Captain Alphonso Davies likely won’t play in Canada’s World Cup opener: coach

Mayor Chow and other members unveil the trophy as it makes a stop in Toronto for the ‘Coca Cola Trophy Tour.’

CHARLOTTE — Captain Alphonso Davies will likely miss Canada’s first game of this summer’s FIFA World Cup as he works his way back from a hamstring injury.

Head coach Jesse Marsch told a media availability Monday that he expects Davies to play for Canada in the tournament, but that he probably won’t be ready to go for the first game against Bosnia-Herzegovina in Toronto on June 12.

“Yes, I think Alphonso will play in the World Cup,” Marsch said. “No, I don’t think he’ll be ready quite on June 12. But we’ll see.”

The Bayern Munich standout is not currently with the team at a training camp in Charlotte, N.C., but he is expected to join them in his hometown of Edmonton before a June 1 friendly against Uzbekistan.

Davies was among the 32 players named Monday on Canada’s final training camp roster ahead of the tournament.

There were questions on whether the 25-year-old would be healthy enough to join after Davies suffered a hamstring injury — the latest in a long string of ailments — while playing in a Champions League semifinal earlier this month.

He missed a pair of March friendlies against Iceland and Tunisia in Toronto with a hamstring strain, returned to play for Bayern, and was sidelined again on May 8 with another injury to the same area.

“These are the final days before we announce the squad that will represent Canada at a home World Cup, and the excitement in this group is real,” Marsch said earlier in a statement. “We feel the momentum building across our country — and we are calm, focused, and ready for this moment.”

Several injured players are set to return at camp, including Alistair Johnston of Celtic FC, is back after undergoing hamstring surgery, and OGC Nice’s Moise Bombito, who missed Canada’s March games as he worked his way back from a fractured tibia. Royale Union Saint-Gilloise striker Promise David is also with the group after undergoing hip surgery.

This week’s camp in Charlotte will offer Marsch and his staff a final look at players before Canada announces its official World Cup roster on Friday.

Three goalkeepers will be in camp, including Maxime Crépeau (Orlando City SC), Owen Goodman (Barnsley FC) and Dayne St. Clair (Inter Miami FC).

The defence corps is made up of Zorhan Bassong (Sporting Kansas City), Bombito, Derek Cornelius (Rangers FC), Davies, Luc de Fougerolles (FCV Dender EH), Johnston, Alfie Jones (Middlesbrough FC), Jamie Knight-Lebel (Swindon Town FC), Richie Laryea (Toronto FC), Ralph Priso (Vancouver Whitecaps FC), Niko Sigur (Hadjuk Split) and Joel Waterman (Chicago Fire FC).

Tajon Buchanan (Villarreal) is among the 12 midfielders heading to Charlotte. Also going are Ali Ahmed (Norwich City FC), Mathieu Choinière (LAFC), Stephen Eustáquio (LAFC), Marcelo Flores (Tigres UANL), Ismaël Koné (U.S. Sassuolo Calcio), Liam Millar (Hull City FC), Jayden Nelson (Austin FC), Jonathan Osorio (Toronto FC), Nathan-Dylan Saliba (R.S.C. Anderlecht) and Jacob Shaffelburg (LAFC).

Juventus FC striker Jonathan David highlights Canada’s forward group, which also includes Promise David, Daniel Jebbison (Preston North End FC), Cyle Larin (Southampton FC), Tani Oluwaseyi (Villarreal CF) and Jacen Russell-Rowe (Toulouse FC).

Canada has also invited training players Nathaniel Abraham, Zayne Bruno, Tim Fortier, Maël Henry, Dylan Judelson and Elijah Roche to the camp.

After training camp and the game against Uzbekistan, the national squad will take on Ireland in Montreal on June 5.

Toronto and Vancouver are among 16 cities across Canada, the United States and Mexico hosting a total of 104 games across the expanded 48-team tournament, which runs from June 11 through July 19.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 25, 2026.

Gemma Karstens-Smith, The Canadian Press