Q&A: What is This Sounders Game Tonight About?

Q: The Sounders are playing some team from El Salvador tonight? What's that about?

A: Tonight's game against Metapan F.C. is the first leg of the preliminary round of the CONCACAF Champions League.

Q: What the poo is CONCACAF Champions League?

A: Well, first off, CONCACAF is the governing body of all the soccer leagues in countries in North and Central America. Most countries have their own league. The best teams in each countries' league qualify for the Champions League. (It's a much bigger deal in Europe, where you're talking about the top teams in the world.)

Q: So the Sounders are the best team in the U.S.? Horse hockey! Last I checked they were getting waxed.

A: Qualification is based on 2009 results. The Sounders are in because they won the 2009 U.S. Open Cup. Three other MLS teams also make the tourney.

Q: Ah. And tonight's game is what?

A: Part of a two-game preliminary round. The Sounders play Metapan here tonight, and will play at Metapan on Tuesday. The combined score of the two games will decide who advances.

Q: Where the heck is Metapan?

A: It's a town of less than 20,000 people in northwest El Salvador that has a really pretty church. Their team has won a share of their league title each of the past four years. 

Q: So what happens if the Sounders advance?

A: They'd move on to the group stage: A four-team round robin tournament with games spread from August to October. The top two teams in each group advance to the quarterfinals, which wouldn't be played until next March. The final is next April.

Q: Do the Sounders have a chance of winning the whole kielbasa?

A: Not a great one. The Mexican teams dominate this tournament--they've won the last five. No MLS team has won the tourney since 2000. That said, both Houston and D.C. United made the semis three years ago, so it's not impossible. Cool thing is, if the Sounders did win, they'd advance to the seven-team FIFA Club World Cup and play against the best teams in the world.

Q: Okay, so say I decide to go. What's the deets?

A: Game's at 7 p.m. tonight, tickets are $15-30.