Ratings are back! 2026 is our 12th year of rating Sounders soccer.

Seattle started the new season with high expectations, a solid team, and a winnable home match against the Colorado Rapids on opening day. The Sounders were the better team all night, and the 2-0 final scoreline was a good start to the year. But most of the accolades should go to the man of the hour, the main character, the guy everyone wants to talk about after a soccer match: the referee. With some of the most ridiculous displays of inept and overbearing officiating ever seen in MLS, lead referee Malik Badawi and VAR Ramy Touchan dominated the first half. The plethora of poor calls, lengthy delays, and terrible game management made it the longest MLS first half ever, overshadowing both the home team’s excellent performance and the disheartening injury.

Promising: Seattle truly dominated this match, playing through ridiculous circumstances but still creating quality chances and limiting Colorado to nothing. The team depth was tested, and passed the test with flying colors as subs were able to step in and excel. 

Needs work: Needing two first half subs isn’t something you want for your team. One a “non-contact” and...