Snyder Brunell and Sebastian Gomez have been named to the United States U23 camp, a massive honor for both players, but it immediately throws a wrench into potential Sounders wild-card playoff plans.
The Call-Up and the Collision Course
This isn’t just any camp, folks. It’s the very first gathering for the 2028 Olympic cycle, running from November 9-17 in San Pedro del Pinatar, Spain. Our guys are set to face off against Scotland on November 15 and then a closed-door match against Ukraine on November 17. Sounds awesome, right? Here’s the kicker: A wild-card playoff game for our Sounders is slated for November 19, with the earliest first-round matches kicking off on November 20. That means Brunell and Gomez would potentially miss a critical post-season game for the Emerald City. Talk about a tough spot for everyone involved!
Gomez’s Breakout Season and Brunell’s Consistency
For Brunell, getting this call is almost business as usual. He’s been consistently in youth national team camps, especially in recent years. But for Sebastian Gomez, this is huge: his first time getting the nod. The midfielder turned 20 a few months back and has been absolutely electric for us this 2026 season. We’re talking a serious breakout year, with four goals and three assists in about 1,100 minutes across all competitions. To see him get recognized on the national stage like this, it’s a testament to his hard work, even if it creates a bit of a scheduling nightmare.
The Future Is Bright (and Young)
And hey, the talent pipeline for the Rave Green is looking deep, too. Shout out to Sounders Academy player Landon Lucero, who got called into the U17 squad. That team is stacked with players born in 2010 and they’re getting ready for the 2027 U17 World Cup. Tacoma Defiance centerback Gallatin Sandnes also got a call-up to the U19 team. Our future is seriously bright with these young guns coming up! So, while we are absolutely stoked for Brunell, Gomez, Lucero, and Sandnes, we’re definitely keeping one eye on that potential wild-card game. Let’s hope for the best for our boys on the international stage, and that the Sounders can navigate this challenge if it comes to it. Vamos Seattle!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Sounder at Heart.
Leave a Reply