Soccer fandom can be a strange thing. Often it’s developed in a setting close to home, through a family member’s rooting interest or friendship, but sometimes you randomly discover a club and it leaves a lasting impression. That was the case when I came across the Seattle Sounders for the first time on the video game FIFA 13. I had heard of Major League Soccer before — because of David Beckham, obviously — but fandom eluded me until I played with the LA Galaxy against the Sounders.
I didn’t know who they were, what the club stood for, or even where Seattle was on a map, but something just clicked.