American Vancouver Whitecaps player ponders playing for Canada at FIFA World Cup | Daily Hive

Simon Fearn/Imagn Images

The Vancouver Whitecaps’ historic start to the season has earned players and coaches praise at both the club and international levels.

Five Whitecaps players have been called up to represent their respective countries for matches in the June international window.

With an 8-1-4 record, the Whitecaps still sit atop the MLS’s Western Conference standings. They’ll put their 13-match unbeaten streak across all competitions on the line when they visit Real Salt Lake on Saturday, May 24.

Here’s what we learned from Whitecaps training at UBC on Thursday.

“The proudest moment of my life”

Brian White and Sebastian Berhalter have both been called up to represent the United States for a pair of upcoming international friendlies, against Turkey on June 7 and Switzerland on June 10.

While White has been called up for international duty before, this is a first at the senior level for Berhalter.

“It’s honestly probably the proudest moment of my life,” Berhalter told Daily Hive following training. “This is a dream since I’ve been one year old. It doesn’t get much better than this.”

A smile from a familiar face was all Berhalter needed to see to know that the call-up had finally come.

“Tosaint Ricketts came on the field and just started smiling at me,” Berhalter said. “Once I saw that, I was thinking in my head, ‘could it really be,’ then he came over and told me and I couldn’t believe it.”

In addition, three Whitecaps players have been called up to the Canadian national team: Sam Adekugbe, Ali Ahmed and Jayden Nelson.

Could Tristan Blackmon play for Canada?

Will Whitecaps defender Tristan Blackmon suit up for Canada at the FIFA World Cup next year? The American centre back had discussions with national team head coach Jesse Marsch about representing Canada at the international level, according to ESPN’s Jeff Carlisle.

Blackmon was named to U.S. Soccer’s 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup preliminary roster on Monday, but has never represented his country internationally.

The 28-year-old Las Vegas native could potentially have his application for a Canadian passport fast-tracked in time to represent Canada ahead of next year’s World Cup.

“Yeah, it’s an interesting situation,” Blackmon told Daily Hive after training at UBC on Thursday in his first interview since the ESPN report. “I’ve been at Vancouver, this is my fourth year here. I know there’s five years for a residency. Yeah, there’s a potential opportunity that could take place, but honestly, right now I’m just focused on the Whitecaps.”

Blackmon hasn’t made a decision yet.

“Just a conversation,” Blackmon said. “Getting to know one and other, nothing concrete. Getting to know me as a player, and that there’s a potential opportunity for this to possibly take place in the future. I can’t see in the future, I don’t have a crystal ball, nobody does. We’ll see what happens.”

Ryan Gauld injury update

Whitecaps captain Ryan Gauld has been sidelined since March 8 with a left knee capsule sprain. There is some positive news as Gauld works his way back to full health and a return.

“I think that there’s been some progression lately,” Whitecaps coach Jesper Sørensen told Daily Hive. “I spoke to him and he felt that maybe he was a little bit more optimistic and maybe he could do some more now. We hope that he’ll be back soon but we don’t know.”

Gauld continues to run laps and work in the gym. He has not yet returned to training with his teammates. There is currently no timeline for his potential return to play.

“There’s nothing to have surgery upon as far as I know,” Sørensen added. “We have of course discussed all the time what we can do with him and, of course, the health department is doing everything they can.”

The positive progression that Gauld is showing is regarding his knee management.

“It’s how much pain he feels,” Sørensen said. “How much he can move and the movability of his knee and around his knee. He felt that there was progression in the way he could move around the knee and how much he can do without feeling pain. I think it was positive.”

Whitecaps teenager exceeding expectations

The Whitecaps have to be pleased with the performance of 19-year-old rookie Tate Johnson this season. The American left back has come into the starting lineup eight times this season and gone toe-to-toe with Lionel Messi twice.

“He’s a legend,” Blackmon said. “He’s such a good guy, willing to learn. I think that’s the most important part as a young player, being open to opportunities for growth from the coaching staff and the players that have been here before. He’s done such a good job.”

While Adekugbe has battled injuries this season, Johnson has seamlessly stepped into the back four. Sørensen has shown confidence by giving Johnson more responsibilities.

“Yeah, he has shouldered a lot of work,” Sørensen said. “He’s done well. He has exceeded expectation,s I would say, and also played himself into being a player that we can count on playing from the start and also be tough competition for Sam Adekugbe now that he’s back.”

You might also like: