Seattle, WA
Seattle Sounders strengthen attack with latest acquisition Ryan Kent | Seattle Sounders
Following Paul Arriola’s season-ending injury against Cruz Azul on March 11, the Seattle Sounders needed to find a player to fill the attacking void the winger had previously provided.
After an extensive search, the Sounders decided that Ryan Kent was the man for the job.
On Monday, the club announced the acquisition of the 28-year-old for the remainder of the year, with an option for 2026.
“What we wanted to do is add a player that has the potential to be a difference maker, or add quality to the group,” said General Manager & Chief Soccer Officer Craig Waibel. “It took a little less time than I thought it was going to take, just with the budget we had. But the fact was, once we started talking to Ryan, his level of interest in MLS right now, and the timing in his career, [it] was perfect.”
Prior to signing with Seattle, the English player had a vast career in Europe, beginning with his experience in Liverpool’s youth system. From there, his professional endeavors led him on a 10-year journey that included loan spells with five different teams, before settling with Scottish Premier League side Rangers FC where he was recognized as the Scotland Young Player of the Year (2018-’19), earned two Scottish Premiership Team of the Year honors (2018-’19, 2020-’21), and was awarded a spot on the UEFA Europa League Team of the Season (2021-’22).
It was not until his two-season stint with Turkish side Fenerbahçe, however, when he felt the move to Major League Soccer and the Sounders would be the next destination in his career.
“I think, with the trajectory that MLS is going right now, it’s a league that’s definitely becoming a lot more exciting, a lot more opportunities, and I’d definitely say a lot more better players are taking the opportunity to join MLS,” said Kent. “It’s a new chapter for me, and one I’m looking forward to.”
The addition of the winger will be beneficial for the team in more ways than one. As a dynamic attacking player, Kent’s ability to make plays in the final third and in 1-v-1 situations will allow the team more opportunities to create chances and score goals.
“He’s really brave on the ball. He always wants it,” said Assistant Coach Andy Rose. “And so to add somebody of his experience who’s played at the level he’s played at, you know, top teams in Europe and playing in top competitions in Europe, that sort of experience mentality is certainly going to help our group.”
This will be especially valuable given his versatility on the pitch.
“He’s a really intelligent player, so he can certainly play anywhere across the front line,” said Rose. “He can really play on either side… What makes him such a threat against defenders is really his ability to be going to the left or to the right, his ability to cut inside and shoot and score goals.”
While it’s been seven months since Kent mutually departed from Fenerbahçe, the Oldham, England native has never been more ready to get back on the pitch and help his new team toward future trophies.
“It’s the hardest I’ve worked in the past three months, you know, dedicating my time to my body, really keeping fit, and just concentrating on what I needed to do to allow me to step into a footballing environment again and get going straight from the beginning,” said Kent.
Waibel is confident he will be able to achieve exactly that.
“The quality of what he is and the age he’s at, I just don’t know if there are any limitations as to why he can’t come here and get back to his top level of performance,” he said. “[The] sky’s the limit in terms of the way he can fit in this league.”
Seattle News Weekly S1E44: FIFA Frenzy hits the PNW
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is off and running as Seattle prepares to host the United States vs. Australia match on Friday. With more matches to be played in the Emerald City after that, FOX 13’s David Rose, Dan Griffin and Austin Lane are taking a closer look at the biggest stories surrounding the international tournament. Dan is hearing from fans on Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson’s decision to turn on CCTV cameras during the World Cup, Austin is taking a deeper dive into why ties are a good thing in the group stage, and David revisits the lessons learned from the first match hosted in Seattle between Egypt and Belgium.
SEATTLE – The FIFA World Cup has taken Seattle by storm, bringing global excitement to our city and visitors from across the world.
On this week’s episode of the ‘Seattle News Weekly’ podcast, David Rose, Dan Griffin and Austin Lane discuss the top headlines of the week that have emerged alongside the buzz about the FIFA World Cup 2026.
A Massive Tournament Expansion
The hosts open the podcast with a discussion on how historically large this year’s FIFA World Cup is compared to years past. Expanded to 48 teams (up from 32), the tournament features a record 104 matches over 39 days across 16 host cities. Seattle is hosting six of those matches.
Austin explains the value of “ties” in the group stage—especially with the new format where 32 teams advance to the knockout stage instead of 16—meaning a single point from a tie carries significant weight.
At the time of recording, the US had already defeated Paraguay and is preparing to face Australia at “Seattle Stadium,” where a win would guarantee advancement.
Transit Tactics
Dan Griffin reports on the city’s transit system, noting that while the light rail is moving a massive influx of people smoothly, transit authorities are actively “throttling” passengers.
