Obed Vargas

Obed Gomez Vargas (born August 5, 2005) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder for Major League Soccer club Seattle Sounders FC.

Obed Vargas
Personal information
Full name Obed Gomez Vargas[1]
Date of birth (2005-08-05) August 5, 2005[1]
Place of birth Anchorage, Alaska, United States
Height 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)[1]
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Seattle Sounders FC
Number 73
Youth career
Cook Inlet SC
2019–2021 Seattle Sounders FC
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2021 Tacoma Defiance 28 (0)
2021– Seattle Sounders FC 36 (0)
International career‡
2022– United States U20 9 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of October 21, 2023
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of June 4, 2023

Club career

Born in Anchorage, Alaska, Vargas began his career with Cook Inlet Soccer Club before moving to Washington and joining the youth academy for Major League Soccer club Seattle Sounders FC.[2][3] He played in the academy for two seasons before signing a professional contract with Sounders FC reserve side Tacoma Defiance on May 7, 2021.[4] A couple days later, on May 9, Vargas made his senior debut for Tacoma Defiance in the USL Championship against LA Galaxy II. He started and played 66 minutes as the match ended in a 1–1 draw.[5]

He made his MLS debut for Seattle on July 22, 2021, as one of several Tacoma Defiance players called up to the Sounders for a match against Austin FC to replace injured players. At 15 years and 351 days old, Vargas was the third-youngest player in MLS history.[2] He signed a formal Homegrown Player contract with the Sounders in December and became a starter for the team in the first matches of the 2022 season, playing in two CONCACAF Champions League fixtures. Head coach Brian Schmetzer described Vargas' play style as similar to that of Cristian Roldan's rookie season, adding he was "going to be a tremendous player for our club".[6]

International career

In March 2020, Vargas was selected to participate in the United States national under-15 team camp.[7] He was called up by the United States national under-20 team in January 2022.[6]

On October 8, 2023, Vargas was called up to the United States under-23 national team ahead of friendlies against Mexico and Japan.[8]

Personal life

Vargas is of Mexican descent and holds dual American and Mexican citizenship. His father played for the youth academy of Monarcas Morelia; his younger brother and two sisters also play soccer.[6][9]

Career statistics

Club
As of match played October 21, 2023[10]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup Continental Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Tacoma Defiance 2021 USL 280———280
Seattle Sounders FC 2021 MLS 10———10
2022 MLS 130107[lower-alpha 1]0—210
2023 MLS 22010—2[lower-alpha 2]0250
Total 360207020470
Career total 640207020750
  1. Appearance(s) in CONCACAF Champions League
  2. Appearances in Leagues Cup

Honors

Seattle Sounders FC

References
  1. "Squad List – FIFA U-20 World Cup Argentina 2023: USA" (PDF). FIFA. May 18, 2023. p. 23. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 19, 2023. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
  2. Bragg, Beth (July 24, 2021). "15-year-old Anchorage boy starts for Seattle Sounders to make Major League Soccer history". Anchorage Daily News. Retrieved December 29, 2021.
  3. "Sulte signs contract with Major League Soccer team in Portland". Alaska Sports Hall. November 12, 2020. Retrieved May 10, 2021.
  4. Foss, Tim (May 7, 2021). "Defiance add two Academy products". Sounder at Heart. Retrieved May 10, 2021.
  5. "LA Galaxy II 1–1 Tacoma Defiance". Soccerway.
  6. Evans, Jayda (March 10, 2022). "16-year-old Obed Vargas playing like a veteran already with Sounders". The Seattle Times. Retrieved March 12, 2022.
  7. Carrick, Buzz (March 2, 2020). "Seven Dallas area players named to US U15 team". 3rd Degree. Retrieved May 10, 2021.
  8. "Twenty-three Players Called to U.s. Olympic Men's Soccer Team Training Camp as Preparations for Paris 2024 Kick Off in Phoenix". ussoccer.com. October 8, 2023. Retrieved October 8, 2023.
  9. Mercado, Isabelle (n.d.). "Obed Vargas, a Promising Hispanic Soccer Player". Sol de Medianoche. Retrieved March 12, 2022.
  10. Obed Vargas at Soccerway
  11. "Game Details". concacaf.com. May 5, 2022. Retrieved May 5, 2022.


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