Next on the docket in the Concacaf Champions Cup quarterfinals is an away leg in Mexico against a LigaMX Gigante and one of the most Type A teams on the continent: Apertura finalist Tigres. El Volcán has has traditionally swallowed visiting MLS teams whole in this competition. Since Tigres last lifted the Champions Cup title in 2020 by defeating LAFC, they've won every cup series played versus MLS opposition on the back of their home performances, save a low-scoring 2024 bout eventually decided on a shootout to Wilfried Nancy’s Columbus Crew.
Though it has been frustrating to see Seattle largely not in the protagonist role over the start to this 2026 season, with the above frame of reference in mind, you have to think if anything it’s been a positive turn of circumstance that the Sounders have been asked early on to prove they can survive on low possession soccer.
Following a season of often irrational enthusiasm in the attack, the new watch-word for Sounders in 2026 is pragmatism and they’ve returned to being comfortable with a less aggressive approach during this lengthy initial road trip. The home teams have been taking the initiative and so Seattle has been playing majority defense, especially in four of the last five games. To use a concept Timbers beat writer Jeremy Peterman has been harping on lately with regard to his own team of choice, the Box-Tilt has has been heavily leaning against the away team in these recent outings, and no surprise given he dubs Vancouver the “best box-tilt team in the entire league.”
While these tilts do look a bit problematic on their face, the Sounders have been faring a whole lot better than their Cascadia rival in these same situations. In three of the four very high-tilt games, Seattle came out of it with a clean sheet and a win, while only giving up one goal in the other. To frame the year-to-year contrast so far: in MLS, Fotmob had Sounders in 4th for overall opposition box touches in 2025 and just 21st through six gamedays in 2026.
The 2025 MLS Season (left) and the 2026 season (right) ranks for Touches in opposition box for Sounders per Fotmob.
2025 Apertura (left) and 2026 Clausura (right) ranks for Touches in opposition box for Tigres per Fotmob.
Tigres, on the other hand, are third in opposition box touches in LigaMX during the Clausura, only behind their fellow Champions Cup quarterfinalists, and were first by a lot in box touches during the 2025/2026 Apertura. Their uneven Clausura form notwithstanding, Tigres are absolutely going to be up in the Sounders business. We all saw what just happened to FC Cincinnati.
Though the tables above do not look promising from an attacking balance standpoint, Seattle has been surprisingly effective in making the most of the few opportunities they have been afforded this year. (Notably not showing on the official stat sheets are a number of called-off Sounders goals that I vehemently disagree with and which I am counting in the below analysis of the threat they’ve brought to bear.)
Paul Rothrock in particular has been lethal in 2026, with five goals in seven appearances across all competitions. Five of Rothrock’s six shots in MLS have been on target and he has three goals to show for it. Game-winning goals. Six shots with an average .14 xG certainly is up for Paul, but really it’s the finishing that is staggering. In CCC from 3 shots, two were on target and both of those were scored. Count it up – that’s five goals from nine shots. Again: 5 goals from 9 shots, 7 on target. Bonkers.
