Seattle Sounders Eliminate Vancouver Whitecaps FC from Concacaf Champions Cup

Sounders advance to quarterfinals with 5-1 aggregate victory over Cascadia rivals

Mar. 19, 2026 at 5:52am

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The Seattle Sounders FC defeated the Vancouver Whitecaps FC 5-1 on aggregate in the Concacaf Champions Cup Round of 16, following a 2-1 second-leg victory on Wednesday in Spokane. The Sounders, who won 3-0 in the first leg at BC Place, will now face either FC Cincinnati or Tigres UANL in the quarterfinals next month.

Why it matters

The Concacaf Champions Cup is a prestigious international club football competition featuring the top teams from North America, Central America, and the Caribbean. The elimination of the Vancouver Whitecaps, a long-time Cascadia rival of the Sounders, marks a significant milestone for Seattle as they continue their quest for the continental title.

The details

In the second leg, the Sounders nearly put the tie to bed within the first minute as Albert Rusnák had a close-range opportunity, but sent his finish wide. The Whitecaps responded by growing into the game, resulting in their lone goal via Jeevan Badwal's guided curler from the top of the box. However, pressure mounted in the second half as Vancouver threw numbers forward, allowing Seattle to slam the door shut with a pair of goals at the other end.

  • The first leg was played at BC Place on March 15, 2026, where the Sounders won 3-0.
  • The second leg was played on March 18, 2026 in Spokane, Washington.

The players

Seattle Sounders FC

A professional soccer club based in Seattle, Washington that competes in Major League Soccer (MLS).

Vancouver Whitecaps FC

A professional soccer club based in Vancouver, British Columbia that also competes in MLS, and is a long-time rival of the Seattle Sounders.

Albert Rusnák

A Slovakian midfielder who plays for the Seattle Sounders.

Jeevan Badwal

A Canadian midfielder who plays for the Vancouver Whitecaps.

Stefan Frei

A Swiss-American goalkeeper who plays for the Seattle Sounders.

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What’s next

The Seattle Sounders will face either FC Cincinnati or Tigres UANL in the Concacaf Champions Cup quarterfinals next month.

The takeaway

The Seattle Sounders' victory over their Cascadia rivals, the Vancouver Whitecaps, demonstrates their continued dominance in the region and their ambition to win the prestigious Concacaf Champions Cup title.