Timbers vs. Sounders

The Timbers-Sounders rivalry, the centerpiece of the Cascadia Cup, predates both teams' MLS memberships by decades. Portland and Seattle have been competing in various professional and semi-professional soccer leagues since 1975, and the rivalry between these two Pacific Northwest cities runs deeper than any other in American soccer. Rain, passion, and world-class supporter culture define the Cascadia Derby.

The rivalry's atmosphere is unmatched in MLS. The Timbers Army and Emerald City Supporters are widely regarded as the two best supporter groups in North American soccer, and their presence transforms every Cascadia Derby into an event that rivals European football for sheer noise and visual spectacle. Providence Park's intimate, old-school feel and Lumen Field's cavernous roar provide contrasting but equally impressive backdrops for matches that always deliver intensity.

What separates the Cascadia Derby from other MLS rivalries is its authenticity. This is not a manufactured corporate rivalry — it grew organically from genuine regional competition and supporter culture that existed long before either team played a minute of first-division soccer. The Timbers' 2015 MLS Cup victory, achieved in part by defeating the Sounders, and Seattle's back-to-back MLS Cup appearances in 2016-17 ensured that the rivalry has had meaningful stakes to match its incredible atmosphere.