Vancouver Whitecaps FC announced Belal Halbouni has been diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma and says the club has offered him contract stability during treatment.
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Vancouver Whitecaps FC says centre back Belal Halbouni has been diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma, a cancer that affects white blood cells.
Halbouni, 26, has not played since last fall after a knee injury at the end of the playoff series vs. Los Angeles FC that required surgical repair. The team said Halbouni began treatment last week in his hometown of London, Ont.
In a statement released by the club, Halbouni said he wanted to express gratitude to the Whitecaps, adding that the way the club “has stood by me goes far beyond football” and has reminded him “what it truly means to be part of a family.”
The Whitecaps said they did not want Halbouni to feel stress about his playing situation and offered a contract that does more than carry through the end of the 2027 season next June, extending through the end of the 2027–28 season.
Whitecaps CEO Axel Schuster said the club’s goal is to provide “stability, security, and peace of mind,” while also giving Halbouni “a positive goal to work toward, his return to the training field and to playing in MLS.”
Schuster added that the club will “be here for him every step of the way,” and that it looks forward to welcoming him back “when the time is right.”
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