For the first time since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic in March 2020, the Seattle Sounders will be playing in front of a crowd without physical-distancing or vaccine requirements. While it probably won’t be quite at pre-pandemic size, there should be close to 30,000 people in attendance to see them take on the Houston Dynamo.

The Sounders have a chance to set the MLS record for longest unbeaten streak to start a season, which currently sits at 12. This is a game the Sounders should feel as though they can win.

Not only are the Sounders near the top of MLS in just about every metric, but the Dynamo are closer to the bottom in most categories. Houston is particularly bad on advanced metrics, where they rank dead last in Expected Goal-Difference per 90 (-.59).

Both teams are coming off short rest, although the Dynamo do have an extra day after tying FC Cincinnati at home on Saturday.

Notes

• Sounders are riding a seven-game winning streak against the Dynamo, which includes a pair of wins in the 2017 MLS Cup playoffs. The Sounders are 8-0-2 against the Dynamo at home. The last time the Dynamo got a result in Seattle was a 0-0 draw in 2016.
• The Dynamo come into this game on a four-game unbeaten streak, but all of those are draws.
• The Dynamo are currently 0-3-3 on the road, a continuation of struggles away from home that date to at least 2013. Over their last eight seasons, they’ve won more than two road games only once, and they won three that year.

Liveblog

Absences: Injury, international duty and suspension

Seattle:

OUT: Jordan Morris (ACL injury); Jordy Delem (right ACL tear); Stefan Frei (left knee sprain); Nicolas Lodeiro (right knee surgery); Cristian Roldan (international duty); Will Burin (knee surgery); Shane O’Neill (hip flexor strain); Nouhou (adductor strain).

Xavier Arreaga is one caution away from a suspension for yellow-card accumulation.

Houston:

OUT: Ariel Lassiter (international duty); Darwin Ceren (international duty); Tyler Pasher (international duty); Boniek Garcia (international duty); Maynor Figueroa (international duty)

QUESTIONABLE: Ethan Bartlow (right thigh strain)

Officials

Referee: Robert Sibiga; Assistants: Chris Elliott, Diego Blas; Fourth Official: Lukasz Szpala; VAR: Sorin Stoica; Assistant VAR: Joshua Patlak

How to Watch

Match date/kickoff time: Wednesday, 6:08 PM PT

Venue: Lumen Field, Seattle

Online Streaming: Amazon Prime (affiliate link, in-market), ESPN+ (affiliate link, out of market), Locast.org

Local English TV: JOEtv (Costigan, Zakuani, Frei)

Local Radio: 950 KJR-AM Seattle (Costigan, Zakuani, Frei)

Local Spanish Radio: El Rey 1360 AM (Rodriguez, Maqueda, Tapia)

Local Spanish TV: KUNS-TV Univision-Seattle

INTERNATIONAL BROADCAST INFORMATION

China: China Sports Media (CSM)

Czech Republic: Nova Sport

Georgia: Silk Sport

Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy & Spain: DAZN (Europe)

India: Discovery Eurosport

Israel: Charlton

Latin America (excl. Brazil): ESPN Latin America

Russia: Okko Sport

Southeast Asia & O ceania: beIN Sports

Taiwan: Sportcast

United Kingdom & Ireland: Sky Sports

Lineups

Highlights will be posted as the match progresses.

This is Seattle Sounders vs. Houston Dynamo; watch with us