Belal Halbouni
{{Short description|Footballer (born 1999)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox football biography
|name = Belal Halbouni
|image =
|upright =
|caption =
|full_name =
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1999|12|29|mf=yes}}
|birth_place = London, Ontario, Canada
|height = 1.88 m
|position = Centre back
|currentclub = Vancouver Whitecaps FC
|clubnumber = 12
|youthyears1 =
|youthclubs1 = North London SC
|youthyears2 =
|youthclubs2 =
|collegeyears1 = 2018
|college1 = Western Mustangs
|collegecaps1 = 16
|collegegoals1 = 2
|years1 = 2017–2019
|clubs1 = FC London
|caps1 = 28
|goals1 = 3
|years2 = 2020–2022
|clubs2 = Werder Bremen II
|caps2 = 28
|goals2 = 3
|years3 = 2022–2024
|clubs3 = 1. FC Magdeburg II
|caps3 = 8
|goals3 = 1
|years4 = 2024–
|clubs4 = Vancouver Whitecaps FC
|caps4 = 4
|goals4 = 0
|years5 = 2024–
|clubs5 = → Whitecaps FC 2 (loan)
|caps5 = 5
|goals5 = 1
|nationalyears1 = 2022
|nationalteam1 = Syria
|nationalcaps1 = 1
|nationalgoals1 = 0
|club-update = May 14, 2025
|nationalteam-update = 23 September 2022
}}
Belal Halbouni ({{langx|ar|بِلَال حَلبُونِيّ }}; born December 29, 1999) is a professional footballer who plays as a centre back for Major League Soccer club Vancouver Whitecaps FC. Born in Canada, he plays for the Syria national team.
Early life
Halbouni was born in Canada to a Syrian father and a Lebanese mother. He began playing football at age four, joining North London SC at age eight.{{Canada Soccer player|13448}}
University career
In 2018, he attended the University of Western Ontario, where he played for the men's soccer team.{{Cite web|url=https://westernmustangs.ca/sports/mens-soccer/roster/belal-halbouni/26348|title=Belal Halbouni Western profile|work=Western Mustangs}} He scored his first goal on September 29 against the Algoma Thunderbirds.{{cite web|url=https://westernmustangs.ca/news/2018/9/29/mens-soccer-mustangs-earn-blowout-win-over-thunderbirds.aspx|title=Mustangs earn blowout win over Thunderbirds|first=David|last=Stol|date=September 29, 2018|work=Western Mustangs}} After one season, he decided to leave school to pursue professional soccer.{{Cite web|url=https://lfpress.com/sports/soccer/londoner-gets-a-chance-to-realize-childhood-dream-with-german-soccer-league-signing|title=Londoner gets a chance to realize childhood dream with German soccer league signing|first=Ryan|last=Pyette|date=February 3, 2020|work=The London Free Press}}
Club career
From 2017 to 2019, he played with FC London in League1 Ontario.{{Cite web|url=https://www.league1ontario.com/roster_players/20130161?subseason=389480|title=Belal Halbouni 2017 L1O Stats|work=League1 Ontario}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.league1ontario.com/roster_players/24407283|title=Belal Halbouni 2018 L1O Stats|work=League1 Ontario}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.league1ontario.com/roster_players/32813662?subseason=593811|title=Belal Halbouni 2019 L1O Stats|work=League1 Ontario}} He scored his first goal on October 6, 2017 against ProStars FC.{{Cite web|url=https://www.league1ontario.com/news_article/show/841926|title=Match Recap: FC London 7 - 1 Pro Stars|date=October 9, 2017|work=League1 Ontario}} In 2019, he was converted from an attacker to centre-back.{{cite web|url=https://onesoccer.ca/a/from-league1-ontario-to-2-bundesliga-belal-halbouni-has-eyes-on-canmnt-world-cup-spot-canada|title=From L1O to 2. Bundesliga, Belal Halbouni has eyes on CanMNT World Cup spot|date=June 19, 2022|work=OneSoccer|first=Alexandre|last=Gangué-Ruzic}}
In January 2020, he signed a contract with Werder Bremen II of the Regionalliga Nord, the reserve side of Bundesliga club Werder Bremen.{{cite web|url=https://www.werder.de/aktuell/news/u23/20192020/news/pm-halbouni-31012020/?fbclid=IwAR1tDqoqMcL3oAyWEJtRdMXuiMEFGPIhs5Nm4cy3XU52m1bX_UWqT3yX1m4|title=Halbouni wechselt zur U23|trans-title=Halbouni moves to U23|language=de|work=SV Werder Bremen|date=January 30, 2020}} He made his debut on February 21, 2020 against HSC Hannover.{{cite web|url=https://1.fc-magdeburg.de/aktuelles/profis/1-fc-magdeburg-verpflichtet-belal-halbouni/9327|title=1. FC Magdeburg verpflichtet Belal Halbouni|trans-title=1. FC Magdeburg signs Belal Halbouni|language=de|date=June 1, 2022|work=1. FC Magdeburg}} In June 2021, he extended his contract with the side.