When Seattle Sounders FC joined MLS in 2009, few predicted how quickly they’d dominate. Most expansion teams spend years finding their footing. Not Seattle. In their first season, they won the U.S. Open Cup, made the playoffs, and shattered attendance records with an average of over 30,000 fans per game — double the league average at the time.
But that was just the beginning.
The Sounders became the gold standard for expansion teams, winning MLS Cups in 2016 and 2019, and reaching the final multiple times. Their fan base, culture, and roster consistency (built around stars like Nicolás Lodeiro, Jordan Morris, and Stefan Frei) turned them into a dynasty.
Then came 2022, when Seattle became the first-ever MLS team to win the CONCACAF Champions League, defeating Pumas UNAM in a packed Lumen Field. That historic win sent them to the FIFA Club World Cup, putting MLS on the global stage.
Seattle’s blueprint — a committed fanbase, smart signings, and youth development — changed how expansion teams approach the league.
