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Yahoo
6 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
3 Canadian national team players among the Whitecaps stricken by illness
Ali Ahmed of Canada's Vancouver Whitecaps sits on the pitch after losing 0-5 against Mexico's Cruz Azul during the CONCACAF Champions Cup final soccer match in Mexico City, Sunday, June 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano) Ali Ahmed of Canada's Vancouver Whitecaps sits on the pitch after losing 0-5 against Mexico's Cruz Azul during the CONCACAF Champions Cup final soccer match in Mexico City, Sunday, June 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano) 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. Advertisement 'They're better now,' Marsch said. 'They're probably not ready for 90-minute performances." The trio practiced with the national team Friday in preparation for the match at Toronto's BMO Field. Canada also plays Ivory Coast on Tuesday as it readies for the CONCACAF Gold Cup. Marsch, who said it was his understanding that the players had food poisoning, questioned how it could happen two years in a row. Last year, Columbus Crew players fell ill while playing in the CONCACAF Champions Cup final in Mexico against Pachuca. "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 said. Advertisement The Whitecaps were forced to cancel practice Wednesday and had a modified session for cleared players Thursday after both players and staff reported the gastrointestinal symptoms. It appeared many players had returned Friday. 'The health and well-being of our players and staff remain a top priority. Each player has been provided with an individualized program by the medical and performance staff to support their continued preparation and recovery,' the Whitecaps said in a statement. Whitecaps sporting director Axel Schuster told reporters that about half of the 75 people who returned to Canada via charter following the game reported symptoms. The Whitecaps lost 5-0 to Liga MX team Cruz Azul in the tournament's championship game Sunday night in Mexico City. The Whitecaps were scheduled to play the Seattle Sounders in a Cascadia Cup rivalry match at BC Place on Sunday. Nine players were already going to be missing because of national team duty, including Ahmed, Adekugbe and Nelson. Advertisement Schuster said the Whitecaps have been in contact with the league about whether the team would have enough players for the game. "If we have enough healthy and fit players available, we want to play it, of course,' Schuster said. 'No one ever wants not to play a game if he thinks he has a group together that is ready to compete in this game.' ___ AP soccer:
Toronto Sun
6 days ago
- Sport
- 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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Toronto Sun
6 days ago
- Sport
- Toronto Sun
Did Vancouver Whitecaps eat something bad? Stomach bug hits team hard
Training schedule called off for two straight days due to gastrointestinal issue affecting players, staff Jesper Sorensen coach of Canada's Vancouver Whitecaps stands next to the bench prior to the CONCACAF Champions Cup final soccer match 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. Vancouver Whitecaps fans must have felt sick watching their team get dismantled 5-0 by Cruz Azul in last weekend's CONCACAF Champions Cup final in Mexico City. 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 team knows how they feel, too. At least 30 people, including more than half the team, was hit by a gastrointestinal issue on their way back from Mexico, which has prevented the Vancouver Whitecaps from training in full for the past two days. 'You know, in hindsight, everyone felt ill during the game,' Caps CEO Axel Schuster joked Thursday. 'Maybe it's better to have all negatives in one week this year. I will take that. If you have everything negative and all frustration packed in one week, then it's OK.' It was the Monday after the travelling party returned when the symptoms ravaged the group. They had an off day Tuesday, but training was cancelled Wednesday and Thursday as the team tried to regain its health. The Whitecaps are scheduled to host the Seattle Sounders on Sunday evening (6 p.m. PT), and were already set to have nine players miss the game because of national team call-ups. But Schuster said the game hasn't been postponed, and much would depend on Friday's training and testing results. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. There is a health and safety protocol in place that the league could trigger should player safety be deemed at risk, but that decision hasn't been made yet. 'We are now more or less working through, from day to day, how the situation evolves and changes, and what that means for training tomorrow,' said Schuster. 'I don't have an answer yet, but that we expect that things hopefully become better from day to day. '… We also work with the health authorities in British Columbia, together with the infection disease experts, because we wanted to make it very clear right from the beginning to the league that we're not making anything up, that this is a real, real, real problem that we are dealing with.' Asked if there was any suggestion of foul play, a club spokesperson said there wasn't. Whether it was a case of the team being served a bad meal or whether it was an illness contracted through other means is being investigated. As part of their preparation for Sunday's final, the team secured their own chef in hopes of avoiding any food-related issues. The likely culprit, judging by the timeline and those who were affected compared to those who travelled separately, narrowed it down to post-game meals. pjohnston@ Read More Olympics World Toronto & GTA Columnists Toronto & GTA
