TUKWILA, Wash. — Two days before their regular-season finale, the Seattle Sounders are clearly focused on finishing the season on as high of a note as possible. Despite going 0-3-2 in their last five — tied for their longest winless run since 2013 — the Sounders still control their own destiny in the Western Conference.
If they beat the Vancouver Whitecaps on Sunday, they’ll not only clinch a first-round bye and home-field advantage through the conference finals, but will also secure a Concacaf Champions League spot. Anything less than a win will mean the Sounders need both Sporting KC (home against Real Salt Lake) and the Colorado Rapids (home against LAFC) to drop points to maintain their spot and would drop to third if both win.