:List of Seattle Sounders FC seasons

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{{Further info|topic=the team's previous iterations|History of professional soccer in Seattle#Sounders season results}}

File:Sounders USOC 2011.jpg trophies]]

Seattle Sounders FC is a soccer team based in Seattle, Washington, that competes in Major League Soccer (MLS), the most senior soccer league in the United States. The club was established in 2007 as an MLS expansion team, succeeding an existing second-division team of the same name, and began play in 2009 as a member of the Western Conference.{{cite web |last=Drosendahl |first=Glenn |date=April 9, 2015 |title=Sounders FC makes Major League Soccer debut on March 19, 2009. |url=https://historylink.org/File/11057 |work=HistoryLink |accessdate=March 14, 2023 |archive-date=March 14, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230314222113/https://historylink.org/File/11057 |url-status=live }} The MLS regular season typically runs from February to October and the best-performing team is awarded the Supporters' Shield; the top nine teams from each conference qualify for the MLS Cup Playoffs, a postseason tournament that culminates in the MLS Cup.{{cite news |last=Boehm |first=Charles |date=December 31, 2022 |title=2023 Soccer Almanac: Key dates & tournaments in busy year ahead |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/2023-soccer-almanac-key-dates-tournaments-in-busy-year-ahead |work=MLSsoccer.com |accessdate=March 14, 2023 |archive-date=March 14, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230314222108/https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/2023-soccer-almanac-key-dates-tournaments-in-busy-year-ahead |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last=Goff |first=Steven |author-link=Steven Goff |date=February 23, 2023 |title=MLS season preview: The Starting XI |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2023/02/23/mls-season-preview/ |work=The Washington Post |accessdate=March 14, 2023 |archive-date=March 18, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230318225948/https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2023/02/23/mls-season-preview/ |url-status=live }}

In addition to league play, the Sounders compete in the annual U.S. Open Cup tournament organized by the United States Soccer Federation and the Leagues Cup contested by teams from MLS and Liga MX of Mexico.{{cite news |last=Evans |first=Jayda |date=February 25, 2023 |title=Playoff changes and more: Three things to know before Sounders open 2023 season |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/sounders/playoff-changes-and-more-three-things-to-know-before-sounders-open-2023-season/ |work=The Seattle Times |accessdate=March 14, 2023 |archive-date=March 14, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230314222110/https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/sounders/playoff-changes-and-more-three-things-to-know-before-sounders-open-2023-season/ |url-status=live }} The league and cup tournaments serve as qualifiers for the following year's CONCACAF Champions Cup (formerly the CONCACAF Champions League), an annual international competition between league and cup champions in North America, Central America, and the Caribbean.{{cite news |last=Evans |first=Jayda |date=February 5, 2023 |title=Sounders taking plenty of positives from Club World Cup, but could different moves have kept them in it? |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/sounders/sounders-taking-plenty-of-positives-from-club-world-cup-but-could-different-moves-have-kept-them-in-it/ |work=The Seattle Times |accessdate=March 14, 2023 |archive-date=March 14, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230314222107/https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/sounders/sounders-taking-plenty-of-positives-from-club-world-cup-but-could-different-moves-have-kept-them-in-it/ |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last=Straus |first=Brian |date=June 1, 2022 |title=Concacaf Reveals Qualifying Criteria for Expanded Champions League |url=https://www.si.com/soccer/2022/06/01/concacaf-champions-league-2024-qualification-format-criteria |work=Sports Illustrated |accessdate=March 14, 2023 |archive-date=January 24, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230124203104/https://www.si.com/soccer/2022/06/01/concacaf-champions-league-2024-qualification-format-criteria |url-status=live }} The CONCACAF Champions Cup winner then qualifies for the next FIFA Club World Cup, which is held annually but will switch to every four years beginning in 2025.{{cite press release |date=March 14, 2023 |title=Concacaf confirms qualification route for CCL clubs into new expanded FIFA Club World Cup |url=https://www.concacaf.com/en/champions-league/news/concacaf-confirms-qualification-route-for-ccl-clubs-into-new-expanded-fifa-club-world-cup/ |publisher=CONCACAF |accessdate=March 14, 2023 |archive-date=March 14, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230314205910/https://www.concacaf.com/en/champions-league/news/concacaf-confirms-qualification-route-for-ccl-clubs-into-new-expanded-fifa-club-world-cup/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last=Lowy |first=Zach |date=January 30, 2023 |title=Soccer 101: FIFA Club World Cup |url=https://www.stlcitysc.com/news/soccer-101-fifa-club-world-cup |publisher=St. Louis City SC |accessdate=March 17, 2023 |archive-date=March 17, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230317084354/https://www.stlcitysc.com/news/soccer-101-fifa-club-world-cup |url-status=live }}

