Canada faces the prospect of opening their home 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign without captain Alphonso Davies, as the 25-year-old Bayern Munich star is expected to miss the first match due to a hamstring injury. While the injury is concerning for the co-hosts, head coach Jesse Marsch remains optimistic that Davies will still play a significant role later in the tournament.
The news, widely reported by BBC Sport and also by TV 2, casts a shadow over Canada’s preparations as they gear up for their opening fixture against Bosnia-Herzegovina in Toronto on 12 June. Davies, a pivotal figure and former Vancouver Whitecaps left-back, is undoubtedly a key player for the national side.
Injury setback for the captain
Davies sustained the hamstring injury on 6 May during Bayern Munich’s Champions League semi-final second leg against Paris St-Germain. Following the incident, Bayern Munich confirmed that their player was expected to be sidelined “for several weeks.” This latest setback adds to a season heavily disrupted by injuries for Davies, who played only 13 Bundesliga appearances for the German giants.
His injury history includes missing the March 2026 friendlies against Iceland and Tunisia due to a hamstring strain. Furthermore, Davies last played for Canada in March last year against the United States, an encounter where he suffered an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury.
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Marsch remains optimistic for tournament role
Despite the initial blow, Canada’s head coach Jesse Marsch expressed confidence in Davies’ eventual participation. Speaking to reporters in Charlotte, North Carolina, where the national team is currently training, Marsch acknowledged the tight timeline for the opener.
“I don’t think he’ll be ready quite on June 12… but we’ll see,” Marsch stated, before adding, “I think Alphonso will play in the World Cup.”
Davies was among 32 players invited to the current training camp, but he is not expected to join the squad until the evening of their friendly match against Uzbekistan in Edmonton on 1 June. Canada also has another World Cup preparation game scheduled against the Republic of Ireland in Montreal on 5 June. The nation’s 26-man World Cup squad is set to be announced this Friday.
Canada’s World Cup fixtures
As co-hosts, Canada will play all their group stage matches on home soil:
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- 12 June: vs Bosnia-Herzegovina in Toronto
- 18 June: vs Qatar in Vancouver
- 24 June: vs Switzerland in Vancouver
Davies was a member of Canada’s 2022 World Cup squad, where he notably scored in their 4-1 group stage defeat by eventual semi-finalists Croatia, marking a historic moment for Canadian football. His potential absence for the opening match will undoubtedly be a challenge for Marsch and his team, but the hope remains that their captain will return later in the tournament.
Sources: www.bbc.com, sport.tv2.dk
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