The Seattle Sounders were crowned champions of the third edition of the Leagues Cup on Sunday, following an impressive 3-0 victory over a resilient Inter Miami at Lumen Field in Seattle.
From the very beginning, the home side set the tone: in the 26th minute, Osaze De Rosario opened the scoring with a precise header after a cross from Álex Roldán. Colombian striker Jesús Ferreira nearly extended the lead in the 40th minute, but his shot hit the right post.
The second half kept the same intensity. Lionel Messi and his teammates had several clear chances to equalize, but their attempts went off target. Even Luis Suárez and Carlos Allende squandered excellent opportunities in the 49th and 60th minutes, respectively. It was finally Álex Roldán who sealed the win by converting a penalty in the 84th minute after a foul inside the box. The finishing touch came in the 89th minute when Paul Rothrock scored the third goal with a powerful strike across the area.
This victory not only gave Seattle the title but also secured their direct qualification to the Round of 16 of the 2026 Concacaf Champions Cup. Inter Miami, despite the defeat, also earned a spot in the tournament, along with LA Galaxy, who had earlier beaten Orlando City 2-1 in the third-place match.
What does this title mean for Seattle Sounders’ continental ambitions?
With their ticket guaranteed for the Concacaf Champions Cup, the win significantly boosts their international projection and reinforces their status as one of MLS’s most competitive clubs on the continental stage.
