The 2017 MLS schedule pits a rematch of MLS Cup 2016 on Saturday May 6th at 1 PM (ESPN) when Seattle Sounders host Toronto FC. Seattle will be on national TV 12 times (ESPN 6 times, FS1 5 times, one time on FOX and none on UniMas) in 2017. The season starts with two road games (at Houston on March 4 and at Montreal on the 11th). It ends with a playoff run-in of sorts. The Sounders will play on zero dates during CONCACAF World Cup Qualifying.
The home opener is Sunday March 19th. Season ticket holders have a special presale code to buy additional tickets to what looks to be a nearly full stadium match.
Although all of MLS will break for the Gold Cup group stage, the Sounders are likely to play three games in July without their national team players.. The 4th of July match at Colorado will likely be short players who are already with their national teams as the tournament starts three days later and home games against D.C. United (July 19) and San Jose Earthquakes (July 23) will be during the knockout rounds.
Seattle first match against Atlanta United will be at home March 31. They visit the other expansion team on Aug. 5 and then host Minnesota United on Aug. 20.
Cascadia Cup action features the Sounders going on the road to Portland Timbers once, on Sunday June 25. The Sounders host Portland Saturday May 25 and Sunday Aug. 27. The matches against Vancouver Whitecaps are away on Friday April 14th, away on Wednesday Aug. 23 and at home on Wednesday Sept. 27.
Most of 2017’s matches are on Saturdays with 14 being played then. Sounders play seven midweek games, six of those are on Wednesdays and the other is on the Fourth of July. Neither of their Friday matches are on national TV. The other 11 games are on Sunday.
Sounders 2017 Schedule
| DAY | DATE | OPPONENT | KICKOFF (PT) / NATIONAL TV |
|---|---|---|---|
| DAY | DATE | OPPONENT | KICKOFF (PT) / NATIONAL TV |
| Saturday | March 4 | at Houston Dynamo | 5:30 p.m. |
| Saturday | March 11 | at Montreal Impact | 4:00 p.m. |
| Sunday | March 19 | New York Red Bulls | 4:00 p.m. / FS1 |
| Friday | March 31 | Atlanta United FC | 7:00 p.m. / FS1 |
| Saturday | April 8 | at San Jose Earthquakes | 7:30 p.m. |
| Friday | April 14 | at Vancouver Whitecaps FC | TBD |
| Sunday | April 23 | at LA Galaxy | 1:00 p.m. / ESPN |
| Saturday | April 29 | New England Revolution | 7:00 p.m. |
| Saturday | May 6 | Toronto FC | 1:00 p.m. / ESPN |
| Saturday | May 13 | at Chicago Fire | 5:30 p.m. |
| Wednesday | May 17 | at Sporting Kansas City | 5:30 p.m. |
| Saturday | May 20 | Real Salt Lake | 2:00 p.m. |
| Saturday | May 27 | Portland Timbers | 12:00 p.m. / FOX |
| Wednesday | May 31 | at Columbus Crew SC | 4:30 p.m. |
| Sunday | June 4 | Houston Dynamo | 7:00 p.m. |
| Saturday | June 17 | at New York City FC | 10:00 a.m. / ESPN |
| Wednesday | June 21 | Orlando City SC | 7:30 p.m. |
| Sunday | June 25 | at Portland Timbers | 1:00 p.m. / ESPN |
| Tuesday | July 4 | at Colorado Rapids | 6:00 p.m. |
| Wednesday | July 19 | D.C. United | 7:30 p.m. |
| Sunday | July 23 | San Jose Earthquakes | 7:00 p.m. |
| Saturday | July 29 | at LA Galaxy | TBD / ESPN |
| Saturday | August 5 | at Minnesota United FC | 5:00 p.m. |
| Saturday | August 12 | Sporting Kansas City | 1:00 p.m. |
| Sunday | August 20 | Minnesota United FC | 7:00 p.m. / FS1 |
| Wednesday | August 23 | at Vancouver Whitecaps FC | TBD |
| Sunday | August 27 | Portland Timbers | 6:30 p.m. / FS1 |
| Sunday | September 10 | LA Galaxy | 6:00 p.m. / FS1 |
| Saturday | September 16 | at FC Dallas | 5:00 p.m. |
| Saturday | September 23 | at Real Salt Lake | 6:30 p.m. |
| Wednesday | September 27 | Vancouver Whitecaps FC | TBD |
| Sunday | October 1 | at Philadelphia Union | 10:00 a.m. / ESPN |
| Sunday | October 15 | FC Dallas | 2:00 p.m. |
| Sunday | October 22 | Colorado Rapids | 1:00 p.m. |
It remains unclear how CONCACAF Champions League will work this year, but Seattle could have more midweek games added for that tournament as well as the U.S. Open Cup.
The season ends with Seattle having three of their final four matches at home. As last year, the final two weeks of the regular season will feature flex scheduling for the TV partners. Every Eastern Conference match will start at Noon Pacific with every Western Conference match at 2 PM during the penultimate match day. On Decision Day every game will start at the same time.