Charlotte FC's Liel Abada is Paris bound for the Olympics

STEVE GOLDBERG | THE CHARLOTTE POST

Liel Abada, who has four goals and a pair of assists for Charlotte FC in his first season with the Crown, is on the Israeli national team that will compete in the Paris Olympics.

Charlotte FC’s Liel Abada is heading to the Paris Olympics with Israel’s national team.

By making the semifinals of the 2023 UEFA European Under-21 championship, where they lost to eventual champion England, Israel, which has a population of less than 10 million people, qualified for the Olympic tournament for the first time since Montreal 1976.

“It’s really big I think for me. It's a dream, you know,” said Abada, who scored the second goal Saturday in the Crown’s 3-1 win at Cincinnati. “When you start playing football, you dream to play in the national team.”

“I’m really (looking forward) to play in the Olympics. For the country as well. It's something big, something historic for Israel, especially in this time and we are really waiting for this Olympics.”

While the Games officially open on July 26, the soccer competition begins two days prior. Israel will face Mali at the Parc des Princes stadium, the home of perennial Ligue 1 champion Paris Saint-Germain on July 24. The Israelis are in Group D which also includes Paraguay (July 27) also in Parc des Princes and Japan (July 30) at La Beaujoire Stadium in Nantes.

Abada will leave Charlotte FC after Wednesday’s match at the Colombus Crew. Depending upon Israel’s progression in the tournament, which ends with the final on Aug. 10, Abada will miss at least three games, one in league play against Austin FC, and two in the Leagues Cup at Philadelphia and home against Cruz Azul. In his first 14 games with Charlotte, Abada has started 12, scoring four goals a pair of assists.

A new generation powers Israel

While it doesn’t ensure success, Israel beat perennial soccer power Brazil in the quarterfinals of the FIFA Men’s U-20 World Cup, eventually earning the bronze medal over South Korea 3-1. They also beat Olympic first round foe Japan 2-1 in group play.

Unlike the basketball competition which has no restrictions on player selection, FIFA has deemed the Olympic tournament an Under-23 event to keep it from rivaling the World Cup in any way. Rules do allow for three players over 23 years of age to be added to rosters.

This will be Israel's 18th appearance at the Summer Olympics, except for Moscow 1980 due to the United States-led boycott. Israel’s 18-man soccer team will be a large contingent of the country’s 88 athletes competing in these Games.

Of the 18 soccer players, five do not play in Israel. In addition to Abada, Daniel Peretz is a goalkeeper with FC Bayern Munich in Germany. Midfielder Omri Gandelman plays for Gent in the Belgian league and Oscar Gloukh for Red Bull Salzburg in Austria. Defender Stav Lemkin competes for Ukrainian side Shakhtar Donetsk.

“We want to do our best; we will go there, and we will do our best,” Abada said. “It's something special for everyone.”

A potential talent pool for MLS

Abada is one of just two Israeli-born players in MLS, joining Tai Baribo, who was signed by Philadelphia Union last year. The 26-year-old center forward also played for Maccabi Petah Tikva.

As to whether the Olympic tournament can be a showcase for other Israelis to come to MLS, Abada, who last played in the Scottish Premier League for Glasgow Celtic, said he’s been impressed with the competition here.

“MLS is a really good league with really good players,” he said. “In Israel we have so many good talents, young players, and I think it would be good for them, but you know, I cannot control who comes here or not.”

As for himself, Abada says the move has been good.

“I’m really happy to be here,” he said. “I’ve gotten so much support from the staff, from the coaches, from players, from the fans, and you know, I feel like it’s home here so it's a really good place for me.

“I had like a tough year last season, but I’m starting to feel really good. Hopefully, we can continue to do what we do the best.”

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