The Seattle Sounders' seven-match losing streak is mercifully over after their 3-0 win over Querétaro, so it’s time for another round of Cope or Hope where we'll assess what this result means for Seattle’s 2026 chances. We unpack whether Alex Roldán can be a true double-pivot solution, whether Albert Rusnák’s goal signals a return to form, and if Danny Musovski’s breakthrough proves he can rediscover last season’s production. We also assess Sebastián Gómez’s first senior strike and whether it earns him more minutes, and whether Paul Rothrock can shoulder an even bigger creative load with Pedro De La Vega unfortunately sidelined once again.

Plus: reactions to Leagues Cup Phase One and what the competition’s early results mean for team momentum heading into the season.