FC Cincinnati vs Seattle Sounders: Predictions, Picks, Odds & Lineups

FC Cincinnati host Seattle Sounders at TQL Stadium on Saturday, August 22 (7:30 PM ET / 6:30 PM CT / 4:30 PM PT).

FC Cincinnati have no fresh absences to report, and Thomas Barlow — 6 goals from his 703 minutes so far — looks set to lead the front line again. Pavel Bucha, who has created 15 chances alongside 5 goals of his own, and Kenji Mboma Dem, who has fired 24 shots this season, give the hosts a threat from midfield as well as up top. Seattle Sounders are similarly unaffected by injury news, meaning Paul Rothrock, their top scorer with 5 goals, and Albert Rusnák, who has created a team-high 33 chances, should both start at TQL Stadium.

Cincinnati sit sixth in the East on 27 points, firmly in the mix for the playoffs, while Seattle are 11th in the West on 24 points, their -2 goal difference underlining a difficult run. The visitors arrive having lost 5 straight, a slump that contrasts with Cincinnati’s W W L W D form, which has included a 4-3 win over Vancouver Whitecaps and a 4-2 win over San Jose Earthquakes. Expect goals at both ends given how each side has been trending, but with Seattle low on confidence, Cincinnati’s superior firepower should see them home by a single goal.

US viewers can watch FC Cincinnati vs Seattle Sounders on Apple TV’s MLS Season Pass.

FC Cincinnati vs Seattle Sounders: Best Bets & Predictions

Cincinnati's playoff push meets a Seattle side in freefall at TQL Stadium

Where are you following from? Odds & offers below update to match.

🇺🇸 United StatesTrade on Kalshi 🌎 Outside the USOdds via bet365

FC CincinnatiTop pickCincinnati's 27 points from 19 games have them sixth in the East, and that home platform should be enough to see off a Seattle side that has lost 5 straight.

49%win prob.-131 @ bet365

2-1 FC CincinnatiA narrow home win fits the underlying numbers, with Cincinnati's +1 goal difference just enough to edge a game Seattle should still trouble them in.

11%chance800 @ bet365

YesSeattle's Jesús Ferreira (22 shots, 11 on target) and Albert Rusnák (29 shots, 33 chances created) carry enough threat to score even on the road.

69%chance-250 @ bet365

Over 2.5

71%chance-250 @ bet365

Thomas Barlow to score anytimeBarlow leads the way with 6 goals from 703 minutes and 11 of his 15 shots on target, making him the likeliest man to score.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐chanceopening soon @ bet365

Our approach: we weigh standings context, current form and top-player output, and that combination backs Cincinnati's home edge, landing on a tight 2-1 win with goals at both ends.

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Season Form & Standings

FC Cincinnati sit sixth in the Eastern Conference with 27 points from 19 games, firmly inside the playoff picture, while Seattle Sounders are 11th in the Western Conference on 24 points from 17 games and searching for the form to climb back into contention.

Eastern Conference

Western Conference

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Potential Match-Winners

• Thomas Barlow (FC Cincinnati): 6 goals in 703 minutes, with 11 of his 15 shots finding the target — a real focal point for the hosts.
• Pavel Bucha (FC Cincinnati): 5 goals and a team-high 15 chances created, showing his influence both scoring and creating.
• Paul Rothrock (Seattle Sounders): Seattle’s top scorer with 5 goals from 22 shots, the biggest threat they carry into TQL Stadium.

Recent Form

FC Cincinnati: W W L W D

• 2026-08-16: Orlando City 1-1 FC Cincinnati (D, away)
• 2026-08-02: FC Cincinnati 4-2 San Jose Earthquakes (W, home)
• 2026-07-26: Columbus Crew 2-1 FC Cincinnati (L, away)
• 2026-07-23: FC Cincinnati 4-3 Vancouver Whitecaps (W, home)
• 2026-05-24: FC Cincinnati 6-2 Orlando City (W, home)

FC Cincinnati head into this on a W W L W D run, with a 4-2 win over San Jose Earthquakes and a 4-3 win over Vancouver Whitecaps either side of a loss at Columbus Crew, before a 1-1 draw at Orlando City most recently.

Seattle Sounders: L L L L L

• 2026-08-02: Portland Timbers 2-1 Seattle Sounders (L, away)
• 2026-07-26: Philadelphia Union 1-0 Seattle Sounders (L, away)
• 2026-07-23: Austin FC 3-1 Seattle Sounders (L, away)
• 2026-07-17: Seattle Sounders 1-5 Portland Timbers (L, home)
• 2026-05-25: LAFC 1-0 Seattle Sounders (L, away)

Seattle Sounders arrive off the back of 5 straight losses, including a 1-5 home defeat to Portland Timbers and a 2-1 loss away at Portland Timbers, with a 3-1 defeat at Austin FC and a 1-0 loss at Philadelphia Union also in that run.

FC Cincinnati vs Seattle Sounders Prediction

FC Cincinnati to win 2-1. Sitting sixth in the East on 27 points and firmly inside the playoff picture, Cincinnati’s extra quality at home should be enough to see off a Seattle side who sit 11th in the West on 24 points and have lost 5 straight. Expect goals at both ends, but Cincinnati’s firepower — Barlow, Bucha and Mboma Dem all among the goals this season — gets them over the line 2-1.