Brian Schmetzer believes the lessons learned from the Seattle Sounders' Club World Cup campaign will stand them in good stead when they resume their MLS season against Austin FC.

Having lost all three of their games in the group stage of the expanded 32-team tournament, Seattle return to domestic action at Lumen Field on Saturday.

The Sounders did not disgrace themselves in a tough group, losing 2-1 to Botafogo, 3-1 to Atletico Madrid and 2-0 to European champions Paris Saint-Germain.

They sit seventh in the Western Conference ahead of their return to MLS, holding a game in hand over most of their rivals.

Ahead of facing Austin – who are eighth and only behind them on goal difference, albeit having played an additional game – Schmetzer called on his team to maintain the standards they showed on the global stage.

"I was very pleased with the intensity that the players showed but a lot of that was on them," Schmetzer said, reflecting on the Club World Cup.

"They were up for the games, but that's something that we are going to reinforce for the remainder of our MLS season, that was one of the things we really focused on. 

"The second thing was consistent technical ability under pressure – that's what those teams have and sometimes we're a little loose or it's the level that we play at. Those are the two things the players brought."

Schmetzer also believes he will improve as a coach following the Club World Cup, having had a chance to pit his wits against Champions League victor Luis Enrique.

"Senor Enrique is a humble man, a very generous man. I enjoyed meeting him," Schmetzer added. "Being a good person helps you create a good culture, which helps your team be successful. 

"I learned that, and also about driving our team to those kind of performances in league matches for the rest of the year."

Austin are bidding for a third straight MLS victory this weekend, having beaten the Colorado Rapids 2-0 and the New York Red Bulls 2-1 in their last two fixtures.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Seattle Sounders – Albert Rusnak

Rusnak is Seattle's leading scorer in MLS this year, netting seven times. Danny Musovski, with five goals, is the only other Sounder with more than three strikes.

Rusnak also scored against Atletico Madrid at the Club World Cup, netting one of the biggest goals in club history. That will surely give him confidence ahead of his return to MLS play.

Austin FC – Brandon Vazquez

In Austin's win over the Red Bulls last week, Brandon Vazquez became the first player in club history to have both a goal and an own goal in the same MLS match. 

Prior to Vazquez, the last MLS player to do so was Luis Suarez for Inter Miami in June 2024. 

Having scored a team-high five goals in MLS this term, he will hope to only be involved at one end of the pitch.

MATCH PREDICTION – SEATTLE SOUNDERS WIN

The Sounders' last match in MLS play was a 3-0 defeat to their Cascadia Cup rivals, the Vancouver Whitecaps. 

That was Seattle's third time losing by at least three goals in a shutout this season in MLS play, after doing so just twice over the previous three seasons combined.

And after losing all three of their Club World Cup matches, Seattle have lost all five matches they have played in June across all competitions. 

This is their longest single-season losing streak since joining MLS in 2009, though the quality of their recent opponents must be taken into account.

Seattle will be on more familiar footings here, having won half of their eight all-time meetings with Austin, only losing once (three draws).

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Seattle Sounders – 49.8%

Austin FC – 24.9%

Draw – 25.3%