Canada is making history at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and their captain is watching from the bench while they do it.
Alphonso Davies, the Bayern Munich left back and face of Canadian soccer, will not start in Canada’s round-of-16 match against Morocco in Houston. Coach Jesse Marsch named Davies among the substitutes, managing the star’s workload after a hamstring injury that has shadowed the team’s tournament run.
Why Davies is on the bench
Davies suffered the hamstring injury in early May, and the timing has been awkward throughout Canada’s World Cup campaign.
His return came in stages. Against South Africa on June 28, he came off the bench and played 15 minutes, the kind of carefully rationed appearance that tells you a coaching staff is still nervous about full fitness.
