HOUSTON (Oct. 26, 2024) – Houston Dynamo FC kick off their Audi 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs campaign on Monday, Oct. 28, traveling to face Seattle Sounders FC for Game 1 in the Round One Best-of-3 Series. Kickoff at Lumen Field is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. CT, and fans can watch the action live for free via MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.
Additionally, fans are invited and encouraged to attend the official Dynamo Watch Party for Game 1 at Pitch 25 (2120 Walker St, Houston, TX 77003) next to Shell Energy Stadium, or visit other official Club pub partners to watch the match.
The Dynamo enter the opening round as the No. 5 seed in the Western Conference, securing their 10th overall playoff appearance after a season of milestones, including a single-season Club record for points (54) and road wins (8). Houston earned consecutive playoff appearances for the first time since 2013.
Houston returns to Shell Energy Stadium on Sunday, Nov. 3 to host Seattle for Game 2 in the Round One Best-of-3 Series. Fans can purchase tickets via SeatGeek HERE for as low as $25. Game 3 will be played in Seattle if necessary.
Media members without season-long credentials can apply for Game 2 credentials HERE.
The Dynamo wrapped up the regular season with a 2-1 Decision Day home victory over the LA Galaxy last weekend in front of a sold-out crowd at Shell Energy Stadium. A late stoppage-time winner from former Galaxy defender Daniel Steres secured the victory and the 33-year-old’s second Team of the Matchday appearance. Forward Ezequiel Ponce scored the match’s opening goal in the 43rd minute for his fifth goal of the season since arriving in Houston this summer.
Houston boasted one of the best defensive records this season, allowing just 39 goals, which was third for the fewest across MLS. Houston also led MLS with 59.2 percent possession across, which allowed the Dynamo to control matches and dictate pace of play.
Earlier this week, Adalberto “Coco” Carrasquilla was notably named the 2023/2024 Concacaf Men’s Player of the Year, becoming the first-ever Panamanian to receive the honor following a stellar campaign with the national team. The stalwart midfielder helped Panama reach the final of the 2023 Concacaf Gold Cup, where he was awarded the Golden Ball and named to the competition’s Best XI. The stalwart midfielder was also key during the MLS regular season for the Dynamo, scoring four goals and recording seven assists in 28 appearances (26 starts).
Seattle wrapped their regular season with a 1-1 home draw at the Portland Timbers last weekend to finish fourth in the Western Conference with a 16-9-9 (WLD) record and 57 points. The Sounders won five of their last seven matches, while Albert Rusnak and Jordan Morris were key contributors throughout the season, combing for 23 goals and 21 assists. The Sounders have qualified for the postseason in 15 of 16 seasons in MLS, winning four Western Conference Championships (2016, 2017, 2019, 2020) and two MLS Cups (2016, 2019).
Monday will mark the third playoff meeting between Houston and Seattle, in which the Sounders hold a 2-1-1 (WLD) record over the Dynamo. The two sides met twice this season, with the Dynamo earning a 2-2 home draw in June, before falling 1-0 on the road last month. Houston will be looking for its first road victory at Seattle on Monday.
The Dynamo have a former Sounders player on their roster in defender Brad Smith, who won the 2019 MLS Cup with Seattle after starting his MLS career there in 2018 on loan from Liverpool. Houston signed the Australian international in January 2023, and he has recorded 37 appearances (four starts), three goals and four assists since joining the Club. Overall, Smith has scored six goals and tallied 16 assists across 116 appearances (67 starts) in his MLS career.
The Round One Best-of-3 Series includes the top seven teams from each conference, as well as the two Wild Card Match winners. All 16 teams participating in the Round One Best-of-3 Series earn at least one home game in the series, with the higher seed hosting Game 1 and Game 3 (if necessary), while the lower seed hosts Game 2.
The Dynamo recently launched their “Grind 2 Shine” playoff campaign, inspired by the team’s relentless push to win another MLS Cup, to celebrate Houston’s first consecutive postseason appearance since 2013.
