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Vancouver FC Attacker Gabriel Bitar Earns Call up for Lebanon

March 15, 2024 - Canadian Premier League (CPL)
Vancouver FC News Release


Langley, BC - Vancouver FC attacker Gabriel Bitar has earned his second call up of the off-season to Lebanon's men's national team, which will continue its journey toward qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup against Australia later this month.

The Lebanese squad will take on Australia in back-to-back matches at Canberra Stadium in Sydney, Australia on Thursday, March 21 and Monday, March 25. The second match will count as Lebanon's home World Cup qualifier against Australia, after the contest was moved earlier this month because of instability in the Middle East.

"I am so thrilled to be representing Lebanon for the second time this off-season," said Bitar. "Playing for Lebanon at the Asian Cup in January was a very proud moment for me and something that I'm very excited to have the chance to do again.

"I am very grateful for this next opportunity to play for Lebanon and I hope to help the team qualify for the 2026 World Cup."

Lebanon is currently trailing Australia in Group I of the second round of World Cup qualification for the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). Miodrag Radulović's men previously opened the second round of qualifiers in November 2023 by securing a pair of draws against fellow Group I squads Palestine and Bangladesh.

Following the matches against Australia, Lebanon will play its final games against Palestine and Bangladesh in June 2024. The top two teams from Group I after the second round of qualification is completed in June will advance to the third round of qualifiers, which will be contested between September 2, 2024 and June 10, 2025.

The AFC qualification process consists of five total rounds. Eight teams from the AFC will qualify directly for FIFA World Cup 2026, with an additional team earning a spot in the inter-confederation playoff. The qualification process also serves as qualification for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup. Qualification for the expanded 48-team 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be co-hosted by Canada, the United States and Mexico and includes 13 games to be held in Vancouver, B.C. and Toronto, Ont., would mark a first for Lebanon.

Bitar, 25, previously represented Lebanon at the AFC Asian Cup in January, making two appearances in the tournament and nearly helping the side advance to the knockout stages of the tournament. Bitar made his debut for Lebanon's senior team in December 2022 in a friendly match against United Arab Emirates.

"We are very happy for Gabi to be included in Lebanon's national team for the country's World Cup qualifiers," said Afshin Ghotbi, Head Coach, Vancouver FC. "Gabi continues to evolve, mature, and develop at VFC, and I expect him to break through at the international level with Lebanon."

Vancouver FC will kick off their second season in the CPL at Willoughby Park on Sunday, Apr. 14 against Valour FC at 4 p.m. PT. Tickets for VFC's season opener and all home matches in 2024 can be purchased online.

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