Botafogo v Seattle Sounders: Line-ups, stats and preview

Botafogo v Seattle Sounders match preview

MLS side Seattle Sounders will target their first ever win in the competition when they take on reigning Brazilian champions Botafogo in the opening game of the 2025 Fifa Club World Cup for both teams on Monday.

“It’s a tournament with all the best teams around the world, so it’s quite exciting,” said Sounders winger Ryan Kent, who joined the team in March.

“If you ever want to win trophies, you have to approach every game like it’s a final. You have to set a good tempo to the start of the tournament and get off to a good start, showing other teams that you’re not just here to take part.”

With matches against European giants Atletico Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain to come in Group B, there could be a particular imperative on both teams to win at Seattle’s Lumen Field home.

The Sounders had been nine games unbeaten at home in all competitions since the start of the season – including six wins – before a 3-2 defeat to Western Conference high-flyers Minnesota United on June 1.

Botafogo suffered only five defeats on their way to finishing six points above second-placed Palmeiras in Serie A last year, but the Rio team have been beaten three times in their opening 11 league games in 2025, winning five.

Manager Renato Paiva took over on February 28 following fellow Portuguese Artur Jorge’s exit for Qatari team Al-Rayyan and his team have conceded the fewest goals of any team in the Brazilian top flight aside from leaders Flamengo.

They have been on an impressive run of six wins and one defeat in their last eight games, including victories over Ceara, Santos and – despite being reduced to 10 players – Club Universidad de Chile in their last three.

“We can’t just think about PSG or Atletico de Madrid and forget about Seattle,” captain Marlon Freitas told Fifa. “They’re dreaming, just like us.

“The first game is the one when you start to gain confidence. It’s the game when you need to feel that atmosphere of the tournament.

“We’re going to be together, as a family, to take that first step… qualification. Having a good first match is very important if you want to move ahead with confidence and have a great tournament.”

Botafogo v Seattle team news

Botafogo spent more than £19 million during the special transfer window for Club World Cup teams, signing goalkeeper Christian Loor, defender Kaio Fernando, midfielder Alvaro Montoro and forwards Arthur Cabral and Joaquin Correa.

Winger Matheus Martins is returning to full fitness following a left thigh injury and is unlikely to feature after missing two days of training.

Veteran centre-back Kim Kee-hee is in contention to return from injury for Seattle, while head coach Brian Schmetzer has said forward Jordan Morris is “getting closer” to a comeback following a hamstring problem.

Colombia defender Yeimar Gomez Andrade’s calf problem means Jackson Ragen and Jon Bell could be Schmetzer’s only fully fit central defenders, according to Sounder at Heart.