Brian Schmetzer is aiming for silverware ahead of a busy season for the Seattle Sounders, who open their MLS campaign on Saturday and are building towards the Club World Cup.

Schmetzer is set to start his ninth full season in charge of Seattle on Saturday, when Charlotte FC visit Lumen Field.

The Sounders finished fourth in the Western Conference last year, losing to the eventual MLS Cup winners, the LA Galaxy, in the Western Conference Final.

Schmetzer, who has won three major titles since joining the team in 2016, is aiming to go further this campaign.

"Expectations are always high in Seattle," he told Goal. "We made it to the conference final and were eight minutes away from maybe hosting a final while getting into overtime. 

"Credit to Greg [Vanney] and the Galaxy. Our expectations are always to compete for trophies."

This year will also see Seattle participate in FIFA's first 32-team Club World Cup, with the Sounders playing host to Atletico Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain and Botafogo in June's group stage.

Asked what it will mean to represent the United States at that tournament, Schmetzer said: "Expectations have to be in line. 

"I mean, those are great teams. We want to be competitive. If we could get a result, that would be unbelievable.

"Our league has had unbelievable growth, even since 2009 when the Sounders came in, it's grown exponentially. I think the league wants us to do well.

"So, you know, we are definitely with all of that growth, with the Club World Cup in Seattle, and then the [2026] World Cup in Seattle. It's big."

Charlotte also had a positive first season under Dean Smith in 2024, finishing fifth in the Eastern Conference, only to lose two penalty shoot-outs to Orlando City in the playoffs.

They have brought in Wilfried Zaha in an eye-catching loan move from Galatasaray, also signing former Fulham captain Tim Ream, and are expected to challenge again this term.

PLAYERS TO WATCH 

Seattle Sounders – Albert Rusnak 

Rusnak recorded 16 assists in the 2024 regular season, equalling Nicolas Lodeiro's club record for the Sounders, set back in 2018. 

He recorded primary assists to eight different team-mates last season, tied for the most different team-mates directly assisted across the whole league last season.

Charlotte FC – Patrick Agyemang

Agyemang's 16 goal contributions (10 goals, six assists) in 2024 matched Charlotte's club record Karol Swiderski set in 2022 and matched in 2023. 

Agyemang averaged 0.49 goals per 90 minutes last season, the highest by any Charlotte player that played 1000 or more minutes in a season.

MATCH PREDICTION – SEATTLE SOUNDERS WIN

Charlotte closed the 2024 regular season with four wins and a draw in their last five matches, with the resulting 13 points the most the club has ever recorded in a five-match span. 

The Crown won their last three matches of the regular season and could now make it four straight league wins for the first time in team history.

They face a tough challenge at Lumen Field, however. Seattle lost just two home matches in the 2024 regular season (W8 D7), tied for the second-fewest home defeats in MLS last term behind the LA Galaxy (one). 

Last year marked the sixth time Seattle had lost two or fewer home games over an entire regular season, and they will hope to make their home a fortress again in 2025.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Seattle Sounders – 52.8% 

Charlotte FC – 23%

Draw – 24.1%