The Seattle Sounders come into tonight’s Concacaf Champions Cup Round of 16 match riding a 12-game Champions League/Cup unbeaten streak that stretches back to 2020. But this will be arguably the biggest test they’ve faced in that time.

Cruz Azul are coming off an Apertura in which they finished top of the Liga MX table and are currently sixth in the Clausura. They also have one of the most talented teams in the federation, boasting a high-priced roster that is bolstered by several familiar faces.

They are coached by Vicente Sanchez, who is in his first season as manager. He played four seasons in MLS, most recently in 2017.

Notes

This will be the first time the Sounders have played Cruz Azul during the MLS era. The two teams did play in 1997, though, when the Sounders were in the A-League. Cruz Azul won that game, 11-0.
Kalani Kossa-Rienzi has been signed to a second short-term loan and will be eligible for both this game and the LAFC match on Saturday. He can be signed to two more short-term loans, but can only appear in one more MLS game after starting last Saturday against Real Salt Lake. To appear in more games, the Sounders would have to sign him to a first-team contract.
Cruz Azul apparently left several of their top players in Mexico, including former Atlanta United forward Giorgos Giakoumakis.
Among the former MLS players who currently feature for Cruz Azul are Mateusz Bogusz and Omar Campos.
Cruz Azul has won the Concacaf title six times, most recently in 2013-14.

Absences: Injury, international duty and suspension

Seattle

OUT: Reed Baker-Whiting (hamstring)

Cruz Azul

Reportedly did not travel: Erik Lira, Nacho Rivero, Rodolfo Rotondi, Charly Rodríguez, Ángel Sepúlveda and Giorgos Giakoumakis

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Sounders: LWDW
Cruz Azul: DWWLW

Officials

Referee: Julio César de Jesús Luna Guzmán

How to Watch

Match date/kickoff time: Wednesday, 7:30 PM PT

Venue: Lumen Field, Seattle

Streaming English: FoxSports.com

Streaming Spanish: TUDN.com, ViX

English TV: FS2

Spanish TV: TUDN

Is this game available to stream for free? No