Seattle Sounders FC becomes first MLS club to win Concacaf Champions League title

NEW YORK – In front of an electric record-setting home crowd of 68,741 at Lumen Field, Seattle Sounders FC defeated Pumas UNAM of Mexico’s LIGA MX to win the 2022 Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League.

The convincing 3-0 win lifted the Sounders over Pumas 5-2 on aggregate in the two-game Final series.

As the top team in the region, the Sounders will represent the Concacaf confederation at the FIFA Club World Cup, where the MLS club will take on the top club teams from around the world, including the winner of the Real Madrid-Liverpool match-up in the UEFA Champions League Final. Recent FIFA Club World Cup winners include Chelsea (2021), Bayern Munich (2020), Liverpool (2019), and Real Madrid (2018). Further details about the FIFA Club World Cup will be announced at a later date.

Behind standout performances from Stefan Frei, Nico Lodeiro, Jordan Morris, Cristian Roldan and Raúl Ruidíaz, the Sounders remained unbeaten in 2022 Champions League action and became just the third different club (fifth team) to go unbeaten in the tournament, joining C.F. Monterrey (2011, 2013, 2021) and Club América (2016). Boasting four clean sheets throughout the tournament, Frei took home Best Goalkeeper honors and was named Best Player in the 2022 Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League.

With the win, the Sounders are the first MLS team to win the Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League after three different MLS clubs have earned spots in the SCCL Final in the last five years.

Match Highlights

45th Minute – Sounders standout Raúl Ruidíaz sends a rocket shot from 16 yards out that ricochets off the defense and into the back of the net for the opening goal of the match. (WATCH)

65th Minute – Jaw-dropping save by Sounders goalkeeper Stefan Frei keeps Pumas off the scoresheet and maintains the Sounders’ 1-0 advantage (WATCH)

80th Minute – Jordan Morris lays the ball back to captain Nico Lodeiro, who finds a wide-open Raúl Ruidíaz. 2-0 Sounders. (WATCH)

88th minute – Lodeiro cleans up a phenomenal shot by Morris after it pings off the post. The goal seals the Sounders championship title. (WATCH)