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Seattle Sounders begin preseason play against USL's Tacoma Defiance in late March

By Ben Arthur, Seattle P-I

|Updated

The Seattle Sounders are gearing up for the 2021 Major League Soccer season.

The club last week unveiled its preseason schedule, which includes five scheduled tune-up matches before the start of the regular season. The Rave Green began training Monday.

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Training sessions will be closed to the media due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Sounders FC will train at team headquarters, Starfire Sports, up through April 5. In that time, it is scheduled to face its USL affiliate, the Tacoma Defiance, on March 25 and rival Portland Timbers on March 30 in preseason matches.

COLUMBUS, OH - DECEMBER 11: Seattle Sounders FC Head Choach Brian Schmetzer during training at MAPFRE Stadium in Columbus, Ohio on December 11, 2020. (Photo by Jason Mowry/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

COLUMBUS, OH - DECEMBER 11: Seattle Sounders FC Head Choach Brian Schmetzer during training at MAPFRE Stadium in Columbus, Ohio on December 11, 2020. (Photo by Jason Mowry/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Icon Sportswire/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

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The Rave Green will continue their training in Los Angeles from April 6-11, during which time they’ll face LA Galaxy II on April 7 and have a doubleheader April 11 against San Diego Loyal SSC and Galaxy II.

The full Sounders’ preseason schedule (dates and times are subject to change):

  • March 25: vs. Tacoma Defiance
  • March 30: vs. Portland Timbers
  • April 7: vs. LA Galaxy II
  • April 11: San Diego Loyal SC
  • April 11: LA Galaxy II

Ahead of the preseason, the Sounders have 22 players on their first-team roster.

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The MLS regular season begins April 17. The schedule will be released at a later date.

Ben Arthur covers the Seattle Seahawks, the Mariners, and other Seattle-area sports for the SeattlePI