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E. coli outbreak was what made Vancouver Whitecaps players so sick

Har Johal
Har Johal
|
Jun 13 2025, 6:42 pm
E. coli outbreak was what made Vancouver Whitecaps players so sick
Simon Fearn/Imagn Images

The Vancouver Whitecaps are finally starting to feel like themselves after players and staff experienced gastrointestinal symptoms for much of last week.

Multiple sources tell Daily Hive that testing showed the Whitecaps were impacted by an E. coli outbreak. Tristan Blackmon, Tate Johnson, and Jeevan Badwal were among players that were hardest hit. 

Against all odds, the Whitecaps still managed to beat the Seattle Sounders 3-0 at BC Place on Sunday.

“I think that everybody looks a little bit better than they did a week ago,” Whitecaps coach Jesper Sørensen told reporters following training on Thursday. “They couldn’t look any worse, anyways. It’s difficult when you play a game like we did Sunday, you really take everything out of your body, and you can’t eat and drink the same way as you would.” 

E. coli illness

The win over Seattle was physically exhausting for players and staff, so the team took an additional day off on Tuesday to recover. Blackmon was unable to properly prepare ahead of the match; he still found a way to help keep Seattle from a shot on target. 

“It was weird circumstances,” Blackmon said. “I didn’t train all week because I wasn’t feeling great. I just told the staff I wanted to be there and help the guys. Definitely got a little winded before the game, happy we got the result.” 

How does an athlete prepare to go 90 minutes against a Cascadia rival while battling gastrointestinal symptoms? 

“All the pills possible you could take,” Blackmon said. “Pickle juice, caffeine pills, all that stuff, loading up.”

The origin of the gastro illness is still unclear, though the Whitecaps’ post-game meal in Mexico City is believed to be the culprit. Sources can confirm that the meal included pizza, chicken, and potato wedges. 

Jeeven Badwal, the 19-year-old from Surrey who scored his first career MLS goal on Sunday, also fell ill the week before the match.

“It was a lot of water,” Badwal told Daily Hive of his recovery. “Bananas, a lot of everything to get me going especially because I was on the toilet a lot. More fluids and food to get me going.”

Badwal’s phone blowing up

When you’re a 19-year-old rookie playing for your hometown team, it’s no surprise that your phone is inundated with messages after your first MLS goal. 

That was the case for Badwal after Sunday’s match.

“It’s been really nice to have a family that I didn’t know about blowing up the phone,” Badwal said. “My dad’s been telling me we have these family members from India that have contacted me and family in Europe that I didn’t even know about.” 

At home with his parents in Surrey’s Newton neighbourhood, Badwal has watched his 40th-minute goal over and over again. His strong belief in himself is a big part of who he is as a player and person.

“I’m feeling confident,” Badwal said. “You know, especially after that goal. You’ve always got to be confident, obviously you’re going to have nerves from time to time, especially when I’m young and playing in this league. I like to be confident, that’s part of my game.”

When he’s not on the pitch, Badwal enjoys listening to music that was produced before he was born. That includes listening to Wu-Tang Clan and wearing their shirt post-game. 

“R&B that’s my go-to,” Badwal revealed. “90s and 2000s R&B. My mom put me on that, she used to drive me everywhere. In the car she would play that and I’d listen, now it’s my go-to.”

Badwal is still a teenager at heart who enjoys time with his dad when he drives him to training. Badwal does have a drivers license, but that first car is still out of reach. 

“It’s too much money nowadays,” Badwal said. “It sounds bad because I’m 19, but it’s still nice.” 

MLS All-Star Game voting

The Whitecaps’ 10-1-5 start to the MLS season has them at the top of the MLS table, and it’s also resulted in recognition and praise for several players.

Sebastian Berhalter and Blackmon are both leading their respective positions for MLS All-Star game voting. 

Vancouver has never had multiple players selected for an MLS All-Star game. Brian White, Yohei Takaoka, Pedro Vite, and Andres Cubas are also candidates for the July 23 match.

“I think it’s an honour to represent the whole player pool,” Blackmon said. “If it happens, that would be great. I’m just trying to put in good performances for the team.”

If it were up to Sørensen, he would have a whole team of Whitecaps selected. 

“I would vote all our players into the All-Star game,” Sørensen said. “I think they’ve done so well. Everybody, in my opinion, deserves all the credit in the world. Nobody is doing anything alone in this sport, so it’s a very big recognition for the team as well.”

Vancouver will take their undefeated MLS road record (4-0-3) to Ohio on Saturday when they play the Columbus Crew at Lower.com Field.

Ryan Gauld (left knee capsule sprain) and Sam Adekugbe (torn right achilles tendon) remain sidelined with long-term injuries. 

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