Tristan Blackmon


Tristan Michael Blackmon is an American professional soccer player who plays as a defender for Major League Soccer club Vancouver Whitecaps FC and the [United States men's national Association football|soccer team|United States national team].

Early life

He attended Bishop Gorman High School in Summerlin, Nevada, a suburb of Las Vegas.

College career

Blackmon played his college career at University of the Pacific where he played mainly as a defender after starting as a forward. Blackmon played 70 matches for the Tigers, starting 68. He scored 16 goals and had nine assists. Blackmon finished his collegiate soccer career as the Tigers' all-time goal scoring leader, until Camden Riley broke his record one year later.

Club career

Blackmon played for Premier Development League sides Orange County SC U-23 and Burlingame Dragons in 2016 and 2017, respectively.
On January 19, 2018, Los Angeles FC selected Blackmon with the third overall pick of the 2018 MLS SuperDraft. He signed with the club on February 22, 2018. Blackmon made his professional debut on March 4, 2018, as an 80th-minute substitute during a 1–0 win over Seattle Sounders FC. On May 24, 2019, at Banc of California Stadium, in a 4–2 win over the Montreal Impact, Blackmon scored his first professional goal on a header in the fifty-fifth minute.
On December 14, 2021, Blackmon was selected by Charlotte FC in the 2021 MLS Expansion Draft, before being immediately traded to Vancouver Whitecaps FC in exchange for $475,000 of General Allocation Money. On July 26, 2022, Blackmon scored the winning penalty kick for Vancouver against Toronto FC in the Canadian Championship Final. On April 9, 2025, Blackmon scored a dramatic late equalizer against UNAM sending the Vancouver Whitecaps to the semi final of the 2025 CONCACAF Champions Cup. On October 28, Blackmon was named 2025 MLS Defender of the Year. Blackmon contributed two goals and one assist and was an integral part of the second-best defense in the league, which helped Vancouver Whitecaps to their best season, during which they recorded their best points total, most total league wins, their best goal differential, and total goals scored.

International career

In January 2021, Blackmon was called up to the United States national team for the first time for a training camp.
In May 2025, it was reported that Blackmon was contacted by Canada national team coach Jesse Marsch about potentially representing Canada at international level. Blackmon did not have Canadian citizenship, but would potentially be eligible through meeting residency requirements through his time playing with Vancouver Whitecaps FC.
Later in May 2025, he was named to the preliminary roster for the United States national team for the 2025 Gold Cup. In September 2025, he was called up to a United States matchday squad for the first time, ahead of a pair of friendlies. On September 6, 2025, he made his international debut in a friendly against South Korea.

Honors

Los Angeles FC
Vancouver Whitecaps
Individual