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Seattle Sounders vs New York Red Bulls match preview: kick-off, venue & predictions

The next Seattle Sounders match sees them host New York Red Bulls in Major League Soccer action at Lumen Field. This cross-conference clash in the Regular Season - 23 round is scheduled for 2026-09-06T00:30:00Z, with the fixture currently listed as Not Started. Fans searching for when Seattle Sounders play next can circle this date as a key moment in their push up the Western Conference.

This Seattle Sounders vs New York Red Bulls preview comes at a time when both sides sit on 26 points in their respective conferences, but with contrasting recent form. Seattle are looking to halt a poor run and climb from 12th in the Western Conference, while New York Red Bulls arrive as 8th in the Eastern Conference, currently in a spot described as Promotion - MLS (Play Offs: 1/16-finals). With both teams trying to solidify their postseason ambitions, the points on offer at Lumen Field could prove crucial.

Match details: date, kick-off & venue

  • Competition: Major League Soccer, Regular Season - 23
  • Date / Kick-off: 2026-09-06T00:30:00Z
  • Venue: Lumen Field, Seattle
  • Status: Not Started (Fixture has not started yet)

Standings & form

Seattle Sounders come into this fixture sitting 12th in the Western Conference with 26 points from 21 matches. Their overall record stands at 7 wins, 5 draws and 9 defeats, with 24 goals scored and 29 conceded, giving a goal difference of -5. At Lumen Field, Seattle have played 10 home games, winning 4, drawing 2 and losing 4, with a home goal tally of 16 for and 18 against. Recent form is a concern: their latest five-game league sequence reads DDLLL, underlining the need for a response in front of their own supporters.

New York Red Bulls travel west as 8th in the Eastern Conference, also on 26 points but from 22 matches. Their record is 7 wins, 5 draws and 10 losses, with 32 goals scored and 46 conceded, resulting in a goal difference of -14. Away from home, the Red Bulls have played 10 times, winning 3, drawing 2 and losing 5, scoring 14 and conceding 23 on their travels. Their recent league form string is LDLLW, showing a much-needed win last time out after a difficult stretch.

From a season-statistics perspective, Seattle have managed 5 clean sheets so far (1 at home, 4 away) and have failed to score in 5 matches. They have also converted 2 penalties from 2, maintaining a 100% record from the spot. New York Red Bulls, meanwhile, have recorded 1 clean sheet this season and have failed to score 5 times. They have been awarded 1 penalty, which they also converted. Discipline could be notable: Seattle’s yellow cards are spread across the 90 minutes, while New York Red Bulls show a heavy concentration of bookings between minutes 76–90, and they have received 2 red cards this season.

Head-to-head

  • 2023-05-28T02:30:00Z: Seattle Sounders 1–0 New York Red Bulls (Major League Soccer)
  • 2019-09-15T22:00:00Z: Seattle Sounders 4–2 New York Red Bulls (Major League Soccer)
  • 2018-06-14T00:00:00Z: New York Red Bulls 2–1 Seattle Sounders (Major League Soccer)
  • 2017-03-19T23:00:00Z: Seattle Sounders 3–1 New York Red Bulls (Major League Soccer)
  • 2016-06-19T23:30:00Z: New York Red Bulls 2–0 Seattle Sounders (Major League Soccer)
  • 2015-05-31T21:00:00Z: Seattle Sounders 2–1 New York Red Bulls (Major League Soccer)
  • 2014-09-20T23:30:00Z: New York Red Bulls 4–1 Seattle Sounders (Major League Soccer)
  • 2013-09-30T01:00:00Z: Seattle Sounders 1–1 New York Red Bulls (Major League Soccer)
  • 2012-07-15T20:10:00Z: New York Red Bulls 2–2 Seattle Sounders (Major League Soccer)

The head-to-head record between these sides in Major League Soccer has been competitive, with both clubs enjoying home success. At Lumen Field and CenturyLink Field, Seattle Sounders have recorded several wins, including a 1–0 victory in 2023 and a 4–2 win in 2019. New York Red Bulls, however, have responded with strong results at Red Bull Arena, such as the 2–0 success in 2016 and a 4–1 win in 2014. Draws have also featured, notably the 1–1 in Seattle in 2013 and the 2–2 in New Jersey in 2012, suggesting that tight contests are common when these teams meet.

Team news & absences

Seattle Sounders have a lengthy list of concerns ahead of this fixture. J. Ferreira (Injury), Y. Gomez Andrade (Muscle Injury), N. Petkovic (Knee Injury), J. Ragen (Knee Injury) and P. de La Vega (Calf Injury) are all listed as Missing Fixture for this match. In addition, P. Arriola (Calf Injury) and X. Gnaulati (Injury) are marked as Questionable, giving the hosts significant team news issues to monitor.

For New York Red Bulls, A. Marcucci (Knee Injury) is ruled out as a Missing Fixture. R. Mosquera is listed as Questionable with a thigh injury, which could affect the visitors’ options depending on late fitness assessments.

Key players to watch

  • A. Rusnák (Seattle Sounders) — A creative presence in midfield, Rusnák has contributed 3 goals and 7 assists in the 2026 Major League Soccer season, making him a central figure in Seattle’s attacking play at Lumen Field.

Prediction

The data-driven model leans slightly towards the hosts in this Seattle Sounders vs New York Red Bulls prediction. The probabilities stand at 35% home win, 35% draw and 30% away win, with the advice listed as: "Double chance : Seattle Sounders or draw". That reflects Seattle’s generally solid home record and positive head-to-head results in Seattle, balanced against their recent poor form and a long injury list, while acknowledging that New York Red Bulls retain a realistic chance of taking something from this cross-conference encounter.

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