Soccer
Brian Schmetzer believes the Seattle Sounders need reinforcements in the transfer market to end their historic seven-game losing streak in MLS, ahead of hosting Austin FC.
Seattle were beaten 2-0 by their Cascadia Cup rivals, the Vancouver Whitecaps, on Saturday, to extend their losing run to seven consecutive games.
It is their longest regular-season losing run and the worst by any MLS team in 2026, with the last longer one being an eight-game drought by Nashville SC in 2024.
Seattle face a swift turnaround ahead of their next game, taking on Austin – who are second from bottom in the Western Conference and under the management of interim head coach Davy Arnaud – at Lumen Field on Wednesday.
Asked if 19-year-old striker Mark Bronnik could be a solution for Seattle, Schmetzer said they needed more and admitted general manager Craig Waibel and majority owner Adrian Hanauer are feeling the heat.
“As far as Craig and Adrian feeling the pressure… yeah, they feel it,” Schmetzer said. “I don’t need to say anything.
“We need a little bit more. Bronnik is a nice kid… I know who he is. He’s got some good starting points, he’s a good young talent, but [MLS] is a bit much of a jump, in my opinion.”
Defender Alex Roldan added: “It’s a tough moment for us right now.
“I think at the end of the day, we as a team still need to stick together, and I think that’s what we’re trying to do right now.
“This club has high expectations; the city, the fans have high expectations, and we’re not meeting them right now. The fans in the city don’t deserve this. We need to look at ourselves and do a better job.”
Seattle are 11th in the Western Conference with 24 points from 18 matches, putting them one point outside the wild-card spots.
Final. pic.twitter.com/uz2MECUS2C
— Seattle Sounders FC (@SoundersFC) August 17, 2026
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Seattle Sounders – Paul Rothrock
Rothrock’s five goals in MLS play this year are the most by a Seattle player, and his expected goals overperformance (netting those goals from 2.6 xG) is also a team-best figure.
He also boasts the best conversion rate for the Sounders, at 21.7%, ahead of Cristian Roldan’s 18.8%.
Austin FC – Christian Ramirez
Austin’s last goal on the road came on May 10, when Ramirez netted an equaliser in a 2–2 draw with Minnesota United.
The Verde’s four straight away matches without a goal is their longest-ever road stretch without a goal. Can Ramirez be the man to end their drought?
MATCH PREDICTION – SEATTLE SOUNDERS WIN
Despite Seattle’s terrible form, the Opta supercomputer makes them clear favourites for victory in this one.
That could be due to the fact Austin are also going through a dismal run. They have lost six of their last seven MLS games, though their only victory in that stretch came 3-1 against the Sounders, in their first match back after the World Cup.
Their three goals in that game were more than they have scored in their six other MLS matches since mid-May (two goals).
Wednesday’s game will be the fifth time in the last six MLS matches that Seattle has faced a team with an interim manager.
The Sounders have lost all four games against interim head coaches in that stretch, after they had lost just five of 30 all-time MLS meetings with interims prior to that (W14 D11). But they will hope to get back to winning ways here.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Seattle Sounders – 59.5%
Austin FC – 19.5%
Draw – 21%
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