It may be an anniversary season but a 2-1 defeat at D.C. United officially gives the 10-man Sounders their worst start (1-5-3) over that half-century. They fall to 13th in West, 27th in the league overall. Seattle snaps a two-match scoreless stretch when Leo Chu scores the opener. Stefan Frei is sent off on a penalty call, but the red card is subsequently overturned the following week.

After months of rumors, FIFA announces that Seattle's Lumen Field will be among 11 venues for 2025 Club World Cup. During an Oct. 15 visit, FIFA President Gianni Infantino says all three group stage matches for the Sounders will be at home. Altogether, six CWC dates are set for Seattle. Inter Miami club is later selected as the host country qualifier after winning the MLS Supporters’ Shield.

In the first Sounders reunion game since 1982, the Seattle alums beat their Timbers counterparts, 1-0, behind Roger Davies goal. The game is held prior to the Seattle-Portland Western Soccer Alliance fixture. Among former NASL players returning are Davies, Tommy Hutchison, Jimmy Gabriel, Frank Barton, Steve Buttle, Tony Chursky, Ray Evans, Pepe Fernandez, Dave Gillett, Tommy Jenkins, Jimmy McAlister, Neil Megson, Tommy Ord, Mark Peterson, Roy Sinclair, Mike Ivanow, Adrian Webster, Jack Brand and Peter Ward.

Seattle University's Bobby McAlister is named the 2004 NCAA Division II Men's Soccer Player of the Year by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America. McAlister set SU and Great Northwest Athletic Conference season records for goals (22), points (49) and game-winning goals (11) while leading the Redhawks to a 22-0-1 record and the school's first Div. II national title. He scored both game-winning goals in the Redhawks' two matches at the Division II Final Four in December.

Lyndsey Patterson scores the winner in the 70th minute, and the Seattle Crossfire Sounders Women upset top-seeded San Diego, 2-1 on the road, for the W-League West championship. The SunWaves, who snapped the Sounders' six-game win streak five days earlier, open the scoring in the 30th minute. But Seattle quickly answers when Dani Bridges scores. Patterson gets her fifth goal in six games off a pass from Tafara Pulse. It's Seattle's first trip to the national semifinals since 2003.

A staunch supporter of the game for over 30 years, Natoli "Tollie" Rossi dies at 55. Rossi first established himself as a strong player for Seattle's Georgetown Merchants. More recently he coached youth teams and helped promote soccer throughout the community.