RENTON – Obed Vargas’ decision to change national team allegiances from the United States to Mexico was always one rooted in emotion. When he made the decision in June, he said he was “following his heart.”
But it wasn’t until last week that he experienced what the change would really mean.
After his first call-up to the Mexican U23 team – which included training with the full national team and playing in two games – he said he has no regrets about his decision.
“It was a good experience for me,” Vargas said, admitting he was a little nervous about training with a group of players he’d never met. “How am I going to fit in with the guys, the staff? But I was really happy with how they treated me. They treated me like I had been there the whole time. It felt more natural to me, like I was at home.”
Among the little things that made it all feel familiar was eating dinner a bit later – around 8 PM – and hearing certain off-color phrases.
Vargas, who at 19 was the youngest player involved in the camp, also admitted that it was a little “surreal” to be surrounded by players he has grown up watching.
Head coach Brian Schmetzer said he could notice a little extra energy from Vargas.
“He looks good,” Schmetzer said. “He was excited to go. You can tell in his presence that he has a lot going for him.”
As much as Vargas enjoyed everything, though, his father may have been even happier.
“He would call me every night to see how it’s going,” Vargas said. “He just wanted to see what we were doing. He’s very excited and I’m happy he can live it through me.”
Injury updates
- Stefan Frei has cleared concussion protocol and head coach Brian Schmetzer seemed to think there was a good chance he’d at least be available for Sunday’s
- Nouhou was listed as “out” on the availability report, but “not due to injury.”
