Three Vancouver Whitecaps players are going to the FIFA World Cup
The Vancouver Whitecaps are sending three players to the FIFA World Cup.
Final rosters were due on Monday, ahead of the tournament kicking off June 11. While Ralph Priso failed to make Canada’s squad, three of his teammates will suit up for other nations.
Sebastian Berhalter (USA), Andrés Cubas (Paraguay), and Rayan Elloumi (Tunisia) have made their countries’ respective World Cup squads.
That’s the most players the Whitecaps have ever sent to a men’s World Cup. Just three other active Whitecaps players have played in a World Cup in the MLS era, with Steven Beitashour (Iran, 2014), Kendall Waston (Costa Rica, 2018), and Lucas Cavallini (Canada, 2022) representing the others.
Andrés Cubas and former teammate Ali Ahmed are World Cup-bound. (Chadd Cady/Imagn Images)
Canada’s squad boasts five former Whitecaps players: Alphonso Davies, Ali Ahmed, Maxime Crépeau, Richie Laryea, and Derek Cornelius. There is still a chance Priso could join them, as an injury replacement.
While none of Vancouver’s three World Cup-bound players are scheduled to play at BC Place during the tournament, Berhalter and the Americans will play a match down the I-5 in Seattle against Australia on June 19.
Vancouver is set to host seven World Cup matches, beginning with Australia vs. Türkiye on June 13.