It’s finally time for MLS to take part in the world’s biggest international club tournament.
The Sounders, winners of the 2022 Concacaf Champions League, take on Egyptian side Al Ahly on Saturday in the second round of the Club World Cup.
Seattle reached the competition, which is being staged in Morocco, by beating Liga MX side Pumas in the Concacaf Champions League final last May. It became the first MLS team to win the continental title in the tournament’s 14th iteration.
Now, with a chance to play Spanish giant Real Madrid on the line, it faces the Egyptian Premier League’s most storied side. Al Ahly is making its third straight appearance at the Club World Cup after it qualified by placing second in the CAF Champions League. The 42-time domestic champion has grabbed third in this competition three times, most recently in 2021.
Al Ahly has a distinct advantage in form. The Sounders haven’t played a competitive match since their MLS season ended without a playoff appearance in early September. Al Ahly, in the middle of its club season, hasn’t lost a match since August and is unbeaten in league play this season.
The winner of Saturday’s matchup moves on to face Real Madrid in the semifinal.
Follow along here for live updates and highlights of goals and key plays from throughout the match (refresh for most recent updates).