VANCOUVER, BC – Vancouver Whitecaps FC announced on Tuesday that the club has signed Whitecaps FC 2 (WFC2) midfielder Jeevan Badwal to an MLS short-term agreement for Wednesday's first leg of the TELUS Canadian Championship semifinals against Pacific FC at Starlight Stadium in Langford, BC. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. PT, live on OneSoccer, FuboTV, and TELUS channel 980. Fans can also listen live at cknw.com and whitecapsfc.com.
This marks the third time Badwal has signed an MLS short-term agreement as the native of Surrey, BC looks to make his first team debut. Badwal’s first call-up was back in February for the first leg of the Concacaf Champions Cup Round One against Tigres UANL, which was also at Starlight Stadium, and his last call-up was the MLS regular season away match at New England Revolution in June.
Whitecaps FC midfielder Jeevan Badwal
- Started 12 of his 14 appearances with WFC2 this season, scored two goals and added three assists
- Made the first team matchday roster twice this year - February 7 and June 15
- Youngest player at Whitecaps FC preseason in Marbella, Spain
- Selected to the 2023 MLS NEXT All-Star Game
- Started all three matches for Canada at the 2023 FIFA U-17 World Cup
Badwal, 18, signed his first professional contract with WFC2 in February, becoming the 12th Canadian teenager to be signed to a professional contract since the side began play in MLS NEXT Pro in 2022. So far this season, he has started 12 of his 14 appearances for WFC2, notching two goals and three assists.
In 2023, Badwal made five starts and eight appearances as an amateur player with WFC2 in MLS NEXT Pro.
Prior to moving up to MLS NEXT Pro, the young midfielder played with the Whitecaps FC BMO Academy in MLS NEXT, and was selected to the 2023 MLS NEXT All-Star Game. Badwal first joined the Whitecaps FC BMO Academy as a 13-year-old in 2019.
On the international stage, Badwal has represented Canada at the U-17 level, starting all three matches at the 2023 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Indonesia. Last month, the midfielder started both friendlies for Canada's U-20 side against Chile and Paraguay in La Calera, Chile. Canada’s June camp was in advance of the 2024 Concacaf U-20 Championship, which is set to take place from July 19 to August 4 in Mexico.
In his youth, Badwal played at Coastal FC, Surrey FC, Supra Academy, and B.E.S.T. Academy.
TRANSACTION: On July 9, 2024, Whitecaps FC sign midfielder Jeevan Badwal to an MLS short-term agreement.
Jeevan Badwal
Position: Midfielder
Height: 5-09
Weight: 145 pounds
Date of Birth: March 11, 2006 in Surrey, BC 
Hometown: Surrey, BC
Citizenship: Canada
Status: Domestic 
Youth clubs: Whitecaps FC BMO Academy, Coastal FC, Surrey FC, Supra Academy, B.E.S.T. Academy
Instagram: @jeevanbadwal_
