Apr 25, 2026; Seattle, Washington, USA; Seattle Sounders forward Paul Rothrock (14) dribbles the ball against FC Dallas defender Lalas Abubakar (5) during the second half at Lumen Field. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Brashear-Imagn Images
Last season, San Diego FC surprised Major League Soccer by winning the Western Conference title as an expansion team. Now, the club is experiencing a clear sophomore slump. Heading into Saturday’s match against the Seattle Sounders (6-1-2, 20 points), San Diego (3-5-3, 12 points) is stuck in an eight-match winless streak.
Marcus Ingvartsen scored twice last weekend to snap a five-game losing streak, as San Diego settled for a 2-2 draw with Los Angeles FC after blowing a two-goal lead. The team, which opened the season with three straight shutout wins, has conceded 19 goals in its last eight outings and will be without goalkeeper CJ dos Santos. Making his season debut, dos Santos suffered a nose injury late in the second half against LAFC, and backup Duran Ferree allowed the equalizer.
“I will say that the first 80 minutes, we were really good. I think we were pretty much where we’ve been at when we’ve been at our best,” San Diego coach Mikey Varas said. “And we weren’t able to get the third goal, but we’re up 2-0 and I think we’re in control of the game and the boys showed a great step in the right direction to who we want to be. And then things get a little bit difficult for us.”
San Diego will also be without captain Jeppe Tverskov until after the FIFA World Cup due to a leg injury sustained in a 2-1 loss to Portland on April 25.
The Sounders saw their three-match winning streak snapped last weekend with a 1-1 draw at bottom-placed Sporting Kansas City. Paul Rothrock opened the scoring in the second minute, but Seattle couldn’t add another goal. Despite that, the Sounders are on a seven-match unbeaten run (5-0-2), thanks in large part to a league-low five goals conceded and five clean sheets from Andrew Thomas.
Seattle has won 20 consecutive home matches in all competitions at Lumen Field since a 2-0 loss to reigning UEFA Champions Cup winner Paris Saint-Germain in the FIFA Club World Cup last June.
“Being from the opposite team coming to Lumen, it’s a place where it’s hard to play,” Sounders winger Jesus Ferreira said. “The fans are always behind you. It’s always a good crowd. … It’s like (having) an extra man.”
