HALIFAX — A wave of gastrointestinal illness has hit the Vancouver Whitecaps and spilled into the Canadian men’s national team camp, just days after the club’s heavy defeat to Cruz Azul in the CONCACAF Champions Cup final in Mexico City.

Three Canadian internationals — Ali Ahmed, Sam Adekugbe, and Jayden Nelson — arrived at Canada’s national team training camp in Halifax, showing signs of illness, according to head coach Jesse Marsch. The trio were among a “significant number” of players and staff affected following their return from Mexico, where the Whitecaps fell 5–0 in the final on Sunday night.

“They’re better now,” Marsch told reporters on Friday. “But they’re probably not ready for 90-minute performances.”

All three trained with the national squad on Friday as preparations continued for Canada’s upcoming Canadian Shield friendly against Ukraine, scheduled for Saturday at BMO Field in Toronto. The national team will also take on the Ivory Coast team on Tuesday as part of their build-up to this summer’s CONCACAF Gold Cup.

Suspected Food Poisoning for the Second Straight Year?.

Marsch suggested that food poisoning may be the cause, raising concerns about a recurring issue in CONCACAF finals held in Mexico. He pointed out that a similar situation happened in 2023, when several Columbus Crew players reportedly fell ill after facing Pachuca in the same competition.

“If I were the Vancouver Whitecaps, if I was the Columbus Crew, if I was MLS, I would be angry,” said Marsch. “I would be absolutely angry that this had been allowed to happen.”

This marks the second consecutive year a Major League Soccer (MLS) team has experienced illness after competing in a Champions Cup final in Mexico. Questions are being raised around match protocols, food safety, and post-match travel arrangements.

Vancouver Whitecaps 2 — Vancouver Whitecaps/ GETTY IMAGES

Whitecaps Release Statement, Modify Training Ahead of Cascadia Clash.

The Whitecaps were forced to cancel their scheduled practice session on Wednesday, and Thursday’s activities were limited to a smaller group of cleared players. By Friday, most of the squad had returned, and the club issued a statement emphasizing the health of its personnel.

“The health and well-being of our players and staff remain a top priority,” the club said. “Each player has been provided with an individualized program by the medical and performance staff to support their continued preparation and recovery.”

According to Whitecaps sporting director Axel Schuster, approximately half of the 75 people who returned from Mexico on a charter flight reported gastrointestinal symptoms. Schuster confirmed that the club has been in contact with the league ahead of their scheduled Cascadia Cup rivalry match against the Seattle Sounders this Sunday at BC Place.

Will the Whitecaps Have Enough Players for Sunday?

The already thin Whitecaps lineup faces further issues this weekend. In addition to the illness-related absences, nine players were already unavailable due to international duty, including Ahmed, Adekugbe, and Nelson.

Schuster said the team is still evaluating whether they have enough fit players to take the field against Seattle.

“If we have enough healthy and fit players available, we want to play it, of course,” he said. “No one ever wants not to play a game if he thinks he has a group together that is ready to compete.”

As of Friday, the club has not announced a postponement. The situation remains fluid and depends on how quickly affected players recover.

Context: A Difficult Week for the Club.

Sunday’s 5–0 defeat to Cruz Azul in Mexico City marked the end of a long Champions Cup journey for the Whitecaps. Despite being overpowered in the final, the team had been riding a wave of momentum domestically, entering the final on a 10-match unbeaten run in MLS play.

This illness outbreak not only disrupts their domestic campaign but could also impact national team plans, with Canada looking to fine-tune its roster ahead of the Gold Cup.

What’s Next for Canada?.

Canada’s back-to-back friendlies against Ukraine and Ivory Coast serve as the final tune-ups before the 2025 Gold Cup, where they’ll be aiming to assert their growing regional presence under new head coach Jesse Marsch.

While the three Whitecaps players may not be 90-minute ready this weekend, their availability for next week’s match in Montreal against Ivory Coast remains a possibility, depending on recovery.

Summary

The illness affecting the Whitecaps and national team players has added an unexpected layer of adversity to both club and country. With MLS and CONCACAF under scrutiny, and Canada’s Gold Cup preparation underway, player health and competitive readiness are now front and center in both camps.

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