This will be the first ever meeting between Seattle and Nashville in MLS. These two clubs are the only teams who have never missed the playoffs in their MLS histories.
The Sounders have won their last three season opening games, all at home, by a combined score of 10-2, including a 4-0 win over Minnesota United to open last season. Entering this season, the only team with a longer active opening match winning streak is LAFC, who has won four straight season openers.
Nashville tied an MLS record with just four defeats in 2021 while it also tied an MLS record for draws in a season with 18, equaling the Fire in 2014. Nashville also became the first team in MLS history to advance at least one round in the playoffs in each of their first two seasons in the league.
Raúl RuidÃaz scored 17 times last season, equaling the single regular season club record set by Obafemi Martins in 2014. Twelve of those 17 goals were scored in the second half, tied with Chicharito for the most goals after halftime in MLS in 2021.
Hany Mukhtar led MLS with 28 goal contributions during the 2021 regular season, finishing in the top five in both goals (16 – T5) and assists (12 – T4). Including his two postseason goals, Mukhtar scored five of Nashville’s last six goals last season.
