| Obed Vargas | |
| Full Name: | Obed Gomez Vargas[1] |
| Birth Date: | 5 August 2005 |
| Birth Place: | Anchorage, Alaska, United States |
| Height: | 1.75m (05.74feet) |
| Position: | Midfielder |
| Currentclub: | Seattle Sounders FC |
| Clubnumber: | 18 |
| Youthclubs1: | Cook Inlet SC |
| Youthyears2: | 2019–2021 |
| Youthclubs2: | Seattle Sounders FC |
| Years1: | 2021 |
| Clubs1: | Tacoma Defiance |
| Caps1: | 28 |
| Goals1: | 0 |
| Years2: | 2021– |
| Clubs2: | Seattle Sounders FC |
| Caps2: | 66 |
| Goals2: | 1 |
| Nationalyears1: | 2022 |
| Nationalteam1: | United States U20 |
| Nationalcaps1: | 9 |
| Nationalgoals1: | 0 |
| Nationalyears2: | 2023 |
| Nationalteam2: | United States U23 |
| Nationalcaps2: | 2 |
| Nationalgoals2: | 1 |
| Nationalyears3: | 2024 |
| Nationalteam3: | Mexico U20 |
| Nationalcaps3: | 0 |
| Nationalgoals3: | 0 |
| Nationalyears4: | 2024 |
| Nationalteam4: | Mexico U23 |
| Nationalcaps4: | 2 |
| Nationalgoals4: | 0 |
| Nationalyears5: | 2024– |
| Nationalteam5: | Mexico |
| Nationalcaps5: | 1 |
| Nationalgoals5: | 0 |
| Club-Update: | 6 October 2024 |
| Nationalteam-Update: | 15 October 2024 |
Obed Gomez Vargas (born August 5, 2005) is a professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Major League Soccer club Seattle Sounders FC. Born in the United States, he represents the Mexico national team.[2]
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.[3] [4] He played in the academy for two seasons before signing a professional contract with Sounders FC reserve side Tacoma Defiance on May 7, 2021.[5] 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.[6]
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.[3] 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".[7] He was an early substitute in the second leg of the 2022 CONCACAF Champions League final, which the Sounders won 3–0.[8]
Vargas made 13 appearances through late June, when a stress facture in his back prevented him from continuing with the team. He was also unable to join the under-20 national team in the CONCACAF U-20 Championship.[9] Vargas returned for the 2023 season but played in few matches.[10] He scored his first career MLS goal on April 30, 2024, against the Philadelphia Union, in a match that was originally started a month earlier but postponed due to heavy rain.[11]
Vargas was eligible to represent both Mexico and the United States at the international level.
In March 2020, Vargas was selected to participate in the United States national under-15 team camp.[12]
He was called up by the United States national under-20 team in January 2022.[7]
On October 8, 2023, Vargas was called up to the United States national under-23 team ahead of friendlies against Mexico national under-23 and Japan national under-23 teams.[13]
On May 21, 2024, Vargas completed a one-time switch from the United States to Mexico.[2]
On June 20, 2024, Vargas was called up to the Mexico national under-20 team ahead of friendlies against the Liga TDP, Cruz Azul under-23 and Atlético Morelia teams in preparation for the 2024 CONCACAF U-20 Championship.[14]
On August 29, 2024, Vargas was called up to the Mexico national under-23 team ahead of two friendlies against the Panama national under-23 team scheduled for September 6, 2024 and September 10, 2024.[15]
Upon completing his FIFA one-time switch, in early October 2024, Vargas receives his first call-up to the senior national team for the coming October 11 and 15 friendly matches against Spanish club Valencia CF and the United States respectively. Vargas is the first Alaskan to ever play for a national team.[16] On October 15, 2024, Vargas makes his senior Mexico debut entering in the 83rd minute for Jesús Angulo in a friendly match against the United States, which Mexico won 2–0.[17]
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.[7] [18]
| Club | Season | League | National cup | Continental | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||
| Tacoma Defiance | 2021 | USL | 28 | 0 | — | — | — | 28 | 0 | ||||
| Seattle Sounders FC | 2021 | MLS | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 1 | 0 | ||||
| 2022 | MLS | 13 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 0 | — | 21 | 0 | |||
| 2023 | MLS | 22 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 27 | 0 | ||
| 2024 | MLS | 30 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 37 | 2 | ||
| Total | 66 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 14 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 86 | 2 | |||
| Career total | 94 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 14 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 114 | 2 | |||
Seattle Sounders FC