This practice involves controlling crowd flow onto platforms to ensure safety, which has caused wait times of over an hour for some fans on TikTok. Transit officials recommend that fans walk to stations slightly further away from the stadium district to get moving faster.
The CCTV Security Debate
The hosts talk about how security is a major focal point. The FBI has already had to confiscate drones being flown illegally downtown. More prominently, Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson activated controversial closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras in the Stadium District following “general but credible threats” identified by law enforcement.
While an activist group called Community, Not Cameras expressed fears that the surveillance puts vulnerable populations at risk due to federal agency presence, visitors and fans interviewed largely welcomed the extra layer of security. The cameras are expected to be turned off after the World Cup concludes.
Cultural Celebrations and Fan Experiences
The hosts play a clip from reporter Lauren Donovan who provides a colorful look at the fan festivities happening in the city. She highlights the “March to the Match,” describing Monday morning where Belgian fans swarmed Victory Hall alongside middle school band directors from the Stanwood-Camano district who were recruited to drum for them.
She also joins celebrating Egyptian fans, whose match against Belgium ended in an enthusiastic tie. The hosts note that international fans (like those from Australia) are already flooding local attractions, including Seattle Mariners baseball games, turning the sporting event into a broader West Coast vacation.
Seattle News Weekly is a podcast that goes in depth and gives context to the stories that matter to the western Washington community. Check back every Thursday for a new episode on your favorite podcast platform, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Pandora, Stitcher, Amazon Music, TuneIn and Audible or YouTube.
MORE WORLD CUP NEWS FROM FOX 13 SEATTLE
USA players want to lay off the ‘Layup’ chatter ahead of Australia matchup
How Seattle is preparing for USMNT vs. Australia World Cup match on Juneteenth
FIFA World Cup billboards in Seattle spark sexual health conversations
Seattle’s Ballard to host Pride celebration, FIFA watch party on June 26
Seattle reviews FIFA World Cup 2026 transit options after post-match congestion
Egypt’s World Cup pride, Mohamed Salah’s legacy and one fan’s love for the Pharaohs
To get the best local news, weather and sports in Seattle for free, sign up for the daily FOX Seattle Newsletter.
Download the free FOX LOCAL app for mobile in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store for live Seattle news, top stories, weather updates and more local and national news.
The Mariners’ electric right-hander could not have rebounded in a more emphatic way.
World Cup fans land in Seattle for first Belgium-Egypt game
Fans from around the globe arrived in Seattle for the FIFA World Cup matchup between Belgium and Egypt Monday, June 15 — the first of six games to be played at the downtown Seattle Stadium.
Seattle’s World Cup party on the waterfront just got a little bit bigger.
On the eve of the next USMNT game (U.S. vs. Australia, June 19 at 12 p.m. PT), Fox will be broadcasting live from Pier 62 in Seattle, according to a social media post.
Fans will have a number of options when it comes to watching the US take on Australia in their second group stage match, including from a floating barge, a 70-foot screen and a number of bars across the city.
Former Sounder Clint Dempsey, former USMNT player Alexi Lalas, Rob Stone and Stu Holden will broadcast live from downtown Seattle from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Where can you watch the broadcast online?
FOX ONE will be streaming the broadcast online at www.fox.com.
What other World Cup games are happening Thursday?
- 9:00 A.M. – Czechia vs South Africa (Group A) at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia
- 12:00 P.M. – Switzerland vs Bosnia and Herzegovina (Group B) at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California
- 3:00 P.M. – Canada vs Qatar (Group B) at BC Place in Vancouver, British Columbia
- 6:00 P.M. – Mexico vs South Korea (Group A) at Estadio Akron in Zapopan, Jalisco
Full USMNT 2026 FIFA World Cup Schedule
Game 2: USMNT vs. Australia
- Location: Seattle, WA
- Date: June 19, 2026
- Kickoff: 12 p.m. PT
- TV: FOX, Telemundo
- Streaming: FOX One, Fubo, Peacock
Game 3: USMNT vs. Turkey
- Location: Inglewood, California
- Date: June 25, 2026
- Kickoff: 7 p.m. PT
- TV: FOX, Telemundo
- Streaming: FOX One, Fubo, Peacock
Full World Cup 2026 schedule
- Group stage: June 11-27
- Round of 32: June 28-July 3
- Round of 16: July 4-7
- Quarterfinals: July 9-11
- Semifinals: July 14-15
- Third-place game: July 18
- Final: July 19
Zachary Fletcher is a trending news reporter with USA TODAY Network’s Washington state team. Keep up with him on X (@zdfletch), BlueSky (@zfletcher.bsky.social) or reach him at zfletcher@usatodayco.com.
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