Canada head coach Jesse Marsch indicated that while Alphonso Davies may not start Wednesday’s match against Switzerland, he anticipates the star left‑back featuring in the team’s final Group B encounter.
This appearance would constitute Davies’ 2026 World Cup debut. He has been sidelined since suffering a left‑hamstring injury during Bayern Munich’s Champions League semifinal second leg on May 6. Bayern and Canada coordinated a rehabilitation plan, and Davies, who earned a spot on the World Cup roster, has been working diligently to regain match fitness.
During the pre‑World Cup training camp, Davies hinted he could be available for Canada’s June 12 opener, but it now looks likely that Wednesday’s clash with Switzerland will be his first tournament appearance.
“We will evaluate what we need of him in the game,” Marsch told reporters on Tuesday. “I would like to get him into the match, for sure. And I think that he can have a big impact, both on us physically and football-wise, but also mentally, psychologically, to have our captain back, our best player back in the team. I think this is a big factor.”
Davies has netted 15 goals in 58 appearances for Canada, including the nation’s inaugural World Cup goal at Qatar 2022. He has also been named CONCACAF Player of the Year twice, in 2021 and 2022.
However, Davies has not represented Canada since tearing his anterior cruciate ligament in the Nations League third‑place match in March 2025, and he has contended with several injuries thereafter.
His return would give Canada a lift after midfielder Ismael Kone suffered a fractured leg in the June 18 match versus Qatar, ruling him out for the rest of the tournament.
“It’s so much more than just what (Davies) brings on the pitch — it’s what he represents to us,” Marsch said. “So, the good news is he’s looking great, he’s in training, he looks great, he looks fit, he looks ready to go, excited. So, let’s see how things go, but I expect him to play.”
A win or draw against Switzerland would see Canada advance to the round of 32. The team currently holds a +6 goal differential, while Switzerland sits at +3.
Canada centre‑back Alfie Jones is expected to miss his third straight match while recovering from an ankle injury.
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