Co-host Canada will probably have to do without FC Bayern captain Alphonso Davies at the start of the 2026 World Cup.
“Yes,” national coach Jesse Marsch answered on Monday when asked whether his team’s superstar would play in the home tournament, but he qualified: “I don’t think he’ll be quite ready on June 12th, but we’ll see.”
In Group B, Canada starts against Bosnia-Herzegovina in Toronto. The games in Vancouver against Qatar (June 18) and Switzerland (June 24) are next.
Davies is listed in the Canadians’ provisional squad. Marsch will announce the final line-up on May 29th.
Davies, who suffered a thigh injury in FC Bayern’s Champions League semi-final exit against Paris Saint-Germain on May 6th and has not played for his home country since March 2025, has not yet arrived at the Canadians’ training camp in Charlotte.
He will initially continue his rehab in Europe and, according to Marsch, will join the national team on May 31 in Edmonton.
“Good conversations” with FC Bayern
There appear to be no disagreements between the Canadian association and FC Bayern in the tricky Davies case.
We work closely with the German record champions. Marsch spoke of “really good conversations” with Bayern’s sports director Christoph Freund.
FC Bayern is “very supportive and wants him to play at the World Cup,” said Marsch, referring to Davies.
The aim is to gradually reintroduce the 25-year-old to the team without unnecessary risk and to make him fit for action during the finals.
Whether Davies will still be playing for FC Bayern next season remains to be seen. According to media reports, he is considered a sales candidate.
