Sporting KC vs Seattle Sounders: Kickoff Time, Lineups, Live Stream & MLS Showdown Preview

With the MLS playoff line firmly in sight, Sporting Kansas City head to Lumen Field on Sunday, 24 August 2025, for a prime-time clash with the Seattle Sounders that could redefine the Western Conference picture. Kickoff and How to Watch • Kickoff: 6:15 p.m. PT / 8:15 p.m. CT • Venue: Lumen Field, Seattle, WA • TV & Streaming: FS1 (English), Apple TV MLS Season Pass (English & Spanish) Current Form Seattle (10-7-8, 38 pts) snapped a three-match winless streak last weekend behind a late Jordan Morris winner, keeping Brian Schmetzer’s side clinging to the West’s final home-playoff slot. Sporting KC (9-8-9, 35 pts) arrive unbeaten in five, buoyed by Alan Pulido’s ten-goal summer surge that has vaulted Peter Vermes’ men from 12th to seventh. Injury Report Sounders: João Paulo (knee) and Nouhou (thigh) are listed questionable, while Reed Baker-Whiting remains out. Sporting KC: Johnny Russell is a game-time decision (hamstring); Logan Ndenbe (ACL) is out for the season. Key Match-ups to Watch • Jordan Morris vs. Tim Leibold – Morris’ diagonal runs behind the back line were decisive in May’s 2-1 Sounders win; Leibold must track those inside channels. • Nicolás Lodeiro vs. Nemanja Radoja – The Uruguayan maestro’s freedom to drift centrally will hinge on Radoja’s ball-winning presence. • Alan Pulido vs. Jackson Ragen – Pulido has scored or assisted in seven straight matches; Ragen’s aerial dominance will be tested against Pulido’s clever hold-up play. Historical Edge Seattle own an 11-10-5 advantage all-time and have lost just once to KC at Lumen Field since 2013, but Sporting earned a 3-0 statement win in their previous trip to the Pacific Northwest last September. What’s at Stake Three points could vault the Sounders as high as third, while a KC victory would leapfrog them over Seattle and potentially above LAFC depending on other results. With only six fixtures left, the winner gains a crucial tiebreaker and breathing room above the cut line. Prediction Expect a cagey first half before spaces open after the hour mark. If Russell starts, Sporting’s counter-attack may steal it late; otherwise Seattle’s depth and home crowd tilt the balance. Forecast: Seattle 2, Sporting KC 2 – a draw that keeps the playoff race razor-thin. Fans can still snag limited “2-for-$40” tickets that include hot dogs via SoundersFC.com, but the match is trending toward a sell-out, underscoring just how pivotal “Sporting KC vs Seattle Sounders” has become in the 2025 MLS storyline.