SEATTLE, WASH. – Seattle Sounders FC today announced that it is hosting Bundesliga power Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday, July 17 at CenturyLink Field. The match against Dortmund – currently ranked second in the Bundesliga and battling for the top spot with Bayern Munich – marks Sounders FC’s second-ever competition against a German club, following a friendly draw with Eintracht Frankfurt in 2017. Kickoff for this year’s contest is slated for 7:30 p.m. PT, with television coverage on JOEtv and YouTube TV. The leader in global football attendance and one of the most decorated sides in Europe, Dortmund has 15 major titles to its name since 1963.
“We’re excited to welcome a storied club like Borussia Dortmund to CenturyLink Field for the first time,” said Sounders FC Chief Operating Officer Bart Wiley. “Bringing world class opponents to Seattle has been a tradition for Sounders FC going back to 2009, and we couldn’t be happier to once again host one of the biggest clubs in Europe. Before then, however, we will enjoy cheering them on as they fight for the Bundesliga title over the next few weeks.”
The international friendly is included as part of Sounders FC’s 2019 Season Membership. As a benefit of Season Memberships, members can purchase additional tickets during the exclusive presale window through Friday, April 26 at 9:00 a.m. PT. Season Memberships are still available at SoundersFC.com/Memberships. Fans can also call 877-MLS-GOAL or email Sales@SoundersFC.com for more information. Single-match tickets will be available to the public at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, April 26 at SoundersFC.com.
BORUSSIA DORTMUND FAST FACTS
- One of the original 16 teams of the Bundesliga in 1963, Dortmund has eight German league championships, four DFB-Pokal titles, one UEFA Champions League (1996-1997), one Intercontinental Cup (1997) and one UEFA Winners’ Cup (1965-1966), the latter being the first-ever European championship by a German club.
- Dortmund’s home ground, Signal Iduna Park, is the largest stadium in Germany. Die Schwarzgelben routinely lead the world in professional club football attendance, including a global-best 80,230 fans per game this season, besting second-place Manchester United and third-place Barcelona.
- In the current campaign, Dortmund currently sits second in the Bundesliga table with a record of 21 wins, three losses and six draws, one point behind first-place Bayern Munich. It also advanced out of the Group Stage of the 2018-2019 UEFA Champions League before falling to Tottenham Hotspur in the Round of 16.
- First-year Manager Lucien Favre, a former Swiss international and longtime playmaking midfielder in Switzerland and France, previously coached at OGC Nice, Borussia Mönchengladbach, Hertha BSC, FC Zürich, as well as a number of other Swiss clubs.
- Notable players include German National Team forward Marco Reus (16 goals, 11 assists), Spanish forward Paco Alcácer (17 goals), English winger Jadon Sancho (11 goals, 17 assists) and 20-year-old U.S. Men’s National Team midfielder Christian Pulisic (two goals, three assists).
Founded in 1909, Borussia Dortmund is one of the largest clubs not only in Germany, but all of Europe. Since 1974, Die Schwarzgelben (The Black and Yellows) have played at Signal Iduna Park, formerly known as Westfalenstadion, the largest stadium in Germany and seventh largest in Europe. With a capacity of 81,365, Signal Iduna Park is renowned for its legendary matchday atmosphere. Dortmund routinely leads the world in professional club football attendance, including a global-best 80,230 fans per game this season, besting second-place Manchester United and third-place Barcelona.
MEDIA RESOURCES
VIDEO – DORTMUND TO FACE SOUNDERS FC AT CENTURYLINK FIELD: https://sndrs.com/x8l4w
GRAPHICS – SOUNDERS FC VS. BORUSSIA DORTMUND: https://sndrs.com/ukfr6
PHOTOS – SOUNDERS FC PAST INTERNATIONAL FRIENDLIES: https://sndrs.com/e2uj9
SOUNDERS FC 2019 SCHEDULE: https://sndrs.com/txuf8
SOUNDERS FC TICKETS: https://sndrs.com/dp27l
One of the original 16 teams of the Bundesliga in 1963, Dortmund has eight German league championships, four DFB-Pokal titles, one UEFA Champions League (1996-1997) and one UEFA Winners’ Cup (1965-1966), the latter being the first-ever European championship by a German club. Just six years ago, Dortmund made it all the way to the 2012-2013 UEFA Champions League Final, falling 2-1 to German rival Bayern Munich thanks to a late Bavarian winner.
“It’s always beneficial for a club to test itself against the world’s best, so we’re excited to face a team in Borussia Dortmund that is having a great season and is in serious contention for the Bundesliga title,” said Sounders FC General Manager & President of Soccer Garth Lagerwey. “On top of that, we’re happy to bring one of the world’s biggest clubs to play in front of our fans at CenturyLink Field.”
In the 2018-2019 campaign, Dortmund currently sits second in the Bundesliga table with a record of 21-3-6, one point behind first-place Bayern Munich. After advancing out of the Group Stage of the 2018-2019 UEFA Champions League, Dortmund fell in the Round of 16 to Tottenham Hotspur, who just recently ousted Manchester City to advance to the Champions League Semifinals. Dortmund performs under the direction of first-year Manager Lucien Favre, a former Swiss international and longtime playmaking midfielder in Switzerland and France. Favre previously coached at OGC Nice, Borussia Mönchengladbach, Hertha BSC, FC Zürich, and other Swiss sides.
“We are truly excited to be back in the USA this summer and to square off against one of the MLS’ best teams, the Seattle Sounders,” said Borussia Dortmund COO Carsten Cramer. “In addition to that, we very much look forward to coming to Seattle, not only one of the most fascinating and progressive cities on U.S. soil, but beyond that also a city with a huge affinity to football. Following our successful debut tour last summer, which included four friendlies across the country – all the way from California to the East Coast – we would like to put in another Black & Yellow appearance that is well-received by our U.S. fans and fosters an even closer emotional connection between them and Borussia Dortmund.”
Back challenging for the league title this year after a fourth-place finish one season ago, Dortmund is led by German National Team forward Marco Reus, who has been with the club since 2012 and has recorded 16 goals and 11 assists this season. Leading scorer Paco Alcácer has 17 goals this season, and recently completed a full transfer from FC Barcelona after previously joining Dortmund on loan. Winger Jadon Sancho, a 19-year-old Englishmen, leads the club with 17 assists to go along with 11 goals in his breakout season after joining Dortmund in 2017 following playing at the youth levels with Manchester City. The current squad also includes American playmaker Christian Pulisic, a 20-year-old attacker who signed with the German club in 2015 and became one of the most exciting prospects in Europe after impressing for both Dortmund and the U.S. National Team. Earlier this year, Pulisic signed with English giant Chelsea on a deal that would see him remain at Dortmund through the 2018-2019 campaign.
Sounders FC has hosted 12 friendlies in the past 10 seasons, most recently earning a pair of friendly draws in 2017 against Club Necaxa of Mexico and Eintracht Frankfurt. In all, Seattle has amassed a record of 3-5-4 in international friendlies at CenturyLink Field.
Following the club’s first loss of 2019 on Sunday at Los Angeles FC, Sounders FC (5-1-1, 16 points) hosts two matches this week, beginning with the San Jose Earthquakes on Wednesday, April 24 (7:30 p.m. PT / JOEtv, YouTube TV, 950 KJR AM, El Rey 1360 AM) before a rematch with LAFC on Sunday, April 28 (12:30 p.m. PT / ESPN, YouTube TV, 950 KJR AM, El Rey 1360 AM).
