Vancouver Whitecaps Live: Follow the Champions Cup Final updates from Mexico City
The Vancouver Whitecaps are set to take on Cruz Azul tonight at Estadio Olimpico Universitario in Mexico City for the Champions Cup Final. Read More
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Toronto Star
a day ago
- Toronto Star
3 Canadian national team players among the Whitecaps stricken by illness
Three Canadian national team players were among those who fell ill following the Vancouver Whitecaps' appearance in the CONCACAF Champions Cup final last weekend in Mexico City. The Whitecaps said a 'significant number' of players and staff had a gastrointestinal illness. Three of them — Ali Ahmed, Sam Adekugbe and Jayden Nelson — were ill when they arrived at Canada's training camp in Halifax ahead of Saturday's Canadian Shield match against Ukraine, coach Jesse Marsch said Friday.
Toronto Sun
a day ago
- Toronto Sun
Canada coach irate after Vancouver Whitecaps players stricken by illness in Mexico
The Whitecaps issued a statement saying about half of the 75 people who returned to Vancouver after the game had reported symptoms of a gastrointestinal illness. Published Jun 06, 2025 • 3 minute read Ranko Veselinovic of Canada's Vancouver Whitecaps, top left, heads the ball during the CONCACAF Champions Cup final soccer match against Mexico's Cruz Azul in Mexico City, Sunday, June 1, 2025. Photo by Fernando Llano / AP Reviews and recommendations are unbiased and products are independently selected. Postmedia may earn an affiliate commission from purchases made through links on this page. Canada coach Jesse Marsch expressed outrage Friday that the Vancouver Whitecaps had been 'poisoned' during their visit to Mexico for the CONCACAF Champions Cup final. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account The Whitecaps issued a statement Thursday saying about half of the 75 people who returned to Vancouver on the team's charter plane after Sunday's game had reported symptoms of a gastrointestinal illness. Whitecaps players Ali Ahmed, Sam Adekugbe and Jayden Nelson missed training after arriving sick in the Canadian camp in Halifax ahead of Saturday's game at Toronto's BMO Field between Canada and Ukraine in the inaugural Canadian Shield tournament. 'They're better now,' Marsch said before speaking at a Canada Ukraine Foundation breakfast Friday. 'They're probably not ready for 90-minute performances (Saturday). But for me, it's appalling that this is the second year in a row that CONCACAF and the powers that be have allowed an MLS team to go down to Mexico for a big final and get poisoned. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'It's ridiculous. Something has to be done to protect these environments.' The Columbus Crew also complained of stomach illness after their loss at Mexico's CF Pachuca in last year's Champions Cup final. Coach Crew coach Wilfried Nancy confirmed afterwards that nearly the entire roster and coaching staff had been stricken by what the club believed to be food poisoning. Marsch acknowledged he had no proof of poisoning but added 'it's not random that two years in a row that this has happened.' 'If I were the Vancouver Whitecaps, if I was the Columbus Crew, if I was MLS, I would be angry. I would be absolutely angry that this had been allowed to happen,' he added. Whitecaps head coach Jesper Sorensen said Friday that he doesn't believe someone intentionally got his team sick. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'I don't expect us to be deliberately poisoned or anything when we were down there. But I don't know,' he said. Marsch does have experience of being at the receiving end of dark arts while visiting Mexico with the U.S. or a club team, citing fire alarms in the middle of the night and dancing and singing outside their hotel. 'And those are somewhat spirited, competitive advantages that are created when you go down to Mexico,' he said. 'But poisoning the team is another version.' Marsch said his understanding was the Whitecaps were suffering from food poisoning, Vancouver arrived in Mexico City last Friday and were trounced 5-0 by Mexican powerhouse Cruz Azul in Sunday's final of CONCACAF's elite club competition 'Not only have we lost the game, also we have picked up some sort of a virus and are dealing with that right now,' Vancouver sporting director and CEO Axel Schuster told reporters Thursday. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Schuster said it was 'unlikely' any of Vancouver's players experienced symptoms during the game. The club said in a statement Thursday that it is working with local health authorities and an infectious disease expert regarding the illness. The Whitecaps cancelled a planned training session Wednesday and held a modified individual session Thursday for players who had been cleared by medical staff. Some players returned to the field for training on Friday, but left the session early, Sorensen said. Vancouver is scheduled to host the Seattle Sounders on Sunday, but Sorensen said he can't envision his team being ready for the game. 'I don't want to risk our players. That's the most important thing for me. The most important thing is the health and care for the players,' the coach said. 'For now, it looks difficult for us to put up a team for a game that we should be able to compete in the MLS. But that's just my opinion.' CONCACAF did not respond immediately to a request for comment. — With files from Gemma Karstens-Smith in Vancouver. 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Winnipeg Free Press
a day ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Canada coach irate after Vancouver Whitecaps players stricken by illness in Mexico
TORONTO – Canada coach Jesse Marsch expressed outrage Friday that the Vancouver Whitecaps had been 'poisoned' during their visit to Mexico for the CONCACAF Champions Cup final. The Whitecaps issued a statement Thursday saying about half of the 75 people who returned to Vancouver on the team's charter plane after Sunday's game had reported symptoms of a gastrointestinal illness. Whitecaps players Ali Ahmed, Sam Adekugbe and Jayden Nelson missed training after arriving sick in the Canadian camp in Halifax ahead of Saturday's game at Toronto's BMO Field between Canada and Ukraine in the inaugural Canadian Shield tournament. 'They're better now,' Marsch said before speaking at a Canada Ukraine Foundation breakfast Friday. 'They're probably not ready for 90-minute performances (Saturday). But for me, it's appalling that this is the second year in a row that CONCACAF and the powers that be have allowed an MLS team to go down to Mexico for a big final and get poisoned. 'It's ridiculous. Something has to be done to protect these environments.' The Columbus Crew also complained of stomach illness after their loss at Mexico's CF Pachuca in last year's Champions Cup final. Coach Crew coach Wilfried Nancy confirmed afterwards that nearly the entire roster and coaching staff had been stricken by what the club believed to be food poisoning. Marsch acknowledged he had no proof of poisoning but added 'it's not random that two years in a row that this has happened.' 'If I were the Vancouver Whitecaps, if I was the Columbus Crew, if I was MLS, I would be angry. I would be absolutely angry that this had been allowed to happen,' he added. Marsch does have experience of being at the receiving end of dark arts while visiting Mexico with the U.S. or a club team, citing fire alarms in the middle of the night and dancing and singing outside their hotel. 'And those are somewhat spirited, competitive advantages that are created when you go down to Mexico,' he said. 'But poisoning the team is another version.' Marsch said his understanding was the Whitecaps were suffering from food poisoning, Vancouver arrived in Mexico City last Friday and were trounced 5-0 by Mexican powerhouse Cruz Azul in Sunday's final of CONCACAF's elite club competition 'Not only have we lost the game, also we have picked up some sort of a virus and are dealing with that right now,' Vancouver sporting director and CEO Axel Schuster told reporters Thursday. Schuster said it was 'unlikely' any of Vancouver's players experienced symptoms during the game. The Whitecaps cancelled a planned training session Wednesday and held a modified individual session Thursday for players who had been cleared by medical staff. The session was closed to media. The club said in a statement that it is working with local health authorities and an infectious disease expert regarding the illness. CONCACAF did not respond immediately to a request for comment. — This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 6, 2025
