Seattle Sounders midfielder Obed Vargas and wingback Reed Baker-Whiting just returned to Seattle after one of the achievements of a lifetime, each representing his respective national team at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile. Vargas and the Mexico U-20s and Baker-Whiting and the United States U-20s each advanced out of their groups before falling to Argentina and Morocco, respectively, in the quarterfinal stage.
“To me, playing with the national team is the biggest honor,” said Vargas. “It doesn’t matter if it’s the U-20s or the senior national team…The Mexican fans, the Mexican people, they live the game differently.”
Vargas, who was born in Alaska, previously represented the U.S. at various youth levels before making a one-time FIFA switch to represent his parents’ home country of Mexico, where he recently made his first senior appearance as well. Vargas is having a sensational year, earning his first MLS All-Star Game appearance and being named the No. 1 player on Major League Soccer’s 22 Under 22, which ranks the best players in the league younger than 22.
“I’m not going to change who I am when I play for the national team or when I play for the Sounders,” said Vargas. “It’s more of what the coaches ask of me…What I do here at the Sounders is what gets me to the national team, so I don’t imagine doing anything differently.”
Still just 20, Vargas has already amassed nearly 100 MLS regular-season appearances and has solidified himself as one of the best defensive midfielders in the league, regardless of age. While finally getting more national recognition, none of Vargas’ play has surprised his club teammates, especially Baker-Whiting, who matriculated through the Sounders Academy system with him.
“He’s an extremely professional player,” Baker-Whiting said of Vargas. “He’s so consistent. It’s so impressive. In the Academy, you saw he had the talent of dribbling out of tight spots. The thing that impresses me the most is the consistency. He does it game in, game out, home, away…That’s a level of professionalism that transcends his age.”
Baker-Whiting had represented the U.S. at multiple youth national team levels before getting the nod for what was a very talented United States U-20 squad. The U.S. flew through the group stage, including posting a massive victory over France, and looked destined for a deep run before falling to a Morocco side that the U.S. had just beaten a few weeks prior.
“It was amazing, a great experience,” said Baker-Whiting. “It was amazing to get to play in that environment with that group of people…I really appreciated how much the togetherness in the group really helped us. It was the most tight-knit group I had been a part of.”
Vargas and Baker-Whiting now quickly have their sights set on yet another trophy after winning the Leagues Cup with the Sounders in August. Seattle heads into a Decision Day clash on the East Coast against New York City FC on Saturday in Queens (3 p.m. PT; Watch on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV) with the No. 5 seed in the West guaranteed. The duo knows that there is little time to dwell on their World Cup experience, but rather use it as further motivation to make a deep postseason run.
“For me, it’s reiterating that the details matter,” said Vargas. “We’re about to go into the playoffs and this tough stretch, and the details matter.”
Added Baker-Whiting: “The level at training is really good. It feels more intense than ever, more committed…We won the Leagues Cup. We can beat any team in MLS, but we have to go out and prove that each and every game.”
