Alphonso Davies ruled out of Canada's World Cup opener; coach Marsch hopeful for later return
Bayern Munich left-back and Canada captain Alphonso Davies will miss the co-hosts' first World Cup match against Bosnia-Herzegovina on Friday with a thigh muscle tear, coach Jesse Marsch confirmed. Hopes remain for his return in the group stage.
Injury and absence
Alphonso Davies sustained a thigh muscle tear during the Champions League semifinal against Paris Saint-Germain in May. Despite light training sessions, he has not regained full fitness. Coach Jesse Marsch confirmed on Thursday that the 25-year-old will not be available for Friday's opener against Bosnia-Herzegovina.
He is recovering incredibly well. We are preparing to step up the load.
Recovery hopes
An MRI on Wednesday showed positive signs of healing, nearly complete. Marsch expressed optimism that Davies could return for the later group matches, with a plan to gradually increase his training intensity.
We very much hope that we can make progress in the coming days and next week and that he can contribute soon.
Canada's group stage path
Canada's World Cup campaign begins tonight at 21:00 local time in Toronto against Bosnia-Herzegovina. The co-hosts then face Qatar on 19 June and Switzerland on 24 June, both in Vancouver. Canada is seeking its first World Cup win after pointless exits in 1986 and 2022.
- MRI shows nearly complete healing of Davies' thigh muscle
- Canada vs Bosnia-Herzegovina in Toronto (Davies out)
- Canada vs Qatar in Vancouver
- Canada vs Switzerland in Vancouver
Broader context
Davies' injury history includes a cruciate ligament tear in March 2025 that limited him to 13 Bundesliga appearances last season, with only one full 90 minutes. Bayern Munich reportedly hope he will not be risked if Canada is eliminated in the group stage, reserving his return for a possible knockout phase.
