return timeline will look like.
Midfielder Paul Arriola suffered a calf strain against the Portland Timbers back on August 1st, and he will now be out of action for at least four more weeks.
Forward Mark Bronnik wasn’t at training on August 11th, dealing with an illness. He’s not technically with the first team yet but has been playing very well with the Tacoma Defiance, and it feels like a matter of time before he’s in Rave Green.
Forward Jordan Morris isn’t expected back until late August.
Defender Yeimar Gómez Andrade isn’t expected back until early September.
What to know about Chivas
The Liga MX-based club is one of the most decorated and supported in Mexico, and it famously signs only players of Mexican descent. Chivas de Guadalajara are two-time CONCACAF Champions Cup winners and are 12-time Mexican champions, famously launching the careers of big names like Chicharito and Carlos Vela.
They’ve been unable to carry over their previous success into this tournament, having already been eliminated from Leagues Cup action after claiming just one point from their first two matches. Unlike Seattle, Chivas has been relatively healthy and has fielded full-strength lineups in those two Leagues Cup group-stage contests. It hasn’t been easy on Chivas, though, as they are similar to the Sounders in the fact that they’re playing their fourth game in about a span of two weeks while returning to league action this weekend. Chivas doesn’t come into this match on a hot streak, winning just one of their last five (like Seattle!) and losing two of those.
This matchup on Wednesday night is just the third all-time competitive clash between Seattle and Chivas, with their previous meeting coming in the 2018 Concacaf Champions Cup quarterfinals. The Sounders came out victorious in the first leg, a 1-0 win at Lumen Field, before being eliminated from the tournament after a 3-0 defeat in Mexico.
A rundown on Leagues Cup formatting
The 2026 Leagues Cup features all 18 Liga MX teams and the top 18 qualifying clubs from MLS. Teams were divided into Eastern and Western regions and grouped into tiers based on 2025 league performance. Each club will play three Phase One matches against teams from the opposing league with no draws allowed. Matches that end with the score level will go straight to penalty shootouts, with both teams receiving a point and the winner of the shootout receiving an additional point.
The top four clubs from each league advance to the Knockout Rounds, where it will be a single-elimination sprint to the Leagues Cup Final on Sept. 6. This also marks the first tournament in which select Mexican clubs will host matches, after previously only MLS teams had home-field advantage. In addition to continental bragging rights, the top three finishers from Leagues Cup will secure automatic bids to the 2027 Concacaf Champions Cup. The champion will receive a direct spot in the CCC Round of 16.
Key players to watch
For the Sounders, I’m keeping an eye on midfielders Sebastian Gomez and Paul Rothrock. Gomez got on the score sheet last time out early on, setting the tone for Seattle’s victory. It was the Sounders academy product’s first start for the club, representing his hometown team on home turf. He’d go on to tally a goal and an assist in the match, achieving a dream that started back in 2017 when he joined the academy.
“When [Rothrock] put in the cross, it just kind of happened in slow motion. I saw the ball coming across, and it was a great feeling when it hit the back of the net.”
Gomez has broken through lately after a strong 2025 season with the Tacoma Defiance, tallying five goals and six assists. He was signed to a first-team contract in the offseason, earning praise from head coach Brian Schmetzer for his physical form, athleticism, and technical ability under pressure. I’ve liked the flashes that he’s shown in the minutes he’s gotten with the Sounders this year, and I’m excited to see what he can do moving forward.
This might be an easier option to pick, and he may not even play considering the rotation that we’ll see from Schmetzer’s squad, but I’m looking at Paul Rothrock. The 27-year-old recorded two assists in the last match, including the primary assist on Sebastian Gomez’s opener, and slotted home a goal in the club’s defeat at Austin during their ugly losing streak. Prior to that score, Paul hadn’t scored since May 2nd, so we’re hoping that his recent streak is a sign that he’s heating up for the rest of the season.
For Chivas, keep an eye on midfielder Brian Gutierrez and forward Armando González. Gutierrez is a former homegrown player for Chicago Fire, joining Chivas back in December. 23 years old, he was previously a United States international but changed his allegiance to Mexico back in 2025, his parents’ home country. He was named to Mexico’s 2026 World Cup squad and made four appearances for El Tri. Gutierrez has scored two goals and tallied two assists in 21 appearances for Chivas so far.
González was a force in Liga MX last year, racking up 24 goals across 34 matches between the Apertura and Clausura seasons, making him the league’s second-highest goalscorer. The 23-year-old Mexican international is one of the league’s most exciting players, earning the nickname La Hormiga (“The Ant”).
How to watch?
Kickoff for the match is listed for 7:30 p.m. PDT at Lumen Field, but obviously, with soccer matches, there is a bit of a delay between the real kickoff and what’s listed. This match will be available to watch on Apple TV, and if you don’t have that, you can always head down to the home of Circling Seattle Sports: Rough & Tumble Pub. Both R&T locations, Ballard and Columbia City, will be showing the match. In addition to being broadcast on Apple TV, the match will air on the radio on El Rey 1360 AM.
What’s next after this?
After tonight’s match against Chivas, the Sounders return to 2026 MLS regular season action, and it’s a big-time matchup as Seattle hosts the Vancouver Whitecaps on Sunday, August 16th. It’s the third meeting between the two clubs this year, as the Sounders were dominant against the Canadian side during CONCACAF Champions Cup Round of 16 in both legs, pushing the Sounders through to the Quarterfinals. This edition of Cascadia Cup will be a big opportunity for Seattle to get themselves back on the right track, searching for their first victory in MLS action since May 13th.
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Check out our previous Seattle Sounders FC articles here.
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Photo by Jane Gershovich via Sounders FC Communications
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