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Whitecaps report illness following CONCACAF Champions Cup final
Ali Ahmed of Canada's Vancouver Whitecaps sits on the pitch after losing 0-5 against Mexico's Cruz Azul during the CONCACAF Champions Cup final soccer match in Mexico City, Sunday, June 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano) The Vancouver Whitecaps said a 'significant number' of players who traveled to Mexico for last weekend's CONCACAF Champions Cup final have become ill. The Whitecaps canceled practice Wednesday and had a modified session for cleared players Thursday after both players and staff reported gastrointestinal symptoms. Advertisement 'The health and well-being of our players and staff remain a top priority. Each player has been provided with an individualized program by the medical and performance staff to support their continued preparation and recovery,' the team said in a statement. The Whitecaps are scheduled to play the Seattle Sounders in a Cascadia Cup rivalry match at BC Place on Sunday. The Whitecaps lost 5-0 to Cruz Azul on Sunday in the CONCACAF Champions Cup final in Mexico City. Last year in the tournament final, players for the Columbus Crew also became ill. The Crew lost to Pachuca 3-0 in Mexico. ___ AP soccer:
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Toluca holds America to a 0-0 draw in the first leg of the Mexican Clausura final
Toluca's Robert Morales, center, reacts during the Mexican soccer league first leg final match against America in Mexico City, Thursday, May 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano) America's Cristian Borja does a bicycle kick past Toluca's Juan Dominguez during the Mexican soccer league first leg final match in Mexico City, Thursday, May 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano) America's Rodrigo Aguirre, right, and Toluca's Andres Pereira fight for the ball during the Mexican soccer league first leg final match in Mexico City, Thursday, May 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano) America's Sebastian Caceres, left, and Toluca's Robert Morales vie for the ball during the Mexican soccer league first leg final match in Mexico City, Thursday, May 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano) Toluca's Robert Morales, center, reacts during the Mexican soccer league first leg final match against America in Mexico City, Thursday, May 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano) America's Cristian Borja does a bicycle kick past Toluca's Juan Dominguez during the Mexican soccer league first leg final match in Mexico City, Thursday, May 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano) America's Rodrigo Aguirre, right, and Toluca's Andres Pereira fight for the ball during the Mexican soccer league first leg final match in Mexico City, Thursday, May 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano) America's Sebastian Caceres, left, and Toluca's Robert Morales vie for the ball during the Mexican soccer league first leg final match in Mexico City, Thursday, May 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano) MEXICO CITY (AP) — Top-seeded Toluca salvaged a 0-0 draw against defending champion America on Thursday in the first leg of the Mexican Clausura championship series. The Aguilas, who finished with the second-best record in the regular season, had the best scoring chances but missed a couple of clear opportunities. Advertisement 'It was an evenly played match. Toluca came to defend pretty strong. We proposed it, but did not know how to finish our plays,' Aguilas coach Andre Jardine said. 'It is a wide-open series. I think the second leg will be a different kind of match.' The return leg will be played next Sunday at Toluca, a city located 66 kilometers (around 40 miles) from the nation's capital. America, which reached the final after knocking out crosstown rival Cruz Azul in a rematch of the CONCACAF Champions Cup quarterfinals, is aiming to become the second team to win four straight championships in Mexico. Only Chivas, from 1958 until 1962, has won four titles in a row, although with a different format. Toluca, which is third on the all-time list of champions in Mexico with 11 titles, is trying to end a 15-year drought. The last time Toluca won a title was in the Clausura 2010 tournament. Since then, the team has qualified for three finals and lost them all. Advertisement 'We played a great match on the defensive side. We need to rest knowing that the second leg is going to be as intense as this one,' Toluca coach Antonio Mohamed said. 'We know what type of opponent we are facing and it's going to be much harder than today.' After the domestic final, America is set to face the LAFC in Los Angeles on May 31 in a qualification playoff for the last spot in the Club World Cup. ___ AP soccer:
