2021 Seattle Sounders FC season

The 2021 Seattle Sounders FC season was the club's thirty-eighth year of existence, and their thirteenth season in Major League Soccer, the top flight of American soccer. The team was under the management of Brian Schmetzer in his fifth full MLS season as head coach of the Sounders. Seattle were the reigning Western Conference champions and lost to Columbus Crew SC in the MLS Cup 3–0.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the capacity of Lumen Field was limited to 7,000 in March and increase in stages. The stadium's full capacity was restored in July with the addition of COVID-19 testing and vaccination requirements.

The Sounders finished second in the Western Conference and qualified for the 2022 CONCACAF Champions League as a result. They were also runners-up in the 2021 Leagues Cup, losing to Club León in the final.

Background
The Sounders lost the MLS Cup at Mapfre Stadium to Columbus Crew SC 3–0. The team is set to play in the Leagues Cup, along with regular MLS and U.S. Open Cup matches.

Summary
The Sounders released or traded several key players, including six who were at the MLS Cup, during the 2020–21 offseason as part of roster moves. The team began their preseason training camp at Starfire Sports in late March and played scrimmages against their USL affiliate, Tacoma Defiance, and the Portland Timbers. A third match against Phoenix Rising FC was cancelled due to the spread of COVID-19 among their players. The Sounders were scheduled to continue their preseason in the Los Angeles area, playing friendlies against USL clubs LA Galaxy II and San Diego Loyal, but remained in Seattle. The team won two friendlies on April 10 against San Diego at Lumen Field, which was open to 200 healthcare workers in attendance.

Coach Brian Schmetzer switched the team from their traditional 4–2–3–1 formation to a 3–5–2 or a 3–4–1–2 to address several roster issues, namely the absence of Jordan Morris and Nicolás Lodeiro due to injuries. The Sounders opened the MLS season by winning or drawing in their first 13 matches—setting an MLS record for the longest unbeaten streak to open a season. A reduced capacity of 7,000 seats was permitted for home matches at Lumen Field; the tickets were primarily distributed to existing season ticket holders.

Appearances and goals
Numbers after plus-sign(+) denote appearances as a substitute.

! colspan=14 style=background:#dcdcdc; text-align:center| Goalkeepers

! colspan=14 style=background:#dcdcdc; text-align:center| Defenders

! colspan=14 style=background:#dcdcdc; text-align:center| Midfielders

! colspan=14 style=background:#dcdcdc; text-align:center| Forwards

! colspan=14 style=background:#dcdcdc; text-align:center| Players transferred/loaned out during the season

[TAC] – Defiance player

Top scorers
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%; text-align: center;" !width=30|Rank !width=30|Position !width=30|Number !width=175|Name !width=75|MLS !width=75|U.S. Open Cup !width=75|Playoffs !width=75|Leagues Cup !width=75|Total
 * 1
 * FW
 * 9
 * align="left"|🇵🇪 Raúl Ruidíaz
 * 17
 * 0
 * 0
 * 2
 * 19
 * rowspan="1"|2
 * FW
 * 12
 * align="left"|🇨🇴 Fredy Montero
 * 7
 * 0
 * 0
 * 1
 * 8
 * rowspan="1"|3
 * MF
 * 7
 * align="left"|🇺🇸 Cristian Roldan
 * 6
 * 0
 * 0
 * 1
 * 7
 * rowspan="2"|4
 * MF
 * 20
 * align="left"|🇫🇷 Nicolas Benezet
 * 3
 * 0
 * 0
 * 1
 * 4
 * DF
 * 94
 * align="left"|🇨🇴 Jimmy Medranda
 * 4
 * 0
 * 0
 * 0
 * 4
 * rowspan="3"|6
 * MF
 * 6
 * align="left"|🇧🇷 João Paulo
 * 3
 * 0
 * 0
 * 0
 * 3
 * DF
 * 11
 * align="left"|🇦🇺 Brad Smith
 * 3
 * 0
 * 0
 * 0
 * 3
 * FW
 * 17
 * align="left"|🇺🇸 Will Bruin
 * 3
 * 0
 * 0
 * 0
 * 3
 * rowspan="1"|9
 * DF
 * 3
 * align="left"|🇪🇨 Xavier Arreaga
 * 2
 * 0
 * 0
 * 0
 * 2
 * rowspan="6"|10
 * MF
 * 10
 * align="left"| Nicolás Lodeiro
 * 0
 * 0
 * 0
 * 1
 * 1
 * DF
 * 16
 * align="left"|🇸🇻 Alex Roldan
 * 1
 * 0
 * 0
 * 0
 * 1
 * MF
 * 22
 * align="left"|🇺🇸 Kelyn Rowe
 * 1
 * 0
 * 0
 * 0
 * 1
 * MF
 * 23
 * align="left"|🇧🇷 Léo Chú
 * 1
 * 0
 * 0
 * 0
 * 1
 * DF
 * 27
 * align="left"|🇺🇸 Shane O'Neill
 * 1
 * 0
 * 0
 * 0
 * 1
 * DF
 * 28
 * align="left"|🇨🇴 Yeimar Gómez Andrade
 * 1
 * 0
 * 0
 * 0
 * 1
 * align="left"|🇺🇸 Shane O'Neill
 * 1
 * 0
 * 0
 * 0
 * 1
 * DF
 * 28
 * align="left"|🇨🇴 Yeimar Gómez Andrade
 * 1
 * 0
 * 0
 * 0
 * 1
 * 1

Top assists
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%; text-align: center;" !width=30|Rank !width=30|Position !width=30|Number !width=175|Name !width=75|MLS !width=75|U.S. Open Cup !width=75|Playoffs !width=75|Leagues Cup !width=75|Total
 * rowspan="1"|1
 * MF
 * 6
 * align="left"|🇧🇷 João Paulo
 * 8
 * 0
 * 0
 * 1
 * 9
 * rowspan="5"|2
 * MF
 * 7
 * align="left"|🇺🇸 Cristian Roldan
 * 1
 * 0
 * 0
 * 2
 * 3
 * DF
 * 11
 * align="left"|🇦🇺 Brad Smith
 * 3
 * 0
 * 0
 * 0
 * 3
 * FW
 * 12
 * align="left"|🇨🇴 Fredy Montero
 * 3
 * 0
 * 0
 * 0
 * 3
 * DF
 * 16
 * align="left"|🇸🇻 Alex Roldan
 * 3
 * 0
 * 0
 * 0
 * 3
 * DF
 * 94
 * align="left"|🇨🇴 Jimmy Medranda
 * 3
 * 0
 * 0
 * 0
 * 3
 * rowspan="1"|7
 * FW
 * 17
 * align="left"|🇺🇸 Will Bruin
 * 2
 * 0
 * 0
 * 0
 * 2
 * rowspan="4"|8
 * DF
 * 5
 * align="left"|🇨🇲 Nouhou
 * 1
 * 0
 * 0
 * 0
 * 1
 * FW
 * 9
 * align="left"|🇵🇪 Raúl Ruidíaz
 * 1
 * 0
 * 0
 * 0
 * 1
 * MF
 * 84
 * align="left"|🇺🇸 Josh Atencio
 * 1
 * 0
 * 0
 * 0
 * 1
 * 1
 * MF
 * 84
 * align="left"|🇺🇸 Josh Atencio
 * 1
 * 0
 * 0
 * 0
 * 1
 * 1

Disciplinary record
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" !width=34; background:#fe9;| !width=34; background:#fe9;|sent off: !width=34; background:#ff8888;|sent off: !width=34; background:#fe9;| !width=34; background:#fe9;|sent off: !width=34; background:#ff8888;|sent off: !width=34; background:#fe9;| !width=34; background:#fe9;|sent off: !width=34; background:#ff8888;|sent off: !width=34; background:#fe9;| !width=34; background:#fe9;|sent off: !width=34; background:#ff8888;|sent off: !width=34; background:#fe9;| !width=34; background:#fe9;|sent off: !width=34; background:#ff8888;|sent off:
 * rowspan="2" !width=15|No.
 * rowspan="2" !width=15|Pos.
 * rowspan="2" !width=120|Player
 * colspan="3"|MLS
 * colspan="3"|U.S. Open Cup
 * colspan="3"|MLS Playoffs
 * colspan="3"|Leagues Cup
 * colspan="3"|Total
 * colspan="3"|Total