{{Cite web|url=https://www.werder.de/aktuell/news/u23/20202021/belal-halbouni-vvl-28062021|title=Werder hält Belal Halbouni|trans-title=Werder hold Belal Halbouni|date=June 28, 2021|work=SV Werder Bremen|language=de}} During the 2021-22 season, he began serving as the captain of the reserve side.{{cite web|url=https://www.kicker.de/zweikampfstarker-innenverteidiger-magdeburg-verpflichtet-halbouni-904424/artikel|title="Zweikampfstarker Innenverteidiger": Magdeburg verpflichtet Halbouni|trans-title="Strong central defender": Magdeburg signs Halbouni|date=June 1, 2022|language=de|work=Kicker}} While with the club, he also trained with the first team.{{cite web|url=https://www.fehmarn24.de/sport/fussball/werder-bremen-transfers-belal-halbouni-talent-wechselt-1-fc-magdeburg-2-bundesliga-transfer-wechsel-verteidiger-u23-regionalliga-nord-kanada-geld-zr-91587145.html|title=Kanadier verläst Werders U23: Aufsteiger 1. FC Magdeburg verpflichtet Werder-talent Belal Halbouni: "Trauen ihm schritt in die 2. Liga zu"|trans-title=Canadian leaves Werder's U23: Newly promoted 1. FC Magdeburg sign Werder talent Belal Halbouni: “We believe he can step into the 2nd division”|language=de|date=June 3, 2022|work=Fehmarn24|first=Marius|last=Winkelmann}} In January 2022, Major League Soccer club Vancouver Whitecaps FC had been interested in signing him on a loan deal, however, that deal failed to materialize as the two clubs could not agree on terms.{{Cite web|url=https://www.transfermarkt.us/belal-halbouni-quot-i-have-been-a-fighter-my-entire-life-quot-magdeburg-quot-the-right-move-for-me-quot-/view/news/407547|title=Belal Halbouni: "I have been a fighter my entire life" - Magdeburg "the right move for me"|date=July 8, 2022|work=Transfermarkt|first=Manuel|last=Veth}} In total, he made 28 appearances for Werder II, scoring three goals and adding two assists.{{Cite web|url=https://www.liga2-online.de/erster-neuzugang-fcm-holt-werder-talent-belal-halbouni/|title=Erster Neuzugang: FCM holt Werder-Talent Belal Halbouni|trans-title=First newcomer: FCM brings Werder talent Belal Halbouni|language=de|date=June 1, 2022|work=Liga 2 Online|first=Julian|last=Koch}} His contract expired after the 2021–22 season and he chose to depart the club, despite an offer to join the first team, as Werder wanted to send him out on loan.{{Cite web|url=https://www.transfermarkt.de/werder-wollte-halbouni-zum-profi-machen-bdquo-gab-viele-variablen-die-mir-nicht-gefielen-ldquo-/view/news/407532|title=Werder wollte Halbouni zum Profi machen: "Gab viele Variablen, die mir nicht gefielen"|language=de|trans-title=Werder wanted to make Halbouni a professional: "There were a lot of variables that I didn't like"|first=Manuel|last=Veth|date=July 9, 2022|work=Transfermarkt}}
On June 1, 2022, Halbouni signed with newly promoted 2. Bundesliga club 1. FC Magdeburg on a three-year contract.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mdr.de/sport/fussball_2bl/fc-magdeburg-neuzugang-Belal-Halbouni-100.html|title=Erster Neuzugang bei Zweitliga-Aufsteiger 1. FC Magdeburg|work=Mitteldeutscher Rundfunk|trans-title=First new signing at second division promoted 1. FC Magdeburg|language=de|date=June 1, 2022}} After appearing as an unused substitute in two league matches with the first team, he then joined the second team in the sixth tier Verbandsliga Sachsen-Anhalt,{{cite web|url=https://www.mdr.de/sport/fussball_2bl/fcm-halbouni-verletzt-100.html|title=1. FC Magdeburg - Belal Halbouni fällt mit Kreuzbandriss lange aus|trans-title=1. FC Magdeburg – Belal Halbouni is out for a long time with a cruciate ligament tear|language=de|date=September 26, 2022|work=Mitteldeutscher Rundfunk}}{{cite web|url=https://www.liga2-online.de/bei-laenderspieldebuet-fcm-verteidiger-belal-halbouni-verletzt/|title=Bei Länderspieldebüt: FCM-Verteidiger Belal Halbouni verletzt|language=de|trans-title=In international debut: FCM defender Belal Halbouni injured|date=September 25, 2022|work=Liga 2 Online|first=Nicolas|last=Bartsch}} making his debut on August 19 against MSC Preussen.{{cite web|url=https://www.fupa.net/news/sie-gehoeren-von-der-individuellen-qualitaet-gar-nicht-in-diese-liga-2885289|title="Sie gehören von der individuellen Qualität gar nicht in diese Liga"|trans-title="In terms of individual quality, they don't belong in this league at all"|date=August 22, 2022|language=de|first=Kevin|last=Gehring|work=FuPa}} However, his first season with the club was cut short, following an injury during national team duty, requiring a nine-month recovery period.