Seattle-based professional soccer team set out to make history in early February as they became the first American team in history to qualify for the Club World Cup (CWC) that was held in Morocco this year. The coveted tournament, which usually takes place in December, was pushed back to February this year due to the World Cup happening in December.
The CWC brings together the club champions of all continents, and throughout the years has produced some of the most exciting games in the sport.
The Seattle Sounders earned the opportunity to participate in the world-renowned tournament via their victory in the CONCACAF Champions League, which was the first time a Major League Soccer (MLS) team accomplished such a feat.
The Sounders, led by coach B.Schmetzer, faced Egyptian powerhouse Al Ahly and came short of victory due to a dramatic 88th-minute goal by Al Ahly icon Mohamad Magdy.
Seattle’s run in the CWC ended the same day it began, and the loss means they will miss out on the chance of playing Spanish side Real Madrid in the semifinal.
Seattle made history nonetheless by making it to where they did. There is a long way to go before an American team can win the Club World Cup but the Sounders showed the world that America can be competitive in the world’s biggest stage.