Training camp will open nearly two weeks earlier than last year

Sounders will be able to start training on Jan. 11. Last year, they didn’t start until Jan. 22.

The Seattle Sounders will be permitted to open their 2020 preseason training camp in preparation for Concacaf Champions League on Jan. 11, it was announced on Wednesday. That’s nearly two weeks earlier than they were last year when they started training on Jan. 22.

Although no dates have been formally announced, Sounders GM Garth Lagerwey suggested during the Annual Business Meeting that CCL play will open on Feb. 19-20. The second leg would be a week later with MLS play opening on Feb. 29. That will give the Sounders about six weeks of training before their first competitive match.

Head coach Brian Schmetzer suggested during his end-of-season press conference that the Sounders would likely spend at least part of preseason in Mexico, something they didn’t do before their participation in the 2018 CCL. Assuming they follow a similar schedule as they have in previous preseasons, they’ll also spend part of preseason in Southern California or Arizona while training sporadically at Starfire Sports Complex.