Sounders, who have hole in midfield, open vs. Rapids

Seattle—The Seattle Sounders will kick off their 2026 MLS campaign on Sunday against the Colorado Rapids with a retooled midfield and, possibly, a new goalkeeper, after a winter that saw one of the league’s most stable lineups lose a rising star.

Twenty-year-old central midfielder Obed Vargas, a homegrown engine who helped the Sounders finish 15-9-10 (55 pts) and fifth in the Western Conference last year, was sold to Atlético Madrid earlier this month after the Spanish giants made an offer the club “couldn’t refuse.” The departure leaves a conspicuous hole in the center of Brian Schmetzer’s 4-2-3-1, one likely to be filled by Seattle-area native Hassani Dotson, who arrives after seven seasons with Minnesota United.

Dotson’s insertion is the most significant change to a roster that otherwise retains veteran pillars Jordan Morris and Cristian Roldan, the latter eyeing a place on the U.S. World Cup roster this summer. “The fun begins,” Roldan said after training this week. “I think we’re all excited for the real games to come.”

Between the posts, Andrew Thomas—hero of last summer’s Leagues Cup triumph in which he blanked Lionel Messi and Inter Miami in the final—appears poised to usurp 39-year-old stalwart Stefan Frei. Thomas was named goalkeeper of the tournament and gives Seattle a younger, if less experienced, last line of defense as it tries to return to the conference semifinals for the first time since 2023.

The Rapids, who missed the playoffs in 2025, arrive at Lumen Field under new leadership. Englishman Matt Wells, most recently an assistant at Tottenham Hotspur, was hired to replace the departed coaching staff and inherits a squad that finished 11-15-8 (41 pts). Wells traded creative midfielder Cole Bassett to Portland but still counts on Paxten Aaronson, defenders Sam Vines and Reggie Cannon, goalkeeper Zack Steffen, and leading scorer Rafael Navarro, who tallied 12 goals and five assists last year. Navarro set the tone for the new era: “Win everything except the Fair Play Award.”

Seattle took two penalty-kick losses at Minnesota in last season’s first-round exit and will look to avoid a repeat of that heartbreak beginning Sunday against a Rapids side eager to spring an opening-day surprise.

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