INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Canada’s national soccer team coach, Jesse Marsh, confirmed on Saturday that Alphonso Davies will be available for the start of the World Cup finals.
This time, Marsh’s assurance appears to be genuine.
Earlier this week, he acknowledged that during group play, he had strategically used the team captain and Bayern Munich star as a decoy. This tactic was employed to mislead Canadian opponents about Davies’ readiness, as he had not fully recovered from a hamstring injury.
Positive Outlook for Canada’s Opening Match
Marsh emphasized at SoFi Stadium that the circumstances have changed. Canada’s co-hosting of the tournament is set to kick off with a Round of 32 match against South Africa on Sunday. After a series of setbacks, Canada’s most prominent soccer player is genuinely prepared to contribute, and Davies made it clear that he expects to play a significant role.
“With Alphonso back, healthy, and poised to perform, this is a crucial moment for the team,” Marsh stated. “The players who came into camp with minimal injuries are nearing peak fitness and ready to showcase their best performance in the upcoming match.”
After experiencing three hamstring injuries in just four months—including a setback during last month’s Champions League semifinal—Marsh and Davies agreed against rushing the left-back into action. While the coach had publicly declared Davies was available for Canada’s last two matches, this was technically true but did not fully reflect the circumstances. Now, Marsh indicated that soft deception is no longer necessary.
“It was difficult for me to inform a player of Davies’ caliber and importance to our strategy that he needed to wait,” Marsh reflected. “However, we prioritized his career and health, and now it’s rewarding to formulate a plan that facilitates his return to the pitch.”
Four years ago, Davies netted Canada’s inaugural World Cup goal in Qatar, and he had been yearning for an extended opportunity during the country’s hosting of the tournament. Missing all three home games in Toronto and Vancouver has been a bitter pill to swallow. In the lead-up to their group stage match against Switzerland last Wednesday, Davies even implored Marsh to allow him to play, despite the team’s subsequent loss.
“It was obviously painful,” Davies admitted. “All I want is to play football; it’s my passion. With each match I watched, my eagerness to join the pitch intensified. Before the third game, I approached Marsh and asked him if there was any chance I could get on. Though he could have easily said yes, he made the right choice for my well-being and the team’s, even if it was hard to accept.”
Marsh did not specify whether Davies would start or how many minutes he might play against South Africa, where Canada is seeking its first victory in the tournament. This marks Canada’s third World Cup appearance; however, their loss to Switzerland shifted the team away from the comforts of home in Vancouver to Los Angeles.
In March 2025, Canada triumphed over the United States 2-1 at the same state-of-the-art stadium during the CONCACAF Nations League tournament. Unfortunately, in that match, Davies suffered a knee ligament injury that has sidelined him until now.
Davies expressed confidence about returning to the field, despite the hybrid turf predominantly featuring natural grass, designed for major soccer events.
“Injuries can happen anywhere,” Davies noted. “Coming back to this stadium allows us to complete what we started in March. I truly love playing here; it was beautiful the first time around, despite the interruption. But that’s part of the sport.”