!colspan=3|Total !!33!!0!!0!!0!!0!!0!!0!!0!!0!!2!!0!!0!!35!!0!!0
 * 3 || |DF ||align=left|🇪🇨 Xavier Arreaga || |5|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|||0|| |0|| |0|| |5|| |0|| |0
 * 5 || |DF ||align=left|🇨🇲 Nouhou || |2|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|||0|| |0|| |0|| |2|| |0|| |0
 * 6 || |MF ||align=left|🇧🇷 João Paulo || |5|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|||0|| |0|| |0|| |5|| |0|| |0
 * 7 || |MF ||align=left|🇺🇸 Cristian Roldan || |1|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|||0|| |0|| |0|| |1|| |0|| |0
 * 8 || |MF ||align=left|🇲🇶 Jordy Delem || |1|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|||0|| |0|| |0|| |1|| |0|| |0
 * 9 || |FW ||align=left|🇵🇪 Raúl Ruidíaz || |4|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|||0|| |0|| |0|| |4|| |0|| |0
 * 10 || |MF ||align=left| Nicolás Lodeiro || |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|||1|| |0|| |0|| |1|| |0|| |0
 * 11 || |DF ||align=left|🇦🇺 Brad Smith || |1|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|||0|| |0|| |0|| |1|| |0|| |0
 * 16 || |DF ||align=left|🇸🇻 Alex Roldan || |2|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|||0|| |0|| |0|| |2|| |0|| |0
 * 22 || |MF ||align=left|🇺🇸 Kelyn Rowe || |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|||1|| |0|| |0|| |1|| |0|| |0
 * 27 || |DF ||align=left|🇺🇸 Shane O'Neill || |1|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|||0|| |0|| |0|| |1|| |0|| |0
 * 28 || |DF ||align=left|🇨🇴 Yeimar Gómez Andrade || |4|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|||0|| |0|| |0|| |4|| |0|| |0
 * 45 || |MF ||align=left|🇺🇸 Ethan Dobbelaere || |1|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|||0|| |0|| |0|| |1|| |0|| |0
 * 75 || |MF ||align=left|🇺🇸 Danny Leyva || |3|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|||0|| |0|| |0|| |3|| |0|| |0
 * 84 || |MF ||align=left|🇺🇸 Josh Atencio || |1|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|||0|| |0|| |0|| |1|| |0|| |0
 * 94 || |DF ||align=left|🇨🇴 Jimmy Medranda || |1|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|||0|| |0|| |0|| |1|| |0|| |0
 * 98 || |FW ||align=left|🇺🇸 Samuel Adeniran [TAC] || |1|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|||0|| |0|| |0|| |1|| |0|| |0
 * 16 || |DF ||align=left|🇸🇻 Alex Roldan || |2|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|||0|| |0|| |0|| |2|| |0|| |0
 * 22 || |MF ||align=left|🇺🇸 Kelyn Rowe || |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|||1|| |0|| |0|| |1|| |0|| |0
 * 27 || |DF ||align=left|🇺🇸 Shane O'Neill || |1|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|||0|| |0|| |0|| |1|| |0|| |0
 * 28 || |DF ||align=left|🇨🇴 Yeimar Gómez Andrade || |4|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|||0|| |0|| |0|| |4|| |0|| |0
 * 45 || |MF ||align=left|🇺🇸 Ethan Dobbelaere || |1|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|||0|| |0|| |0|| |1|| |0|| |0
 * 75 || |MF ||align=left|🇺🇸 Danny Leyva || |3|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|||0|| |0|| |0|| |3|| |0|| |0
 * 84 || |MF ||align=left|🇺🇸 Josh Atencio || |1|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|||0|| |0|| |0|| |1|| |0|| |0
 * 94 || |DF ||align=left|🇨🇴 Jimmy Medranda || |1|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|||0|| |0|| |0|| |1|| |0|| |0
 * 98 || |FW ||align=left|🇺🇸 Samuel Adeniran [TAC] || |1|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|||0|| |0|| |0|| |1|| |0|| |0
 * 45 || |MF ||align=left|🇺🇸 Ethan Dobbelaere || |1|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|||0|| |0|| |0|| |1|| |0|| |0
 * 75 || |MF ||align=left|🇺🇸 Danny Leyva || |3|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|||0|| |0|| |0|| |3|| |0|| |0
 * 84 || |MF ||align=left|🇺🇸 Josh Atencio || |1|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|||0|| |0|| |0|| |1|| |0|| |0
 * 94 || |DF ||align=left|🇨🇴 Jimmy Medranda || |1|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|||0|| |0|| |0|| |1|| |0|| |0
 * 98 || |FW ||align=left|🇺🇸 Samuel Adeniran [TAC] || |1|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|||0|| |0|| |0|| |1|| |0|| |0
 * 94 || |DF ||align=left|🇨🇴 Jimmy Medranda || |1|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|||0|| |0|| |0|| |1|| |0|| |0
 * 98 || |FW ||align=left|🇺🇸 Samuel Adeniran [TAC] || |1|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|||0|| |0|| |0|| |1|| |0|| |0
 * 98 || |FW ||align=left|🇺🇸 Samuel Adeniran [TAC] || |1|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|||0|| |0|| |0|| |1|| |0|| |0
 * 98 || |FW ||align=left|🇺🇸 Samuel Adeniran [TAC] || |1|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|| |0|||0|| |0|| |0|| |1|| |0|| |0

MLS Team of the Week
Italics indicates MLS Player of the Week

Transfers
For transfers in, dates listed are when Sounders FC officially signed the players to the roster. Transactions where only the rights to the players are acquired are not listed. For transfers out, dates listed are when Sounders FC officially removed the players from its roster, not when they signed with another club. If a player later signed with another club, his new club will be noted, but the date listed here remains the one when he was officially removed from Sounders FC roster.

Draft picks
Draft picks are not automatically signed to the team roster. Only those who are signed to a contract will be listed as transfers in. Only trades involving draft picks and executed after the start of 2021 MLS SuperDraft will be listed in the notes.