Ali Ahmed (soccer) explained

Ali Ahmed
Birth Date:10 October 2000
Birth Place:Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Height:1.80 m
Position:Midfielder, left-back
Currentclub:Vancouver Whitecaps FC
Clubnumber:22
Youthyears1:2020–2022
Youthclubs1:Vancouver Whitecaps FC
Years1:2022
Clubs1:Whitecaps FC 2
Caps1:15
Goals1:0
Years2:2022
Clubs2:Vancouver Whitecaps FC (loan)
Caps2:2
Goals2:0
Years3:2023–
Clubs3:Vancouver Whitecaps FC
Caps3:40
Goals3:3
Nationalyears1:2023–
Nationalteam1:Canada
Nationalcaps1:7
Nationalgoals1:0
Club-Update:July 20, 2024
Nationalteam-Update:July 13, 2024

Ali Ahmed (born October 10, 2000) is a Canadian professional 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 parents from the Oromo Region of Ethiopia. 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. In November 2019, he trialed with the Vancouver Whitecaps Academy and then trialed again the following year, and in August 2020, he joined the Vancouver Whitecaps Academy.[2] In 2021, he played with the Vancouver Whitecaps FC U-23. He attended pre-season camp with the first team in 2021 and 2022.

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]

In June 2024, Ahmed was named to Canada's squad for the 2024 Copa América.[21]

Career statistics

Club

Club!rowspan="2"
SeasonLeaguePlayoffsNational cupContinentalOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Whitecaps FC 22022MLS Next Pro150150
Vancouver Whitecaps FC (loan)2022MLS200020
Vancouver Whitecaps FC2023MLS22220213010303
202418100200020221
Total40320413030524
Career total57320413030694

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year!National team!!Year!!Apps!!Goals
Canada202340
202430
Total70

Honours

Vancouver Whitecaps

Individual

Notes and References

  1. Web site: The road less travelled for Whitecaps prospect Ali Ahmed. April 27, 2022. J.J.. Adams. The Province.
  2. Web site: Whitecaps FC 2 are back – Get to know the new squad (Part Two). March 19, 2022. Michael. McColl. Away from the Numbers.
  3. Web site: WFC2 sign two Canadians and four 2022 MLS SuperDraft picks. March 18, 2022. Vancouver Whitecaps FC.
  4. Web site: WFC2 open inaugural MLS NEXT Pro season with narrow 1-0 loss against Houston Dynamo 2. Maxim. Fossey. March 26, 2022. Vancouver Whitecaps FC.
  5. Web site: Terminal City Thoughts: A look at a few Whitecaps 2 players. October 19, 2022. Nathan. Durec. Area 51 Sports Network.
  6. Web site: Whitecaps FC announce winners for 2022 Player Awards. October 28, 2022. Vancouver Whitecaps FC.
  7. Web site: Whitecaps FC sign WFC2 wingback Ali Ahmed and midfielder Vasco Fry to MLS short-term agreements. April 22, 2022. Vancouver Whitecaps FC.
  8. Vancouver Whitecaps FC. WhitecapsFC. 1518065035335012352. Ali Ahmed's MLS Debut @aliahmed51_ #VWFC #ATXvVAN. November 1, 2022.
  9. Web site: Whitecaps FC sign wingback Ali Ahmed and striker Simon Becher to MLS short-term agreements. August 4, 2022. Vancouver Whitecaps FC.
  10. Web site: Whitecaps FC sign MLS NEXT Pro wingback Ali Ahmed to an MLS contract through 2025. November 16, 2022. Vancouver Whitecaps FC.
  11. Web site: Ali Ahmed posts thank you message, insists he'll be back on the pitch with Vancouver Whitecaps soon. May 26, 2023. Canadian Soccer Daily.
  12. Web site: Scary Ali Ahmed injury overshadows Whitecaps' Canadian Championship win. The Third Sub. Andrew. Bahl. May 25, 2023.
  13. Web site: Ali Ahmed Cleared By Hospital, Returns To Team. May 25, 2023. Northern Tribune. John. Jacques.
  14. Web site: Whitecaps' Ali Ahmed cleared to travel with team after leaving hospital. May 24, 2023. Sportsnet.
  15. Web site: Gressel and Ahmed win awards at 2023 Canadian Championship. June 8, 2023. Canadian Soccer Association.
  16. Web site: CONCACAF drops stacked Canada preliminary Nations League roster with some surprise names. May 19, 2023. May 19, 2023. Canada Soccer Daily.
  17. Web site: Scary injury to Ali Ahmed casts pall over Vancouver Whitecaps victory. May 24, 2023. J.J.. Adams. The Province.
  18. Web site: Ali Ahmed called up to Canada MNT for Concacaf Gold Cup. June 19, 2023. Vancouver Whitecaps FC.
  19. Web site: MLS rookies Amhed, Bombito inspire in Canada's Gold Cup opener. Major League Soccer. Ben. Steiner. June 28, 2023.
  20. Web site: 'Fearless' Ali Ahmed's Canada debut marks latest high point for breakout Vancouver Whitecaps star. Tom. Nightingale. June 28, 2023. Canadian Soccer Daily.
  21. Web site: CANMNT ANNOUNCE 2024 COPA AMÉRICA ROSTER. June 15, 2024. Canadian Soccer Association.