When someone thinks of Alaska, visions of beautiful glaciers, adventurous fishing and awe-inspiring wildlife come to mind. Football? Not so much. But don’t tell that to Obed Vargas. Raised in a Mexican family in the state’s most populous city of Anchorage, football was a daily part of life, both playing and watching on television.
But with no professional options available in Alaska, Vargas left home at age 14 to join the Seattle Sounders FC academy system. He made his first team debut in 2021 at age of 15 and is now starting his fourth full Major League Soccer (MLS) season with the Pacific Northwest side.
Bigger yet for the Mexican national team midfielder is the chance to play in this year’s FIFA Club World Cup 2025™, in which the Sounders will host Spanish side Atlético de Madrid, French giants Paris Saint-Germain and Brazilian and South American champions Botafogo at Seattle’s Lumen Field.
After the draw, Vargas’ imagination ran wild with the possibilities of playing against three titans of world football.
“We’ve had time to process who we’re going to face, but I think, right now, the feeling is still surreal that we’re going to be playing such big teams in our stadium, in our city, in front of our people,” said Vargas in an interview with FIFA. “I think we still don’t grasp how crazy that is. So, we’re just super excited, and we can’t wait to get on the field.”
Growing up, the TV in the Vargas house was usually set to channels showing football, especially Liga MX. His father, a Morelia native, was a big Monarcas Morelia fan, while his Mexico City-raised mother always pulled for capital city favourites Club America. But the player and team that lured Vargas’ attention was a continent and ocean away in Spain. Now more than a decade later, he might get the opportunity of a lifetime on 19 June and face his boyhood heroes. No doubt it’s the team he’s most looking forward to playing in the tournament.
“[It’s] Atlético de Madrid, for sure,” said Vargas. “It’s the team I’ve been following since 2014. It’s my favourite team and [Antoine] Griezmann has been my idol for years. So, hopefully, I can get his jersey.”
Vargas was just 16 when he helped Seattle win the 2022 Concacaf Champions Cup, appearing in seven matches. That feat earned the Sounders a place in the FIFA Club World Cup Morocco 2022™, in addition to this year’s global showcase. You can count the teenager as one of the many proponents of the new Club World Cup format.
“I like the format change of the Club World Cup because it simulates what the World Cup is,” said Vargas. “It’s a tournament where there’s a group stage, knockout rounds and a final, so I actually like it and I like that for teams there are going to be three games guaranteed. So, that’s nice.”
The Sounders are just one of two teams from MLS participating in the tournament, the other being Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami. Clubs hailing from the North American league have never gone up against European opposition in an official match. Vargas recognizes that these Club World Cup encounters will provide an important litmus test as to where MLS’ top teams rank in world football.
“I think there’s a lot we can learn from playing these teams,” said Vargas. “Obviously, we haven’t played them yet, but I think we can learn that maybe we can compete with those teams. Maybe we can’t and there’s a lot of growth that we need to do, but I think levelling up against them will surely give us a grasp of where we’re at as a league, as a team and individually as well.”
Getting out of the group would be great achievement for Vargas and Seattle, and if it comes with the reward of an Atlético de Madrid No7 shirt, even better.