{{cite web|url=https://www.kooora.com/?n=1175735|title=أول تعليق لحلبوني على إصابته بالصليبي|trans-title=Halbouni's first comment on his cross injury|author=سوريا - أمير الخرباوي (Al-Kharbawi, Amir)|language=ar|date=September 26, 2022|work=Kooora}} Upon return from his injury, he was again sent to play with the second team.{{cite web|url=https://1.fc-magdeburg.de/news/detail/belal-halbouni-verlaesst-den-1-fc-magdeburg|title=Belal Halbouni verlässt den 1. Fc Magdeburg|trans-title=Belal Halbouni is leaving 1. FC Magdeburg|work=1. FC Magdeburg|date=February 5, 2024|language=de}} In January 2024, he was left out of the first team squad for the second half of the season,{{cite web|url=https://www.liga2-online.de/fcm-abwehr-duo-cacutalua-und-halbouni-ausgemustert/|title=FCM: Abwehr-Duo Cacutalua und Halbouni ausgemustert|first=Florian|last=Manzke|date=January 4, 2024|language=de|trans-title=FCM: Defensive duo Cacutalua and Halbouni retired|work=Liga2 Online}} and went on trial with Major League Soccer club Vancouver Whitecaps FC.{{cite web|url=https://www.liga2-online.de/magdeburg-halbouni-spielt-bei-vancouver-vor/|title=Magdeburg: Halbouni spielt bei Vancouver vor|first=Florian|last=Manzke|date=12 January 2024|language=de|trans-title=Magdeburg: Halbouni is auditioning for Vancouver|work=Liga2 Online}}{{cite web|url=https://www.kicker.de/halbouni-vor-wechsel-nach-vancouver-4000000055654/transfermeldung|title=Halbouni vor Wechsel nach Vancouver|trans-title=Halbouni before moving to Vancouver|language=de|date=January 12, 2024|work=Kicker}}
On February 5, 2024, he signed a two-year contract with the Whitecaps through 2025, with a one-year extension option for 2026.{{cite web|url=https://www.whitecapsfc.com/news/whitecaps-fc-sign-canadian-defender-belal-halbouni|title=Whitecaps FC sign Canadian defender Belal Halbouni|date=5 February 2024|work=Vancouver Whitecaps FC}} On March 5, 2025, he scored his first goal for the club in a 1–1 draw against Mexican club Monterrey in the 2025 CONCACAF Champions Cup.{{cite web|url=https://aftn.ca/report-and-reaction-vancouver-whitecaps-cf-monterrey-concacaf-champions-cup-2025/|title=Report and Reaction: Halbouni header gives Whitecaps all to play in second leg showdown with Monterrey|first=Michael|last=McColl|date=March 6, 2025|work=Away from the Numbers}}{{cite web|url=https://canadiansoccerdaily.com/2025/03/06/belal-halbouni-equalizes-late-to-earn-draw-for-vancouver-whitecaps-in-champions-cup-1st-leg-vs-monterrey/|title=Belal Halbouni equalizes late to earn draw for Vancouver Whitecaps in Champions Cup 1st leg vs. Monterrey|first=Har|last=Johal|work=Canadian Soccer Daily}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.whitecapsfc.com/news/caps-level-monterrey|title=Halbouni! 'Caps level going into Mexico|first=Alistair|last=Burns|date=March 6, 2025|work=Vancouver Whitecaps FC}}
International career
Halbouni is eligible to represent Canada, Lebanon (where his mother was born), and Syria (where his father was born) internationally.{{Cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FecIQtA-qmE&ab_channel=%D9%85%D9%8A%D8%B4%D9%8A%D9%84%D8%B3%D8%B9%D8%AF|date=December 25, 2021|title=بلال حلبوني مدافع فيردر بريمن المرشح للانضمام إلى منتخب سوريا بطلب من تيتا - مقابلة مع ميشيل سعد|trans-title=Bilal Halbouni, Werder Bremen defender, who is nominated to join the Syrian national team at the request of Tita - Interview with Michel Saad|first1=Michel|last=Saad|publisher=YouTube}}
In January 2021, Halbouni received his first Canada national team call-up for a camp in Florida.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/soccer/soccer-canada-men-scrimmage-united-states-1.5882848|title=Canada men's soccer set for 1st action in over a year with scrimmage against U.S.|date=January 21, 2021|work=CBC Sports|first=Neil|last=Davidson}}
