Ali Ahmed (soccer)

Ali Ahmed

Personal information
Date of birth	(2000-10-10) October 10, 2000 (age 23)
Place of birth	Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Height	1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position(s)	Midfield, left-back
Team information
Current team	Vancouver Whitecaps FC
Number	22
Youth career
2020–2022	Vancouver Whitecaps FC
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2022	Whitecaps FC 2	15	(0)
2022	→ Vancouver Whitecaps FC (loan)	2	(0)
2023–	Vancouver Whitecaps FC	30	(3)
International career‡
2023–	Canada	4	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of April 20, 2024 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of July 9, 2023

Ali Ahmed (born October 10, 2000) is a Canadian soccer player who plays as a midfielder or left-back for Major League Soccer club Vancouver Whitecaps FC and the Canada national team.

Early life

Ahmed was born in Toronto to Ethiopian parents. ^[1] In 2018, he went on trial with the Toronto FC Academy, who were ready to sign him to join the academy, but he opted to head to Portugal to trial with the U19 side of C.F. Os Belenenses, but was unable to sign as he was under 18. ^[1] He then went to Spain, before returning to Toronto, before returning to Europe to trial in Portugal, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands. ^[1] In November 2019, he trialed with the Vancouver Whitecaps Academy and then trialed again the following year, ^[1] and in August 2020, he joined the Vancouver Whitecaps Academy. ^[2] In 2021, he played with the Vancouver Whitecaps FC U-23. ^[2] He attended pre-season camp with the first team in 2021 and 2022. ^[2]

Club career

In March 2022, he signed a professional contract with Whitecaps FC 2 in MLS Next Pro. ^[3] He made his professional debut on March 26 against Houston Dynamo 2. ^[4] He led the team in assists with five in 2022. ^[5] He was named the 2022 WFC2 Player of the Year. ^[6]

On April 22, 2022, he joined the first team on a short-term four-day loan ahead of their MLS league match against Austin FC. ^[7] In the match the next day, he made his official first-team debut. ^[8] On August 4, he signed another short-term loan with Vancouver. ^[9] In November 2022, he signed a permanent contract with the first team for the 2023 season, becoming the first Whitecaps FC 2 player to sign a first-team contract. ^[10] On May 24, he suffered what appeared to be a serious injury in a match, where he lost consciousness and was treated on-field for seventeen minutes, ^{[11] [12]} but fortunately was released from hospital the next day with only a concussion. ^{[13] [14]} On June 7, 2023, he won the 2023 Canadian Championship with the Whitecaps, defeating CF Montreal and won the tournament's Best Young Canadian Player Award. ^[15]

International career

In May 2023, Ahmed was listed on the Canada preliminary roster for the 2023 CONCACAF Nations League Finals. ^{[16] [17]} In June 2023, he was named to the final 23-man squad for the 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup. ^[18] Ahmed made his debut for Canada on June 27 in their tournament opener against Guadeloupe. ^{[19] [20]}

Career statistics

Club

As of match played April 20, 2024 ^[21]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			Playoffs		National cup		Continental		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Whitecaps FC 2	2022	MLS Next Pro	15	0	–		–		–		–		15	0
Vancouver Whitecaps FC (loan)	2022	MLS	2	0	–		0	0	–		–		2	0
Vancouver Whitecaps FC	2023		22	2	2	0	2	1	3	0	1	0	30	3
	2024		8	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	8	1
	Total		32	3	2	0	2	1	3	0	1	0	40	4
Career total			47	3	2	0	2	1	3	0	1	0	55	4

International

As of match played July 9, 2023

Appearances and goals by national team and year

National team	Year	Apps	Goals
Canada	2023	4	0
Total		4	0

Honours

Vancouver Whitecaps

• Canadian Championship: 2023 ^[15]

Individual

• Canadian Championship - Best Young Canadian Player Award: 2023 ^[15]

References

1. Adams, J.J. (April 27, 2022). "The road less travelled for Whitecaps prospect Ali Ahmed". The Province .
2. McColl, Michael (March 19, 2022). "Whitecaps FC 2 are back – Get to know the new squad (Part Two)". Away from the Numbers.
3. "WFC2 sign two Canadians and four 2022 MLS SuperDraft picks". Vancouver Whitecaps FC . March 18, 2022.
4. Fossey, Maxim (March 26, 2022). "WFC2 open inaugural MLS NEXT Pro season with narrow 1-0 loss against Houston Dynamo 2". Vancouver Whitecaps FC .
5. Durec, Nathan (October 19, 2022). "Terminal City Thoughts: A look at a few Whitecaps 2 players". Area 51 Sports Network.
6. "Whitecaps FC announce winners for 2022 Player Awards". Vancouver Whitecaps FC . October 28, 2022.
7. "Whitecaps FC sign WFC2 wingback Ali Ahmed and midfielder Vasco Fry to MLS short-term agreements". Vancouver Whitecaps FC . April 22, 2022.
8. Vancouver Whitecaps FC [@WhitecapsFC] (April 24, 2022). "Ali Ahmed's MLS Debut @aliahmed51_ #VWFC #ATXvVAN" (Tweet). Retrieved November 1, 2022– via Twitter.
9. "Whitecaps FC sign wingback Ali Ahmed and striker Simon Becher to MLS short-term agreements". Vancouver Whitecaps FC . August 4, 2022.
10. "Whitecaps FC sign MLS NEXT Pro wingback Ali Ahmed to an MLS contract through 2025". Vancouver Whitecaps FC . November 16, 2022.
11. "Ali Ahmed posts thank you message, insists he'll be back on the pitch with Vancouver Whitecaps soon". Canadian Soccer Daily. May 26, 2023.
12. Bahl, Andrew (May 25, 2023). "Scary Ali Ahmed injury overshadows Whitecaps' Canadian Championship win". The Third Sub.
13. Jacques, John (May 25, 2023). "Ali Ahmed Cleared By Hospital, Returns To Team". Northern Tribune.
14. "Whitecaps' Ali Ahmed cleared to travel with team after leaving hospital". Sportsnet . May 24, 2023.
15. "Gressel and Ahmed win awards at 2023 Canadian Championship". Canadian Soccer Association . June 8, 2023.
16. "CONCACAF drops stacked Canada preliminary Nations League roster with some surprise names". Canada Soccer Daily. May 19, 2023. Retrieved May 19, 2023.
17. Adams, J.J. (May 24, 2023). "Scary injury to Ali Ahmed casts pall over Vancouver Whitecaps victory". The Province .
18. "Ali Ahmed called up to Canada MNT for Concacaf Gold Cup". Vancouver Whitecaps FC . June 19, 2023.
19. Steiner, Ben (June 28, 2023). "MLS rookies Amhed, Bombito inspire in Canada's Gold Cup opener". Major League Soccer .
20. Nightingale, Tom (June 28, 2023). "'Fearless' Ali Ahmed's Canada debut marks latest high point for breakout Vancouver Whitecaps star". Canadian Soccer Daily.
21. Ali Ahmed at Soccerway

External links

• Ali Ahmed at the Canadian Soccer Association
• Ali Ahmed at Soccerway