Austin FC, Sounders both looking for better performances

Austin FC will look to find their way back to a winning form in their return from the World Cup break when they host the struggling Seattle Sounders on Wednesday.

The Verde (3-7-5, 14 points) will take the pitch for an MLS match for the first time since a 3-0 road loss to St. Louis City on May 23 that extended Austin's streak without a victory to four matches (0-3-1).

The Verde, now under the guidance of interim coach Davy Arnaud, were outscored 12-3 over those four matches and remain near the bottom of the Western Conference standings as well as in both goals scored (19) and goals allowed (31) for the campaign.

"We have to learn from what we did in the first half of the season, and I think we need to take away some of the pain that we've had," Austin goalkeeper Brad Stuver said. "I don't want us to kind of turn the page and say it's a fresh start because we have to live with what we've done (so far)."

During the six-week World Cup break Austin announced that former Philadelphia Union coach Jim Curtin would take over the head coach role at the end at the end of the 2026 season.

The Verde also sent midfielder Dani Pereira, the team's first-ever draft pick and a player with 165 matches across all competitions with Austin on his resume, to CF Montreal in exchange for $2.1 million in guaranteed General Allocation Money.

Things are not much better of late for the Sounders (7-4-3, 24 points), who have dropped three straight matches, including a 5-1 decision at home to Pacific Northwest rival Portland on Thursday in their return from the break.

It was the Sounders' first home match since May 16 due to Lumen Field's role as a host for six World Cup matches.

Only Hassani Dotson's header goal in the 87th minute off a cross from Albert Rusnak kept Seattle from a third consecutive shutout loss. The Sounders have won just once in their past six outings (1-3-2) and have been held to one goal or less in five of those six contests.

Seattle coach Brian Schmetzer said he never saw his team's poor performance coming.

"Not in a million years," Schmetzer said. "I thought we had a good week of training. Thought the guys were all motivated. (We) lacked conviction. Lacked intensity. Lacked smarts. Lacked desire. Something has to change."

Seattle has three wins and a draw in its past five matches with Austin FC, but did fall, 2-1, in the 2025 edition. Wednesday's game is the first of two between the teams this season, with the second on Aug. 19 in the Emerald City.

--Field Level Media