The Sounders won 3–1 to claim their second MLS Cup title in front of 69,274 spectators at CenturyLink Field, which set a new stadium attendance record.

They scored three goals in the second half, beginning with a deflected shot by Kelvin Leerdam and followed by strikes from substitute Víctor Rodríguez (later named the match MVP) and Raúl Ruidíaz.

The match marked the conclusion of the 2019 MLS Cup Playoffs, which was contested by fourteen teams under a new single-elimination format that replaced the former two-legged ties.

[8] Seattle Sounders FC played in their third MLS Cup final in four seasons, having won in their first appearance in 2016 under manager Brian Schmetzer.

[11][12] During the 2019 offseason, the Sounders lost defensive midfielder and captain Osvaldo Alonso, who was released into free agency and signed by Minnesota United FC.

[28][29] General manager of five years Tim Bezbatchenko also left the club to take on a role with Columbus Crew SC, but head coach Greg Vanney remained for his sixth season with Toronto.

[30] During the preseason, Toronto's new general manager Ali Curtis signed several MLS returnees, including midfielder Nick DeLeon and defender Laurent Ciman.

[32] Toronto opened the MLS regular season with three wins against Eastern Conference opponents, tying a franchise record for best start.

[34] Several key players were called away to their national teams for the Gold Cup but returned to begin the second half of the season with four wins in eight matches by the end of July.

[39] The team also lost the Canadian Championship Final to the Montreal Impact in September, leaving them without a berth in the 2020 CONCACAF Champions League.

[42] Toronto continued to the Eastern Conference Final, where they faced defending MLS Cup champions Atlanta United FC at their home stadium.

[46] The 69,000-seat stadium opened in 2002 as a shared venue for the National Football League's Seattle Seahawks and a future MLS team that became the Sounders seven years later.

[54] The Sounders hosted several fan events during the MLS Cup weekend, including the installation of a giant replica of the Philip F. Anschutz Trophy at Pike Place Market and the lighting of several city landmarks in the team's primary color, rave green.

[55] The MLS Cup trophy was also taken on a tour of the city and displayed at several landmarks, arriving aboard a state ferry and being sent with former Sounders goalkeeper Kasey Keller to the Space Needle.

[56] The club also organized a viewing party and rally at Occidental Park with a concert by Sounders minority owner Macklemore and appearances by local sports stars.

[59][60] Sound Transit ran several special Sounder commuter train trips to King Street Station to accommodate the expected number of fans.

[67] The Univision broadcast featured Jorge Luis López Salido [es], Raúl Guzmán, Diego Balado, and Marcelo Balboa.

[73] The U.S. national anthem was performed by Pearl Jam's Mike McCready on his electric guitar as the Emerald City Supporters unveiled a tifo that was choreographed with a card display from the entire stadium.

[74] Both teams fielded most of their regular starting lineups, with Seattle's Román Torres in place of Xavier Arreaga and the replacement of Toronto defender Laurent Ciman with Omar Gonzalez.

[77][79] In the last minute before first half stoppage time, Sounders forward Raúl Ruidíaz broke away from Toronto defender Omar Gonzalez with a chance to score, but his shot was blocked by the legs of goalkeeper Quentin Westberg.

[78][80] Seattle manager Brian Schmetzer responded at halftime by moving Jordan Morris to the right wing and Joevin Jones to the left, while Toronto made no significant adjustments.

[83] In the 87th minute, Toronto unsuccessfully attempted to halve the lead with a header from Omar Gonzalez that went wide as he collided with Sounders goalkeeper Stefan Frei.

[80] At the end of regulation time, Ruidíaz out-muscled Chris Mavinga while chasing a long overhead ball from Gustav Svensson and beat Westberg to score the team's third and final goal of the match.

[50][83] Sounders midfielder Víctor Rodríguez was named the MLS Cup most valuable player for scoring the winning goal; he left the club less than two weeks later with the intent of returning to his native Spain.

[94] The club's two MLS Cup trophies also made several stops around Seattle landmarks as part of a victory tour for fans, including several trips on the state ferry system.

[98] Seattle also earned a berth in the 2020 CONCACAF Champions League, despite having already qualified in another slot as the highest-ranked regular season team to remain in the playoffs.