If you asked any Minnesota United fan back in 2023 about playing the Seattle Sounders, they’d probably just sigh and look at the floor. For years, this matchup wasn't even a rivalry. It was a beatdown. Seattle basically treated the Loons like a three-point ATM.
Then 2025 happened.
Honestly, the shift we’ve seen in the Seattle Sounders vs Minnesota United dynamic is one of the weirdest storylines in MLS right now. We went from a decade of "Seattle always wins" to a 2025 season where Minnesota didn't just compete—they actually became the Sounders' biggest headache. They beat them at Lumen Field. They beat them at Allianz. And then, in a postseason series that felt like a fever dream, they knocked the Rave Green out of the playoffs in a 10-round penalty shootout.
It’s personal now.
The Night the Script Flipped
To understand why the 2026 matches matter so much, you have to look at the wreckage of November 8, 2025. Game 3 of the Best-of-3 playoff series.
Seattle came out like they were going to end the "Minnesota resurgence" before it even started. Albert Rusnák scored in the fifth minute. Danny Musovski scored in the eighth. 2-0 Seattle before most fans had even found their seats at Allianz Field. In the old days, that was game over. Minnesota would have folded.
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But this version of the Loons, led by Joaquín Pereyra and a weirdly resilient defense, didn't blink. Pereyra curled a free kick into the side netting at the 19-minute mark to make it 2-1. By the 71st minute, Anthony Markanich headed home a corner to give Minnesota a 3-2 lead. It was a total collapse of the Sounders' defensive structure.
Then, because Jordan Morris does Jordan Morris things, he stabbed home an equalizer in the 88th minute. 3-3. Pure chaos.
The 10-Round Shootout Trauma
Brian Schmetzer did something gutsy right before the whistle. He subbed out the legendary Stefan Frei for Andrew Thomas, the penalty specialist.
It almost worked. Thomas made massive saves, including one on Markanich in the seventh round of the shootout. But the Sounders couldn't close the door. Obed Vargas hit the post. Osaze De Rosario had his attempt saved. Eventually, Thomas himself had to step up to the spot and put his attempt off the crossbar.
Minnesota won the shootout 7-6.
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That loss didn't just end Seattle's 2025 season; it felt like it broke the aura of invincibility the Sounders had over this specific opponent. Before 2025, Seattle was 15-1-3 against Minnesota. After that season? The Loons had effectively doubled their all-time win count against the Rave Green in a single calendar year.
Tactical Breakdown: Possession vs. "The Interrupt"
When you watch Seattle Sounders vs Minnesota United play today, you’re watching two completely different philosophies of soccer.
Seattle is the "Control Freak" of the Western Conference. They want the ball. In their playoff games against Minnesota, they often hovered around 70% possession. They rank in the 85th percentile for expected goals ($xG$) and passes into the final third. They try to suffocate you.
Minnesota, on the other hand, has leaned into being the "Chaos Agent." They are below average in possession—sometimes dipping into the 3rd percentile—but they are elite at "interrupting play." We're talking about a team in the 93rd percentile for tackles, interceptions, and blocks.
- Seattle's Strategy: Build through Albert Rusnák and Cristian Roldan, find Jordan Morris on the move, and wait for the defensive crack.
- Minnesota's Strategy: Sit deep, let Seattle have the ball, and wait for Yeimar or Nouhou to make a mistake.
It’s basically a chess match where one player has all the pieces (Seattle) and the other player (Minnesota) is just waiting to flip the table.
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Key Names to Watch in 2026
If you're heading to Lumen Field or Allianz this season, these are the guys driving the bus.
- Jordan Morris (SEA): He’s still the most dangerous man on the pitch. With 11 career playoff goals, he's the active leader in MLS. Minnesota struggled to track his late runs into the box all through 2025.
- Joaquín Pereyra (MIN): The Argentine midfielder has been a revelation. His ability to deliver a dead ball—like that free kick in Game 3—is the reason Minnesota stays in games they have no business winning.
- Obed Vargas (SEA): The kid is growing up fast. He scored a brace in the 4-2 win over Minnesota in Game 2 of the 2025 playoffs. He's becoming the engine of the Sounders' midfield, but he still carries the weight of that missed penalty in the shootout.
- Dayne St. Clair (MIN): You can't talk about this matchup without mentioning the keeper. St. Clair has gone from being a punching bag for the Sounders to a wall they can't seem to get over.
Why the "Rivalry" Label is Finally Real
For a long time, Sounders fans laughed at the idea of this being a rivalry. "It’s not a rivalry if we always win," was the common refrain.
Well, the laughter stopped in 2025.
Minnesota was the only team to beat Seattle at Lumen Field in the 2025 regular season. They took the season series. They took the playoff series. There is real friction now. When Joseph Rosales headbutted Jesús Ferreira in the 41st minute of that deciding Game 3, it was clear the "nice guy" era of the Loons was over.
Actionable Insights for Fans
If you're following the Seattle Sounders vs Minnesota United fixtures this season, keep these three things in mind:
- Watch the First 15 Minutes: Seattle has a weird habit of scoring early against Minnesota (5th and 8th minutes in the last two meetings). If Minnesota survives the first 20 minutes without conceding, the odds of an upset skyrocket.
- The "Throw-In" Factor: Minnesota's second goal in the Game 3 comeback came from a simple short throw-in that Seattle's defense fell asleep on. Watch how Michael Boxall uses restarts to bypass the Sounders' structured defense.
- Home Field (Doesn't) Matter: Interestingly, the away team has been incredibly successful lately. Don't assume a Seattle win just because they're at Lumen Field.
The next time these two meet—March 22 at Allianz and September 26 at Lumen—it won't be about historical dominance anymore. It’ll be about whether Seattle can reclaim their throne or if Minnesota has truly moved past their "little brother" status for good.
Next Steps for 2026:
Keep an eye on the injury report for Albert Rusnák. Seattle's entire creative output drops significantly when he's sidelined, and Minnesota’s compact "interrupt" style is designed specifically to capitalize on a stagnant midfield. If Rusnák isn't 100%, the Loons will likely play even more aggressively in the counterattack.