By Alex Thierry
Seattle Sounders FC and Queretaro will look to earn their first points when they face each other in Matchday 2 of the Leagues Cup 2026 on Sunday at Lumen Field in Seattle, Washington.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
- 1st meeting between the two clubs
- Record at Leagues Cup: Seattle Sounders (9-5), Querétaro (3-8)
LAST FIVE GAMES
- Seatte Sounders:
- 0 Wins, 0 Draws, 5 Losses
- Querétaro:
- 3 Wins, 0 Draws, 2 Losses
MAIN STORYLINES:
- The Seattle Sounders return to Lumen Field, where it lifted the 2025 Leagues Cup trophy with a 3-0 victory over Inter Miami.
- Seattle enters the match on a seven-match losing streak.
- Sounders have scored three goals and conceded 14 in its last five games.
- Querétaro also fell in its Leagues Cup opening match and needs points to keep its qualifying chances alive.
- Gallos Blancos are still searching for their first Leagues Cup victory since their 2023 campaign.
KEY FACTORS:
- Seattle Sounders:
- Stefan Frei made 15 saves in Seattle's 3-0 defeat at Toluca.
- Paul Rothrock leads the team with five goals this season.
- Albert Rusnák and Jesus Ferreira lead the team with five assists each.
- Querétaro:
- Ali Ávila has scored three goals through the first three matches of the new Liga MX season.
- Bayron Duarte and Santiago Homenchenko have each provided one assist to start the Apertura 2026.
- Querétaro had 21 shots (9 on target) in its 2-0 defeat to FC Dallas.
WHAT TO EXPECT?
Seattle Sounders, the 2025 Leagues Cup champions, enter this year's tournament in a very different position. Seattle opened the tournament with a 3-0 loss to Toluca, extending its losing streak to seven matches across all competitions. The Pacific Northwest side needs to turn things around and rediscover its scoring touch, and this match could provide the opportunity to do so.
Querétaro comes off consecutive Phase One exits in 2024 and 2025 and opened this year's tournament with a 2-0 loss to FC Dallas. Getting points in Seattle will be crucial to keeping its hopes alive before closing Phase One against a tough LAFC side.
Querétaro could look to attack quickly in transition and create chances for Ali Ávila and Santiago Homenchenko, but Stefan Frei could prove difficult to beat after making 15 saves in Seattle's opener. Gallos Blancos need to be more clinical in front of goal to come away with a result.
Brian Schmetzer's challenge will be finding a way to generate more scoring opportunities after Seattle managed just two shots on target in their opener. With both sides still searching for their first points, a victory would provide a lifeline heading into their final Phase One match, while another defeat could leave either team on the brink of elimination.
Polymarket gives Seattle Sounders the edge at 50%, compared to 27% for Querétaro, with both teams entering Sunday's matchup in need of a result after opening-match defeats.
