Sounders Beat LAFC 2-1, Clinch Playoff Spot
Seattle secures a wild-card berth on Decision Day with a 2-1 win over Los Angeles FC.
Updated on Nov. 8, 2026 in Soccer
The Seattle Sounders defeated Los Angeles FC 2-1 on Decision Day, clinching a playoff spot. Albert Rusnák scored in the first minute, and Seattle will host Real Salt Lake in the wild-card match.
Why it matters
The result secures Seattle's place in the postseason after a 12-12-10 regular season that finished eighth in the Western Conference. The Sounders have missed the playoffs only once since joining the league in 2009.
Rusnák's opening goal came 51 seconds into the match, and Andrew Thomas made seven saves for Seattle. Seattle now faces Real Salt Lake at home in the wild-card match, with the winner meeting Vancouver in a best-of-three first round.
The players
Seattle Sounders
The Major League Soccer club based in Seattle, which has qualified for the playoffs in most of its seasons since entering the league in 2009.
Los Angeles FC
The Major League Soccer club based in Los Angeles, which finished sixth in the Western Conference this season.
Albert Rusnák
A Slovak midfielder for the Sounders who scored the opening goal and set up a second goal in the match.
The details
Rusnák received a pass from Cristian Roldan and scored early, then set up rookie Sebastian Gomez for a goal in the 31st minute. Eddie Segura scored for LAFC in the 82nd minute, with assists from Ryan Porteous and Leo Walta. Jordan Morris left the match in the 24th minute with a quadriceps injury.
Timeline
Decision Day, November 7, 2026: Seattle clinches a playoff spot with a 2-1 win over LAFC.
2009: The Sounders join the league and have missed the postseason only once since.
2022: Nico Lodeiro scores in 24 seconds for Seattle in a regular-season finale.
Season Trajectory
Seattle's win moves it into the MLS playoff bracket after a middling regular season, keeping its long run of postseason appearances intact. The result also shapes the first-round matchups, with Vancouver awaiting the winner of the wild-card match.
The wild-card match against Real Salt Lake is the Sounders' next game, so fans should note its home-venue date. Fantasy managers should track Jordan Morris's quadriceps injury before setting lineups for that match.
The takeaway
Seattle's postseason berth depends on a wild-card win over Real Salt Lake, and the next result will decide whether it advances to face Vancouver.
What happens next
Seattle hosts Real Salt Lake in the wild-card match, and the winner faces Vancouver in a best-of-three first round.
Further reading
Explore more Soccer coverage for context on Seattle's postseason push.