The Sounders are one of the most successful clubs in MLS history,{{cite news |last=Arthur |first=Ben |date=November 7, 2019 |title=A snapshot: Just how good have the Sounders been in the MLS? |url=https://www.seattlepi.com/sports/sounders/article/How-does-Sounders-dominance-success-compare-to-14815578.php |work=Seattle Post-Intelligencer |accessdate=March 14, 2023 |archive-date=March 14, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230314223358/https://www.seattlepi.com/sports/sounders/article/How-does-Sounders-dominance-success-compare-to-14815578.php |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last=Stejskal |first=Sam |date=May 5, 2022 |title=With Champions League breakthrough, Seattle Sounders stake their claim to title of best club in MLS history |url=https://theathletic.com/3295831/2022/05/05/seattle-sounders-concacaf-champions-league/ |work=The Athletic |url-access=subscription |accessdate=March 17, 2023 |archive-date=May 20, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220520064738/https://theathletic.com/3295831/2022/05/05/seattle-sounders-concacaf-champions-league/ |url-status=live }} having won eight trophies since entering the league in 2009.{{cite news |last=Warshaw |first=Bobby |date=December 13, 2019 |title=Warshaw: Best MLS clubs of the decade |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/mls-best-clubs-decade-no-1-seattle-sounders |work=MLSsoccer.com |accessdate=March 16, 2023 |archive-date=March 17, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230317043517/https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/mls-best-clubs-decade-no-1-seattle-sounders |url-status=live }} They won three consecutive U.S. Open Cup titles from 2009 to 2011 and a fourth in 2014, becoming the second MLS club to do so.{{cite web |last=Boehm |first=Charles |date=September 13, 2016 |title=Open Cup: Perusing the historic tournament's most successful clubs |url=http://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2016/09/13/open-cup-perusing-historic-tournaments-most-successful-clubs |work=MLSsoccer.com |accessdate=November 11, 2016 |archive-date=November 12, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161112093426/http://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2016/09/13/open-cup-perusing-historic-tournaments-most-successful-clubs |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last=Evans |first=Jayda |date=November 22, 2020 |title=Could the 2020 Sounders be Seattle's best team yet? Here's a look at how they stack up with past MLS Cup teams. |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/sounders/could-the-2020-sounders-be-seattles-best-team-yet-heres-a-look-at-how-they-stack-up-with-past-mls-cup-teams/ |work=The Seattle Times |accessdate=March 14, 2023 |archive-date=March 14, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230314222108/https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/sounders/could-the-2020-sounders-be-seattles-best-team-yet-heres-a-look-at-how-they-stack-up-with-past-mls-cup-teams/ |url-status=live }} The club earned their first Supporters' Shield in 2014, completing a double,{{cite news |last=Bolster |first=John |date=December 15, 2014 |title=Stories of the Year: Seattle Sounders win Supporters' Shield, US Open Cup |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/stories-year-seattle-sounders-win-supporters-shield-us-open-cup |work=MLSsoccer.com |accessdate=March 16, 2023 |archive-date=March 17, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230317043519/https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/stories-year-seattle-sounders-win-supporters-shield-us-open-cup |url-status=live }} and won the MLS Cup in 2016 and 2019 during a run of four finals in five years.{{cite news |last=Reineking |first=Jim |date=December 11, 2020 |title=MLS Cup storylines: Are Seattle Sounders a dynasty in the making? Can Columbus Crew be defeated at home? |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mls/2020/12/11/mls-cup-2020-key-storylines-leagues-25th-championship-game/3875844001/ |work=USA Today |accessdate=March 14, 2023 |archive-date=March 14, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230314222108/https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mls/2020/12/11/mls-cup-2020-key-storylines-leagues-25th-championship-game/3875844001/ |url-status=live }} They won the CONCACAF Champions League in 2022, becoming the first MLS club to win the competition under its modern format and qualify for the FIFA Club World Cup.{{cite news |last=Liljenwall |first=Ari |date=January 30, 2023 |title=Seattle Sounders: What to know about MLS's first Club World Cup participant |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/seattle-sounders-fc-what-to-know-about-mls-s-first-club-world-cup-participant |work=MLSsoccer.com |accessdate=March 14, 2023 |archive-date=March 14, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230314223613/https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/seattle-sounders-fc-what-to-know-about-mls-s-first-club-world-cup-participant |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last=Straus |first=Brian |date=May 5, 2022 |title=It's Only Fitting That Seattle Breaks MLS's CCL Glass Ceiling |url=https://www.si.com/soccer/2022/05/05/seattle-sounders-ccl-title-mls-lagerwey-pumas-liga-mx |work=Sports Illustrated |accessdate=March 14, 2023 |archive-date=May 19, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220519223224/https://www.si.com/soccer/2022/05/05/seattle-sounders-ccl-title-mls-lagerwey-pumas-liga-mx |url-status=live }} The Leagues Cup remains the only major North American competition that the Sounders have not won; the team finished as runners-up in the 2021 edition.{{cite news |last=Mondello |first=Joseph |date=July 18, 2023 |title="We try to win every trophy": Sounders set sights on 2023 Leagues Cup campaign |url=https://www.soundersfc.com/news/we-try-to-win-every-trophy-sounders-set-sights-on-2023-leagues-cup-campaign |work=SoundersFC.com |accessdate=July 27, 2023}} Sigi Schmid was the club's head coach from the inaugural MLS season in 2009 until July 2016;{{cite news |last=Pentz |first=Matt |date=July 26, 2016 |title=Sounders part ways with longtime coach Sigi Schmid |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/sounders/sounders-part-ways-with-longtime-coach-sigi-schmid/ |work=The Seattle Times |accessdate=March 16, 2023 |archive-date=October 21, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211021055131/https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/sounders/sounders-part-ways-with-longtime-coach-sigi-schmid/ |url-status=live }} he was replaced by Brian Schmetzer, initially as interim coach and later as full head coach.{{cite news |last=Pentz |first=Matt |date=November 11, 2016 |title=Sounders remove interim tag, hire coach Brian Schmetzer on a full-time basis |page=C1 |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/sounders/sounders-remove-interim-tag-hire-coach-brian-schmetzer-on-a-full-time-basis/ |work=The Seattle Times |accessdate=November 11, 2016 |archive-date=October 25, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211025195032/https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/sounders/sounders-remove-interim-tag-hire-coach-brian-schmetzer-on-a-full-time-basis/ |url-status=live }} Peruvian striker Raúl Ruidíaz is the club's all-time top scorer with 86 goals in all competitions; he joined the club in 2018 and surpassed Fredy Montero's tally in 2024.{{cite news |last=Evans |first=Jayda |date=September 5, 2024 |title=Report: Raúl Ruidíaz doesn't plan to return to Sounders after 2024 season |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/sounders/report-raul-ruidiaz-doesnt-plan-to-return-to-sounders-after-2024-season/ |work=The Seattle Times |accessdate=November 30, 2024}}{{cite news |last=Oshan |first=Jeremiah |date=March 30, 2024 |title=Fresh off setting Sounders' scoring record, Ruidíaz just happy to be playing |url=https://www.sounderatheart.com/2024/03/raul-ruidiaz-sounders-scoring-record/ |work=Sounder at Heart |accessdate=November 30, 2024}}

