The report puts Cubas’ league-leading total at 58 tackles, with the midfielder starting 11 of 12 regular-season appearances and contributing three assists. Those figures frame his value clearly: Cubas is involved in stopping attacks before they reach the back line.
Tackles are only part of the role. His importance also comes from positioning, second-ball recoveries and the discipline to protect possession after Vancouver lose it. That work rarely produces highlight-reel moments, but it can determine whether a team controls the next phase of play.
Cubas offers a different profile from Vancouver’s other reported selections. Muller brings attacking intelligence and experience in advanced areas, while Berhalter adds energy and flexibility in midfield. Cubas supplies the defensive base that allows those players to operate with greater freedom.
That balance matters in an exhibition, even if the format does not always reflect the demands of a league campaign. Attacking players usually attract the spotlight, but Cubas’ inclusion recognises the repeat actions that give a team structure: closing passing lanes, contesting loose balls and slowing transitions.
His reported call-up also marks a broader recognition of a role that can be difficult to measure through goals and assists alone. For Vancouver, the honour is meaningful because it reflects how much their midfield platform depends on his reliability.
The next storyline will come when the Whitecaps return to league action, reportedly away to Minnesota United FC. The exhibition offers Cubas a stage, but his defensive influence will continue to be judged by how effectively Vancouver control matches when the regular season resumes.