Overview

• A significant number of Whitecaps players and staff reported gastrointestinal symptoms after returning on their charter flight from Mexico City following a 5-0 loss to Cruz Azul
• Sporting director Axel Schuster said about half of the 75 people on the return flight experienced symptoms, while those who did not travel back on the team plane remained largely unaffected
• Three Canadian national team players—Ali Ahmed, Sam Adekugbe and Jayden Nelson—were among those stricken and missed initial Canada camp training ahead of the Canadian Shield tournament
• The team canceled its June 4 training, held a modified individual session on June 5, and is working with local health authorities and an infectious disease expert to determine the cause
• The club rejects allegations of deliberate poisoning and says preliminary analysis points to contamination during the journey home rather than at match venues