'My Story Sometimes Feels Like It Wasn't Meant to Happen': Mexican International Obed Vargas Reflects on His Journey - INTERVIEW

When people think of Alaska, soccer might not be among the first things that come to mind given the fact that it is one of the coldest, most remote places in the world. But Obed Vargas' story proves that you can chase your dreams no matter where you are.

Vargas, now a midfielder for Major League Soccer's Seattle Sounders, left home at just 14 to pursue his dream of becoming a professional player—and never looked back.

The son of Mexican immigrant parents, Vargas grew up in Anchorage. His talent caught the attention of the Seattle Sounders, who offered him a place in their academy. After just a couple of seasons there, he climbed the ranks and earned a call-up to the first team in 2021, making his professional debut at 15 years and 351 days old, becoming the third-youngest player in MLS history.

In an exclusive interview with The Latin Times, Vargas, now also a Mexican international, spoke about his journey in soccer, his background, and his ambitions as a player.

"I haven't had much time to sit back and reflect on everything that's happened," Vargas said about the past 18 months, during which he played in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup in the U.S., won the Leagues Cup against Lionel Messi's Inter Miami, and earned his first cap with the Mexican national team. "I kind of go day by day and try to live every day to the fullest."

"But looking back now, it's been crazy and surreal. I don't just think about the last two years—I think back to when I left my hometown and my parents at 14. I give thanks to God every day for bringing me here. My story and what I've achieved sometimes feels like it wasn't supposed to happen. Coming from Alaska, from immigrant parents, it seemed almost impossible. That's why I give thanks to God."

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During the interview, Vargas reflected on the obstacles he has overcome to make his dream a reality.

"I always knew it was going to be very difficult and that I would have to overcome many obstacles. No one had ever left Alaska to play for a national team or even reach the professional level in soccer. But I knew I had something different, something special. I owe a lot of that to my parents and the culture I grew up in. I watched my parents work every day to put food on the table for four children, and that was a motivation for me. When I left home at 14, I left with the mindset that I would not return to Alaska, and if I did, it would be with something that would make my family proud."

Despite growing up in one of the most remote places on the planet, Vargas said his Latino roots were always with him and that his childhood was much like that of any other Mexican American kid in the U.S.

"I have gone back for a few days and visited the people and the training grounds and playing fields where I grew up. It is very nostalgic, motivating, and honoring because that is where I came from. As I said, I think it is amazing that a Mexican family was able to establish itself in Alaska," Vargas said. "My parents did it to give us a better life. Just like any other Mexican American family, whether you are from California, Texas, or Florida, I feel like we all grew up in a similar way. Maybe I wasn't surrounded by Mexicans as much as kids in other states, but we did have our Hispanic community in Alaska. We went to a Spanish church, and I even danced in a mariachi band."

Over the past two seasons, Vargas has become a regular starter for the Sounders. During the 2025 MLS season, he ranked third on the team in both minutes played and games started. In this year's revamped Club World Cup, he played 99 percent of the minutes in matches against Botafogo, Atlético Madrid, and Paris Saint-Germain.

During his time with the Sounders, Vargas has developed multiple facets of his game and taken on different roles for the team.

"My role has changed year by year. When I joined the first team, I played more defensively, focused on breaking up plays rather than attacking, and helped the team defensively. That helped me establish myself as a player in this league," Vargas said. "Later, with the trust of my teammates and coaches, I evolved into a more offensive, box-to-box player. I like to contribute on both ends, create scoring opportunities, and also give my best when defending. My coaches know I have the stamina to run the entire match and support the team in both phases."

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As Vargas explained, his performance on the field is the result of countless hours analyzing matches, combined with the talent he has been developing since he was a kid.

"These are things you carry with you from a young age. Talent is something God gives you, and understanding the game comes from studying matches with your coaches. That has been fundamental and crucial to my development. Predrag Radosavljević, one of my coaches, spends a lot of time analyzing games with me and has taught me so much. That is what helps me know when to track back behind the defensive line, when to help the center backs play the ball out, when to stay between the lines, and when to move into the attacking area. That growth comes not just from the experience you gain in games, but also from the work that goes unseen off the field."

Before representing Mexico, Vargas had a brief stint with U.S. youth national teams. In June 2024 he completed a FIFA-approved one-time switch to represent Mexico at the international level.

When asked about his decision, Vargas said it was an easy choice, and the only challenge was adapting to a different style of play.

"I don't think it was a drastic change because for me it was relatively easy given how I grew up and the people around me in my family, who are all Mexican. It was more about adapting to a different style of play, to different ideas from the coaches," Vargas said.

Shortly after announcing his switch, Vargas received a call-up to the senior national team and made his debut in a friendly match against the United States.

"It was a very special experience to be part of a national team from the inside. It was important for me to start building connections with my teammates and the coaching staff. I didn't get to play much, but I think that experience was more about learning from my teammates," Vargas said. "I tried to get closer to Andrés Guardado, who played in my position and had a great career in Europe. He told me his story, where he started, and how he struggled, but he also gave me a lot of advice. One thing he kept repeating to me was not to lose my head, because there are many talented players who then get lost. That was the advice that marked me the most."

Vargas' strong run of form could earn him a spot in next year's World Cup. He said it is still a realistic goal, but he needs to earn more caps in the coming months to secure a potential spot. In November, Vargas was called by Mexico coach Javier Aguirre just for the second time in his career to report to the national team.

🚨🇲🇽 European clubs started tracking and monitoring Mexican talent Obed Vargas for 2026.He’s been voted as best U22 player in MLS with Seattle Sounders set to receive approaches from Europe soon. pic.twitter.com/sPl3jlrTSe

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) October 9, 2025

"If you ask anyone, I think everyone would say they want to be there. I think it's realistic; there's still time to make it. I need to get call-ups more often soon to be able to sneak in, but I'm not closing the door," Vargas said.

When asked about his ambitions as a player, Vargas said he believes he has the talent to have a long career in European soccer.

"I think I can reach the very top. God willing, I can reach the elite of world soccer and play there for many years. But God will decide when and how things happen. The only thing I try to do is do things right day by day, and the opportunities come on their own," he said.

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