4 Reasons Seattle Sounders Can Achieve Concacaf Glory Where Other MLS Teams Failed

On Wednesday night, the Seattle Sounders will become the fifth team from Major League Soccer to compete for continental supremacy since the Concacaf Champions League (CCL) began when they play Leg 1 of their two-game final against Pumas UNAM in Mexico City.

The tournament has been dominated by Mexican clubs, who have won all 13 previous titles and comprised 22 of 26 previous finalists since the CCL replaced the Concacaf Champions Cup in 2008.

But this is the third time in five years — and the second in three — that an MLS team is challenging to finally bring a long sought-after continental crown — and place in the next FIFA Club World Cup — back to the much younger league north of the border. And Seattle might be the best positioned of any MLS finalist to actually end Liga MX’s monopoly.

Here are four reasons why the Seattle Sounders can emerge victorious where their MLS colleagues have failed.

Continental Experience

One of the lurking variables in MLS teams struggling in the CCL is that individual MLS clubs don’t have as much continental experience as their Mexican foes. This owes mainly to MLS’ parity.

In their seventh tournament, the Sounders are an exception. Not only are they tied for the second-most CCL appearances in tournament history, but they’re the only MLS team that has earned seven appearances through the strength of their league, postseason or U.S. Open Cup play. Three-time MLS Cup foes Toronto FC also have seven CCL appearances. But Toronto reached the tournament through the much less vigorous pathway of the Canadian Championship each time.

This is the Sounders first finals appearance. But it’s an organization that is accustomed to this stage more than any other. And history shows that matters. Of Liga MX’s 13 titles, 10 have been won by the cluster of five Mexican sides who have appeared most often. Pumas do not have a CCL-era title to their name.

Roster Quality and Depth

For the first time in Concacaf Champions League history, there’s a credible argument that the MLS finalists on paper have the clearly superior roster.

According to Transfermarkt, the Sounders’ current squad value is about $52.9 million. That’s about 172% of the assigned squad value of Pumas.

The only similar clash in terms of value dynamics may have come in 2018, when a star-studded Toronto FC team pushed a financially-strapped CD Guadalajara to penalties.

Overall, the average squad value in Liga MX is still slightly higher than in MLS, at $45.5 million against $39.3 million, according to Transfermarkt’s most-recent data.

Defensive Tactics and Commitment

Of the four previous MLS finalists in the event, only 2011 Real Salt Lake conceded fewer goals (20) in their previous domestic campaign than the Sounders (33). And MLS in 2010 was a far different league in terms of attacking personnel than in 2021, not to mention one with four fewer matches on the schedule.

Additionally, Seattle is one of the few MLS teams that has proven comfortable regularly sitting in a low block and playing on the counter at times. It’s a skill that is particularly useful in continental play — especially in Mexico, where factors of elevation and travel can be taxing on MLS teams that want to push the pace.

A Shifting Bigger Picture

Liga MX teams still dominate MLS opponents historically in this competition. But the gap in results has closed substantially, particularly after the competition switched back to a knockout-only format in 2018.

In the 2022 tournament, Major League Soccer teams actually have a slight winning record against Liga MX opposition: 4W-3L-3D, 15GF, 8GA. You can’t really find a similar performance in any previous edition of the tournament. Which suggests — just maybe — this is the year.