Seattle Sounders' one and only Club World Cup game to date saw them beaten 1-0 by Al Ahly in Ṭangier back in February 2023. Botafogo are set to feature at the tournament for the very first time, but can either make a winning start in the Pacific Northwest?
Botafogo vs Seattle Sounders preview
Seattle Sounders will be backed by over 65,000 supporters throughout their Club World Cup campaign, so can they give their home crowd something to cheer on opening night? I recent years, the Rave Green have been amongst Major League Soccer's most successful clubs, featuring in four of the last nine MLS Cup Finals, capturing the trophy in both 2016 and 2019. The Sounders' qualified for this summer's tournament by winning the CONCACAF Champions League three years ago, smashing Pumas UNAM 5-2 on the final, still the only MLS club to win the tournament since 2001.
Last Sunday though, Brian Schmetzer's side suffered a bit of a confidence-shattering defeat, smashed 3-0 by Cascadia rivals Vancouver Whitecaps at BC Place, seeing Nouhou and then Jon Bell sent off within three minutes of one-another. A week earlier, Seattle had also been beaten 3-2 by Minnesota United at Lumen Field, their first defeat on home turf in any competition since 17 August. This now will be a massive step-up in difficultly level, so can the Sounders upset the odds?
As for Botafogo, 2024 will go down as the most successful year of their entire history, landing their first Brasileirão title for 29 years, having also won the Copa Libertadores for the first time ever, defeating Atlético Mineiro 3-1 at the Monumental last November. Well, since then, Fogo have struggled to live up to those heights. Manager Artur Jorge departed for Al-Rayyan in Qatar while, now under Renato Paiva, they sit sixth in the Brasileirão, despite collecting ten points from their last four league games, most-recently defeating Ceará 3-2 at the Engenhão ten days ago.
At the FIFA Intercontinental Cup last December, Botafogo were embarrassingly smashed 3-0 by Pachuca in Doha, suggesting they're going to struggle at this tournament. Well, with PSG and Atlético Madrid the other two teams in Group B, neither of this duo are forecast to reach the knockout stages, so both will see this fixture at Lumen Field as, by far, their best chance of collecting a victory.
Botafogo vs Seattle Sounders head-to-head record
These two clubs have never previously met.
Botafogo team news
Striker Arthur Cabral is in line to make his Botafogo debut, having arrived from Benfica for a €15 million fee just last week. Similarly, centre-back Kaio and midfielder Álvaro Montoro could also make their first Fogo appearances, joining from Krasnodar and Vélez Sarsfield respectively.
In less good news for manager Renato Paiva, defenders Bastos, Cuiabano, Hugo and Marçal as well as wingers Jeffinho and Matheus Martins all remain injured.
Botafogo predicted lineup vs Seattle Sounders: (4-2-3-1): John; Vitinho, Jair Cunha, Ricardo, Telles; Freitas, Gregore, Artur, Igor Jesus, Savarino; Cabral.
Botafogo player to watch vs Seattle Sounders
Despite the arrival of Cabral, Igor Jesus could remain Fogo's main attacking threat, seeking to add to his seven goals so far in 2025.
Seattle Sounders team news
Brian Schmetzer's team are currently decimated by injuries, without centre-backs Yeimar Gómez Andrade and Kim Kee-hee, as well as wide-attackers Paul Arriola and Jordan Morris; the latter became the Sounders' all-time record goal-scorer earlier this season.
Veteran goalkeeper Stefan Frei will captain the side, his 407th Seattle appearance since arriving in 2013, while Danny Musovski is expected to lead the attack, chosen over Jesús Ferreira, who's not found his best form since joining from FC Dallas in the winter. Elsewhere in the front-line, in the absence of Morris and Arriola, former Rangers winger Ryan Kent will keep his place on the left.
Seattle Sounders predicted lineup vs Botafogo: (4-3-3): Frei; A Roldán, Ragen, Bell, Nouhou; C Roldán, Vargas, Rusnák; de la Vega, Kent, Musovski.
Seattle Sounders player to watch vs Botafogo
Albert Rusnák is the Sounders' top-scorer in 2025 with eight goals, most-recently the match-winner against Dallas last month, so could the Slovakian international be the hero here too?
Botafogo vs Seattle Sounders prediction
Despite having home field advantage, we are backing Botafogo to beat the Sounders in this opener, forecasting that the Brazilian club's quality will come to the fore: Botafogo 2-0 Seattle Sounders.
Botafogo vs Seattle Sounders FAQs - FIFA Club World Cup
How to watch Botafogo vs Seattle Sounders FIFA Club World Cup game on TV channel?
Botafogo vs Seattle Sounders FIFA Club World Cup game will be available on the following TV channels;
- UK: DAZN UK
- USA: DAZN USA.
- Canada: DAZN Canada
How to watch Botafogo vs Seattle Sounders FIFA Club World Cup game on live streaming?
Botafogo vs Seattle Sounders FIFA Club World Cup game will be available on the following streaming services;
- UK: DAZN UK
- USA: DAZN USA.
- Canada: DAZN Canada
What is the date and kick-off time for Botafogo vs Seattle Sounders in the FIFA Club World Cup?
Botafogo vs Seattle Sounders takes place on Sunday 15 June 2025, with kick off at 3:00am (BST), 22:00 (EDT) & 19:00 (PDT).