VANCOUVER, BC – Vancouver Whitecaps FC confirmed that wingback Javain Brown has been called up to the Jamaican men's national team for upcoming 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers and on-loan midfielder Janio Bikel has been called up to Guinea-Bissau's men's national team for a pair of friendly matches.
Brown, 23, will be joining his national team for the final set of Concacaf World Cup Qualifying matches, with the Reggae Boyz set to face El Salvador on March 24, Canada on March 27 and Honduras on March 30. Brown will rejoin Whitecaps FC ahead of the club's home match against Sporting Kansas City on April 2.
A Kingston native, the 2021 MLS SuperDraft selection was called up to Jamaica's last World Cup Qualifying round back in January and February, starting all three matches against Mexico, Panama and Costa Rica. In total, Brown has represented his country at the senior international level 12 times since making his debut for Jamaica against Trinidad & Tobago in 2017. After joining the national team program at the U-17 level, he made five appearances for the U-20 national team and four appearances at the U-23 level, including three matches at the 2019 Pan American Games in Peru.
The defender out of South Florida recorded five assists in 20 starts and 27 appearances across all competitions during his first season with Whitecaps FC and was rewarded with a new contract through the 2024 MLS season, with a club option for 2025, back in January.
In 2022, Brown has made two starts and four appearances through the 'Caps first four matches of the season.
Bikel, 26, receives his first call-up to Guinea-Bissau's men's national team after previously representing Portugal at the youth levels. The side will play friendlies against Angola on Wednesday, March 23 and Equatorial Guinea on Saturday, March 26.
Since moving on loan to Italian Serie B side LR Vicenza last January, Bikel has started nine of his 11 appearances for the club, most recently going the full 90 minutes in Vicenza's 2-0 win over Ascoli.
The midfielder, who was acquired by the 'Caps in February 2020, started 27 of his 34 appearances across all competitions in 2021. All-time, Bikel has made 39 starts and 46 appearances for Whitecaps FC in all competitions.
