The Seattle Sounders concluded their participation in the Club World Cup at the bottom of their group, having lost all three matches. Despite the results, they delivered commendable performances against formidable opponents such as Botafogo, Atletico Madrid, and PSG. Kasey Keller, former USMNT and Sounders goalkeeper, viewed the MLS side`s showing as respectable.
What Happened
“When they saw that draw, they knew it was going to be a herculean task to get themselves out of the group,” Keller commented on the Futbol Americas podcast. “But at the same time, I think the Sounders just wanted to represent. They didn’t want to go in and just get rolled over. And I’ll be honest with you, in that first game against Botafogo, they should have gotten something out of that match. They looked a little nervous in the first half, went down 2-0 but then had opportunity after opportunity to get the equalizer. That was probably the most frustrating because that was the best opportunity.”
Keller also highlighted that Seattle didn`t merely attempt to survive defensively when playing at home; instead, they actively sought to attack some very strong teams.
“Clearly they didn’t want to play an Atletico Madrid that got spanked by PSG 4-0, so there was maybe a different level of motivation for Atletico in that match,” he remarked. “But they got a goal, pushed them… nobody was just packing it in. The Sounders didn’t just go out there in front of their home crowd and just say, ‘We’re going to get 11 guys behind the ball and just try to survive.` No, they weren’t reckless about it. But they tried to attack some very, very good teams, and I think they represented very well for MLS against some very tough opposition.”
What Herculez Gomez Said
Herculez Gomez offered a more critical assessment, although he refrained from calling the overall performance a failure.
“It’s difficult for Seattle,” he stated. “I thought they showed very well… the first game was where they definitely could have got something out of it. Botafogo was begging for the final whistle. Another two minutes and that game would have been tied. Another minute, that game probably would have been a 3-2 game for the Sounders. Other than that, it was as expected.”
He further noted that the three MLS teams participating in the CWC – Seattle, Inter Miami, and LAFC – compete in a league constrained by a salary cap and other restrictions.
“I feel bad for the MLS teams,” he continued. “LAFC? It’s circumstantial, but they didn’t have one home game. They’re the only MLS team without a home game… If you saw that first game against Chelsea – nobody was at that game – but if this game was at the Bank of California [LAFC`s stadium]? If they had that home field advantage against Chelsea, the way they played against Chelsea, it could have been a different story. I seriously think that because the game in Atlanta with no fans, LAFC had their chances to put Chelsea away. Now imagine with home support… Then again, nobody asked MLS or these teams to have a salary cap, nobody asked them to not be able to reinforce themselves in a way other teams probably could have during that 10-day window. So it’s their own doing. But I feel bad for them.”
The Bigger Picture
The FIFA Club World Cup provided MLS clubs with valuable exposure on the international stage, facilitating direct comparisons with teams from Europe and South America. Inter Miami was the sole MLS participant to successfully advance to the knockout stage.
What’s Next?
Both the Seattle Sounders and LAFC are now returning to their respective MLS league campaigns. The Sounders are scheduled to face Austin FC on Saturday, while LAFC will host the Vancouver Whitecaps on Sunday.
Rupert Caldwell 
Tristan Blackwood