What Happened
The Seattle Sounders finished last in their group at the Club World Cup, losing all three matches. Despite this, they showed respectable performances in losses to Botafogo, Atletico Madrid, and PSG. Former USMNT and Sounders goalkeeper Kasey Keller believes the MLS team`s showing was commendable.
Keller commented on the Futbol Americas podcast that upon seeing the draw, they knew it would be a monumental challenge to advance from the group. However, he felt the Sounders simply wanted to perform creditably and not be easily defeated. He admitted that in the first game against Botafogo, they should have achieved a better result. Though they started nervously and went down 2-0, they created numerous opportunities to equalize. Keller noted this was perhaps the most frustrating moment, as it represented their best chance.
Keller also pointed out that Seattle didn`t just try to survive defensively at home but attempted to attack very strong opponents. He stated they weren`t reckless, but actively sought to challenge top teams and, in his opinion, represented MLS very well against tough opposition.
What Herculez Gomez Said
Herculez Gomez offered a more critical perspective but stopped short of labeling the performance a failure. He felt Seattle put in a decent effort, particularly in the initial match where they had a real chance to gain points against Botafogo, who were struggling by the end. He believed the outcome in the other matches was largely predictable.
Gomez also highlighted the challenges faced by the three MLS teams in the tournament – Seattle, Inter Miami, and LAFC – due to the league`s salary cap and other restrictions. He expressed sympathy for MLS teams, mentioning LAFC`s specific difficulty of having no home games, which he felt was circumstantial. He speculated that a home advantage against a team like Chelsea, based on their performance in that match, could have changed the outcome. However, he also acknowledged that MLS and its teams chose to operate under these constraints, making it a situation of their own creation, despite his sympathy.
The Bigger Picture
The FIFA Club World Cup provided MLS clubs with valuable exposure on the global stage, offering direct comparisons against teams from prominent leagues in Europe and South America. Among the participating MLS sides, only Inter Miami successfully advanced to the knockout rounds.
What’s Next?
Both Seattle Sounders and LAFC will now return to MLS competition. The Seattle Sounders are scheduled to play against Austin FC on Saturday, while LAFC will host the Vancouver Whitecaps on Sunday.
