2023 season | |||
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General manager | Craig Waibel | ||
Head coach | Brian Schmetzer | ||
Stadium | Lumen Field | ||
Major League Soccer | Conference: 2nd Overall: 7th | ||
MLS Cup Playoffs | Conference Semi-finals | ||
U.S. Open Cup | Round of 32 | ||
FIFA Club World Cup | Second round | ||
Leagues Cup | Group stage | ||
Top goalscorer | League: Jordan Morris (11) All: Jordan Morris (14) | ||
Highest home attendance | League: 42,054 (June 3 vs. Portland)[1] | ||
Lowest home attendance | League: 30,011 (Mar. 4 vs. Salt Lake)[1] | ||
Average home league attendance | 32,161[1] | ||
Biggest win | League: 4–0 vs. Colorado (Feb. 26)[1] | ||
Biggest defeat | League: 1–4 at Portland (Apr. 15)[1] | ||
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The 2023 season was the 40th season of Seattle Sounders FC, a professional soccer team based in Seattle, Washington, United States. It was their 15th year in Major League Soccer (MLS), the top flight of American soccer, and the 40th season played by a professional team bearing the Sounders name, which originated in 1974 with the first incarnation of the franchise. The team was under the management of Brian Schmetzer in his seventh full MLS season as head coach of the Sounders.
Seattle had won the 2022 CONCACAF Champions League and qualified for the FIFA Club World Cup, which was played in early February. Following a preseason camp in Spain, the team traveled to Morocco and played Egypt's Al Ahly in the second round, where they lost 1–0. The Sounders returned to the United States and played in the MLS regular season from February to October; they finished second in the Western Conference and qualified for the MLS Cup Playoffs for the first time since the 2021 season. In the playoffs, the Sounders eliminated FC Dallas in a best-of-three series but lost to defending champions Los Angeles FC in the Western Conference Semifinals.
The team entered the 2023 U.S. Open Cup in the third round and defeated San Diego Loyal SC of the USL Championship before losing to the LA Galaxy in the round of 32. The Sounders also played in the 2023 Leagues Cup, which featured every MLS and Liga MX team, and finished third in their group behind CF Monterrey and Real Salt Lake. Jordan Morris led the team in scoring with 14 goals across all competitions. At their home stadium Lumen Field, the Sounders drew an average attendance of 32,161 during the regular season, the third-best figure in MLS.