As of the end of the 2024 season, the club has played 16 seasons in MLS with 241 wins, 159 losses, and 124 draws—a winning percentage of {{winning percentage|241|159|124|leading_zero=y}}.{{cite web |title=Seattle Sounders FC Stats and History |url=https://fbref.com/en/squads/6218ebd4/history/Seattle-Sounders-FC-Stats-and-History |work=FBref.com |publisher=Sports Reference |accessdate=November 30, 2024}} The Sounders qualified for the MLS Cup Playoffs in their first 13 seasons—tied for the MLS record at the time and the second longest among the major sports leagues in the United States behind the National Hockey League's Pittsburgh Penguins.{{cite news |last=Evans |first=Jayda |date=October 2, 2022 |title=Sounders' 13-year playoff streak comes to end after loss in Kansas City |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/sounders/sounders-13-year-playoff-streak-comes-to-end-after-loss-in-kansas-city/ |work=The Seattle Times |accessdate=March 14, 2023 |archive-date=October 16, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221016173740/https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/sounders/sounders-13-year-playoff-streak-comes-to-end-after-loss-in-kansas-city/ |url-status=live }} The Sounders led MLS attendance in their first eight years in the league, averaging over 30,000 per season, until they were surpassed by Atlanta United FC in 2017;{{cite news |date=October 24, 2017 |title=MLS Passes Serie A, Ligue 1 in Attendance Figures |url=https://www.si.com/soccer/2017/10/24/mls-surpasses-serie-ligue-1-popularity-stakes-after-new-attendance-records-2017 |work=Sports Illustrated |accessdate=March 17, 2023 |archive-date=March 17, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230317071140/https://www.si.com/soccer/2017/10/24/mls-surpasses-serie-ligue-1-popularity-stakes-after-new-attendance-records-2017 |url-status=live }} the club achieved their highest season attendance in 2015 with 44,247 per match.{{cite news |last=Goff |first=Steven |date=September 17, 2017 |title=Professional soccer attendance records fall in Atlanta and Cincinnati |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/soccer-insider/wp/2017/09/17/professional-soccer-attendance-records-fall-in-atlanta-and-cincinnati/ |work=The Washington Post |accessdate=March 17, 2023 |archive-date=December 20, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201220190813/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/soccer-insider/wp/2017/09/17/professional-soccer-attendance-records-fall-in-atlanta-and-cincinnati/ |url-status=live }} {{As of|2024}}, the 261 regular season matches at Lumen Field in Seattle have averaged 38,557 spectators and drawn over 9.6 million total people; the club has hosted 28 playoff matches that drew an average of 34,607 spectators.{{sfnp|Major League Soccer|2025|p=77}} The most-attended home Sounders matches were the 2022 CONCACAF Champions League Final's second leg with 68,741—a tournament record—and MLS Cup 2019 with 69,274 spectators.{{cite news |date=May 4, 2022 |title=Seattle Sounders set CCL attendance record in 2022 Final vs. Pumas |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/seattle-sounders-set-ccl-attendance-record-in-2022-final-vs-pumas |work=MLSsoccer.com |accessdate=March 17, 2023 |archive-date=May 20, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220520064733/https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/seattle-sounders-set-ccl-attendance-record-in-2022-final-vs-pumas |url-status=live }}