In September 2022, Halbouni accepted a call-up with Syria for two friendlies at the 2022 Jordan International Tournament.{{cite web|url=https://www.volksstimme.de/sport/1-fc-magdeburg/fcm-diese-neuzugaenge-stellten-sich-den-start-im-club-anders-vor-3448556?reduced=true|title=FCM: Diese Neuzugänge stellten sich den Start im Club ganz anders vor|trans-title=FCM: These newcomers had a completely different idea of starting at the club|language=de|date=September 22, 2022|first=Yannik|last=Sammert|work=Volksstimme}} He made his debut as a substitute in a 2–0 loss against Jordan on 23 September 2022, but tore his ACL during the match.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mz.de/sport/1-fc-magdeburg/1-fc-magdeburg-belal-halbouni-verletzt-sich-bei-laenderspiel-schwer-3452004|title=Belal Halbouni verletzt sich bei Länderspiel-Debüt schwer und fällt lange aus|trans-title=Belal Halbouni is seriously injured in his international debut and is out for a long time|language=de|date=September 26, 2022|work=Mitteldeutsche Zeitung}}{{cite web|url=https://www.kooora.com/?n=1175384|title=طبيب سوريا يكشف تفاصيل إصابة حلبوني أمام الأردن|trans-title=A Syrian doctor reveals the details of Halbouni's injury in front of Jordan|author=سوريا - أمير الخرباوي (Al-Kharbawi, Amir)|work=Kooora|date=September 24, 2022 |language=ar}}
Career statistics
{{updated|March 5, 2025}}{{Soccerway|belal-halbouni/653834}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition | ||||||||||||
| rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|Playoffs !colspan="2"|National cup !colspan="2"|Continental !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| rowspan="4"|FC London
|2017 |rowspan=3|League1 Ontario |6 | 1 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | ? | ? | 6 | 1 | ||||
| 2018
|10 | 2 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | ? | ? | 10 | 2 | |||
| 2019
|12 | 0 | 5 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | 17 | 0 | ||||
| colspan="2"|Total
!28 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 33 | 3 | |
| rowspan="4"|Werder Bremen II
|rowspan=3|Regionalliga Nord |1 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | 1 | 0 | |||||
| 2020–21
|4 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | 4 | 0 | |||||
| 2021–22
|23 | 3 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | 23 | 3 | |||||
| colspan="2"|Total
!28 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 28 | 3 | |
| rowspan="3"|1. FC Magdeburg II
|5 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | 5 | 0 | |||||
| 2023–24{{cite web|url=https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/belal-halbouni/2/|title=Belal Halbouni statsistics|work=WorldFootball}}
|3 | 1 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | 3 | 1 | |||||
| colspan="2"|Total
!8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 1 | |
| rowspan="3"|Vancouver Whitecaps FC
|2024 |rowspan=2|Major League Soccer |3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 0 | |
| 2025
|1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | colspan="2"|– | 4 | 1 | ||
| colspan="2"|Total
!4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 11 | 1 | |
| rowspan=3|Whitecaps FC 2 (loan)
|2024 |rowspan=2|MLS Next Pro |4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | 4 | 0 | ||||
| 2025
|1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | 1 | 1 | ||||
| colspan="2"|Total
!5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| colspan="3"|Career total
!73 | 8 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 85 | 9 |
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{soccerway|belal-halbouni/653834}}
{{Vancouver Whitecaps FC squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Halbouni, Belal}}
Category:Syrian people of Lebanese descent
Category:Canadian people of Syrian descent
Category:Canadian people of Lebanese descent
Category:Sportspeople of Syrian descent
Category:Sportspeople of Lebanese descent
Category:Syrian men's footballers
Category:Canadian men's soccer players
Category:Men's association football central defenders
Category:Syria men's international footballers
Category:League1 Ontario players
Category:NOFV-Oberliga players
Category:SV Werder Bremen II players
Category:1. FC Magdeburg players
Category:Vancouver Whitecaps FC players
Category:Syrian expatriate men's footballers
Category:Canadian expatriate men's soccer players
Category:Canadian expatriate sportspeople in Germany
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Germany
Category:Whitecaps FC 2 players
Category:Western Mustangs players
Category:University and college men's soccer players in Canada