Bayern Munich full-back and Canada captain Alphonso Davies has been included in his nation's 32-man preliminary squad for a vital pre-World Cup training camp, despite suffering a hamstring injury during Bayern's Champions League semi-final second leg against Paris St-Germain on May 6. The 25-year-old was expected to be sidelined for "several weeks," raising immediate concern over his availability for the home World Cup, which kicks off for Canada on June 12.
Davies’ campaign with Bayern was heavily disrupted by injuries, restricting him to just 13 Bundesliga appearances. The latest setback occurred in the crucial European tie, adding to a worrying pattern of fitness issues that have plagued the dynamic defender since his devastating anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury while playing for Canada against the United States in March 2025.
Despite these concerns, Canada Soccer has named Davies among the players invited to the camp in Charlotte, North Carolina. Head coach Jesse Marsch will assess the squad’s fitness and form before announcing the final 26-man World Cup roster on Friday. The federation is liaising with clubs and medical teams, but it remains unclear whether Davies will participate in training from the start or join later.
Canada’s preparations are intensifying as co-hosts of the 2026 World Cup. Marsch expressed the team’s building momentum, stating, "These are the final days before we announce the squad that will represent Canada at a home World Cup, and the excitement in this group is real. We feel the momentum building across our country and we are calm, focused, and ready for this moment."
Davies’ international career has been marked by both highs and cruel injury blows. After making his senior debut in 2017, he became a talismanic figure. His stunning goal against Croatia in the 2022 World Cup—a solo run and finish—briefly gave Canada hope in a 4-1 defeat. That tournament was Canada’s first World Cup appearance in 36 years.
Since then, injury troubles have continually interrupted his international rhythm. He missed Canada’s March 2026 friendlies against Iceland and Tunisia due to a hamstring strain, and now the latest hamstring problem threatens his role in the biggest football event on home soil. The sequence of setbacks—ACL, repeated hamstring strains—raises questions about load management and recovery protocols.
Canada’s World Cup campaign opens on June 12 against Bosnia-Herzegovina in Toronto, followed by meetings with Qatar and Switzerland in Vancouver. Before that, the team has two warm-up friendlies: hosting Uzbekistan in Edmonton on June 1 and the Republic of Ireland in Montreal on June 5. These matches will be crucial for Marsch to test combinations and possibly integrate Davies carefully.
If Davies fails to prove his fitness, it would be a seismic blow for Canada. His explosive pace, defensive solidity, and leadership are irreplaceable. The team has options, but none with his game-changing ability. On the other hand, rushing him back could risk re-injury and a longer absence, potentially affecting his club career at Bayern.
The medical staff’s decision in the coming days will be pivotal. Even if Davies joins the camp, his participation in training will likely be managed with extreme caution. The fact that Canada Soccer didn’t rule him out immediately suggests a sliver of optimism that he could be fit for at least part of the tournament.
For Davies, the emotional pull of a home World Cup is immense. Born in a refugee camp in Ghana before moving to Canada, his journey to the pinnacle of football is an inspiration. Leading his adoptive country in a World Cup on home soil would be a career-defining moment, provided his body cooperates.
As the clock ticks down to Marsch’s squad announcement, all eyes will be on Davies’ hamstring. His inclusion in the prelim list is a statement of belief, but the ultimate test will come on the training pitch and in the examinations. Based on reporting from BBC Sport.
