In a stunning upset, the Seattle Sounders dominated Inter Miami 3-0 in the Leagues Cup final, denying Lionel Messi his second Leagues Cup title. A record crowd of 69,314 fans at Lumen Field witnessed the Sounders' victory, setting new attendance records for both the Leagues Cup and the venue itself. The previous Leagues Cup record was 50,675.
Osaze De Rosario, son of former MLS legend Dwayne De Rosario, opened the scoring for Seattle in the 26th minute with a header from an Alex Roldan cross. Roldan continued to be a key figure, converting a penalty in the 83rd minute after a foul on Georgi Minoungou. Paul Rothrock sealed the victory with a third goal in the 89th minute, assisted by Roldan.
Inter Miami, despite fielding stars like Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez, struggled to find the net. Messi had a few chances, most notably in the 50th minute when he missed a close-range shot over the crossbar after a pass from Suarez. Tadeo Allende also missed a significant opportunity in the 60th minute, shooting wide in a one-on-one situation with the Seattle goalkeeper. Inter Miami was shut out for the first time in Leagues Cup play.
The match wasn't without controversy. A brawl erupted after the final whistle, reportedly triggered by a violent act from Luis Suarez. Videos circulating on social media appeared to show Suarez spitting on a Sounders staff member and grabbing Seattle players in a headlock.
Seattle's victory marks their ninth trophy since joining MLS in 2009. They have previously won four U.S. Open Cups, two MLS Cups, one Concacaf Champions Cup, and one Supporters' Shield. By winning the Leagues Cup, the Sounders have secured a bye into the 2026 Concacaf Champions Cup Round of 16. This win also marks the third straight year that an MLS team has won the Leagues Cup. Inter Miami won in 2023, and Columbus Crew in 2024.
In the third-place match, the LA Galaxy defeated Orlando City 2-1, securing their spot in the 2026 CONCACAF Champions Cup. Marco Reus and Joseph Paintsill scored for the Galaxy.
Prior to the final, the Seattle Sounders offered fans the opportunity to exchange Lionel Messi Inter Miami jerseys for Paul Rothrock Sounders FC kits at the Lumen Field Pro Shop. This promotion highlighted the strong support for the home team as they pursued a major international trophy.
