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Canada’s men’s national soccer team captain Alphonso Davies remains hopeful he will play in the country’s opening match of the FIFA World Cup despite ongoing injury concerns.
Coach Jesse Marsch expressed optimism that Davies will be available at some point during the tournament, though the star wingback might miss Canada’s first game on June 12 in Toronto.
Davies shared his cautious hope after a training session in Montreal on Wednesday. “The first game is coming up pretty quickly,” he said. “We understand how important the first game is, but we understand recovery is always an important thing. If I’m recovering as good as possible, let’s see. If not, then there’s no need to rush. Just keep continuing the recovery.”
“Anything is possible in life,” added the Bayern Munich player. “For me, it’s all depending on how the recovery is going, how these next few days or this week leading up to the game goes.”
His remarks came shortly after a video circulated in which Davies said he believed playing in the opener “won’t be possible,” sparking reaction on social media.
Wednesday’s training saw Davies working solo, away from the main group, focusing on jogging and stretching with a trainer at CF Montreal’s practice facility as Canada continues World Cup preparations.
Davies was named to Canada’s 26-man roster but has been sidelined since injuring his left hamstring during Bayern Munich’s Champions League semifinal against Paris Saint-Germain earlier this month. This is his third injury since returning from a 260-day absence caused by a torn ACL in March 2025.
Born in a refugee camp in Ghana to Liberian parents and raised in Edmonton, Davies admitted the injuries took a mental toll. “Mentally, it was very draining, suffering these injuries,” he said. “I was going into a hole where I was doubting myself, but I had that time off, and I thought about why I’m doing this and how important this is to me.”
“It was devastating. When the injuries happen, you start doing the mathematics for how long you are going to be out. It was a doubt in my head, for sure. I was sad, being a 17-year-old kid going to Russia and getting this World Cup to our country and not being able to participate, it dawned on me.”
Davies remains confident in his body and the support team helping him recover. “I know how strong my body is, and I know how strong the individuals around me [are], and they’ll push me to come back as safely as possible.”
Alongside Davies, midfielder Jacob Shaffelburg is also on return-to-play protocols, while defenders Moise Bombito and Alfie Jones and midfielder Ali Ahmed participate in limited training.
Los Angeles FC midfielder Mathieu Choiniere praised Davies’s return to the squad. “It’s so good to have him back. It’s been a while, but now we have him, and he brings us energy,” Choiniere said. “Just his personality is so good to have in the group. He brings us the energy and good vibes and we all know his quality. When he’s gonna play, he’s going to help us a lot.”
Canada, ranked 30th in the world, is currently training in Montreal ahead of a final friendly match against No. 59 Ireland on Friday at Stade Saputo. The team opened camp in Charlotte, N.C., and won 2-0 against Uzbekistan in Edmonton.
As tournament co-hosts, Canada will open the World Cup against Bosnia-Herzegovina at Toronto’s BMO Field on June 12, then face Qatar in Vancouver on June 18 and Switzerland on June 24.
Davies, a Champions League winner and a symbol of Canadian soccer, remains uncertain for the opener. “If I’m not there on the 12th, I’ll be there with the guys—maybe not on the pitch, but off the pitch,” he said. “I’ll give them the words of encouragement that they need, but they all understand how important the World Cup is in general. You know, there’s not much I can say to motivate them more.”
“For me, there’s no pressure,” he added. “Football is a 26-man game; we count on everybody on the team. The last 12 months have been up and down, up and down, but that’s part of the game. I have to stay focused and have a strong mentality and keep pushing.”