Match Preview

SEAvRSL 101 Preview: All you need to know when the Sounders host Real Salt Lake on Saturday, pres. by Ticketmaster

cristian 10.8

The Seattle Sounders are hosting Real Salt Lake on Saturday in their final home match of the 2025 regular season. Here is everything you need to know:

WHEN AND WHERE: Kickoff is at 6:30 p.m. PT at Lumen Field (TICKETS).

WHERE TO WATCH: The match will be available to watch on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.

WHERE TO LISTEN: The match will air on 950 KJR AM & SiriusXM FC 157 and in Spanish on El Rey 1360AM.

2025 RECORDS AND STANDINGS: Sounders: 13-9-10 (49 points, 5th West), RSL: 12-16-4 (40 points, 9th West)

FORM GUIDE (all competitions, most recent first): Seattle: WDLLD, Salt Lake: WWLLW

PREVIOUS MEETING: Real Salt Lake defeated the Sounders 2-0 in Sandy, Utah, in the second game of the regular season on March 1. A Nouhou own goal and a strike from Forster Ajago gave the hosts all three points.

MATCH MAKEUP: This match was originally slated to take place on Aug. 30 but was moved to accommodate Seattle’s participation in the Leagues Cup Final.

FAN APPRECIATION MATCH: As part of Sounders FC's annual Fan Appreciation Match -- held on the final home game of the regular season -- there will countless fun activities, prizes, giveaways and tradtions to celebrate the special connection between supporters and the club. For a full rundown of the day, visit our Know Before You Go page.

LEAGUES CUP BANNER RAISING: Prior to kickoff, the Seattle Sounders will raise their 2025 Leagues Cup championship banner at Lumen Field, celebrating their ninth major trophy since joining MLS. Fans are encouraged to arrive early for this unforgettable moment. For a full rundown of what is expected on Saturday, click HERE.

RUSNÁK SUSPENDED: Sounders Designated Player Albert Rusnák will miss the match against his former club after picking up a red card in the game’s final moments against the Portland Timbers last week. The Slovakian had 41 goals and 39 assists with RSL from 2017-21.

U22 STANDOUTS: Both 20-year-old Sounders midfielder Obed Vargas (No. 1) and 18-year-old RSL midfielder Zavier Gozo (No. 10) were named on Wednesday to Major League Soccer’s annual 22 Under 22 list, which ranks the best players in the league under 22 years old. Neither player will feature this weekend, however, with both Vargas (Mexico) and Gozo (United States) away with their respective youth national teams at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile.

INTERNATIONAL STARS AWAY: This weekend’s match falls during a FIFA international break, which means many players from each team will be away on international duty. In addition to Vargas and Gozo, the Sounders’ Reed-Baker Whiting (United States U-20s), Snyder Brunell (United States U-19s), Georgi Minoungou (Burkina Faso), Nouhou (Cameroon) and Cristian Roldan (United States) will be gone, as will RSL’s Diego Luna (United States), Kobi Henry (Trinidad and Tobago), Luca Moisa (United States U-17s), Braian Ojeda (Paraguay), Gio Villa (United States U-17s) and Marcus Zambrano (United States U-20s).

Leagues Cup Champions Merch

Leagues Cup Champions Merch

Visit the Sounders FC Pro Shop to grab exclusive 2025 Leagues Cup Champions T-shirts and scarves, available only while supplies last. Pick up your gear before kickoff and wear it proudly during the banner unveiling ceremony!

RSL WITH CHANCE TO CLINCH: The scenario to qualify for the MLS Cup Playoffs is simple for Real Salt Lake on Saturday: win and they’re in. RSL currently sits in ninth, the final playoff spot, and is tied on points (plus a game in hand) with Rocky Mountain rival the Colorado Rapids.

TROUBLE SCORING: Goals have been hard to come by this season for RSL, which has just 36 tallies in 32 matches. Salt Lake’s task gets even harder this weekend without star playmaker Luna, who has a team-leading 16 goal contributions. No one else on RSL has more than four goals scored this year.

PLAYER TO WATCH: Diogo Gonçalves, M

The onus in the final third will fall on Gonçalves’ shoulders if RSL is to leave Lumen Field with points. The Portuguese former Benfica winger has four goals on the season, including the massive match-winner against the Rapids last week.

2026 Season Memberships

2026 Season Memberships

Feel the pull of the Sound and step into something bigger. 2026 will continue to put Seattle soccer on the world stage, so there's no better time to join the Rave Green and grow with the Sounders legacy. Secure your seat alongside the best fans in MLS. Season Memberships are on sale now.