Why didn’t Alphonso Davies play in any of Canada’s World Cup games at home?
Why didn’t Alphonso Davies play in any of Canada’s World Cup games at home?
Alphonso Davies has missed the entirety of Canada's World Cup group stage Fran Santiago/Getty Images
By Joshua KlokeJune 25, 2026 6:00 am EDT UpdatedVANCOUVER – Canada’s World Cup group stage is over and yet one of the most pressing questions surrounding the team remains: what is happening with their captain, and Bayern Munich star left-back, Alphonso Davies?
Sure, that’s a wide-ranging question. But to understand it, let’s first appreciate how original queries about one of Canada’s most important players have unraveled since the team first gathered for their World Cup preparations on May 24.
At that point, it wasn’t even sure that Davies could take part in the training camp, having suffered a hamstring injury during Bayern’s Champions League semi-final second leg against Paris Saint-Germain on May 6. The 25-year-old arrived at the get-together later than his international team-mates, but head coach Jesse Marsch remained adamant.
“Yes, I think Alphonso will play in the World Cup,” he said on May 25, before adding that Davies would not be ready for the opening game against Bosnia and Herzegovina on June 12.
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Overall, good for Canada, right? Well, since that point, good news around Davies has been hard to come by.
After reporting for the training camp, Davies was in ‘return to play’ protocol and trained on his own with Matthias Blankenburg, an independent specialist trainer. This arrangement was agreed between Canada Soccer, Bayern and the player. Davies eventually did join training with the entire team, but the media have not been permitted to watch full sessions.
He then did not play in either of Canada’s warm-up friendlies (a 2-0 win against Uzbekistan on June 2 and a 1-1 draw with the Republic of Ireland four days later), but Marsch said he would be available for the team’s final two group games.
However, this turned out to be one of the few disappointing elements of Canada’s group stage: the country’s most recognizable soccer star did not play a single minute in the three matches, all staged in front of home fans in Toronto and Vancouver.
Alphonso Davies watches on as Canada play Bosnia in their opening World Cup match (Francois Nel/Getty Images)Wednesday felt like the most confusing and yet most revealing point all at once in the ongoing ‘Will Davies play or won’t he?’ saga.
Marsch said before Canada’s 2-1 defeat by Switzerland — a result that meant the co-hosts made the round of 32 as Group B runners-up, and will next face Group A counterparts South Africa in Los Angeles on Sunday — that he “expected” Davies to play against the Swiss. Davies did not.
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After the game, Davies walked through the mixed zone with a Canada Soccer representative, in front of a healthy contingent of Canadian reporters. He appeared to be talking on his phone. Despite requests from the assembled media to speak, Canada’s captain did not stop to answer questions.
Down the hall, in Marsch’s postgame press conference, direct answers did not come either.
“Alphonso wasn’t ready yet, so I was using him a little bit as a decoy,” Marsch said with a chuckle. “However, he will be ready next match.”
That may very well be true. Yet would it be surprising at this point if Davies does not play at SoFi Stadium either?
Alphonso Davies in Canada training on Tuesday in the build-up to their Switzerland match (Elizabeth Ruiz Ruiz/Getty Images)After a full month of ongoing questions and very little clarity about his status, it’s fair to wonder just how much we truly know.
If Davies was ready to play, he should have entered the match in the second half against Switzerland. Pace and attacking prowess were exactly what Canada needed as they were trying to fight back from a 2-0 deficit. But Davies did not even warm up with the other substitutes.
When seen in training, the 25-year-old has moved away from slow, restrictive activities into drills where he’s shown off his power. When shooting from distance, he has looked accurate and, again, powerful. He has no longer appeared tense in his movements, as he did through those early training sessions.
If you didn’t know any better while watching Canada train, you could swear Davies was ready to play.
And yet all we have heard and seen of him otherwise is two media availabilities before the World Cup with vague statements, one token appearance in the mixed zone after the 6-0 victory over Qatar on June 18 and endless questions for Marsch.
Marsch is already down to 25 of his chosen 26 players after the loss of Ismaël Koné. And defender Alfie Jones’ availability for the round of 32 is up in the air as he deals with a hamstring injury of his own. Canada need Davies, even if he’s not fully fit.
Stars of Soccer Alphonso Davies
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Marsch has used his captain’s status as a “decoy”. That’s his right as a coach. But when that happens, it just becomes harder for Canadians to understand what Davies’ status truly is.
Even if injured, he has not always fulfilled his duties as a captain. Jonathan David and Stephen Eustaquio, who have both worn the armband, have taken questions after games at this tournament. Watching Davies storm by the assembled media with a phone raised to his right ear, it certainly felt like the picture of him at this World Cup is being sketched, but not painted in full.
Davies has rarely left Blankenburg’s side before training. One of the many more pertinent questions now to ponder is: with an agreement between Davies, Bayern and Canada Soccer determining his recovery from injury, what are the steps that will determine whether he plays?
This is just a question. And there are many of them.
Alphonso Davies arrives for Canada’s game against Switzerland on Wednesday (Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)Now, you can argue that Davies doesn’t owe anyone any explanation about his status with Canada. You can also argue that, in a home World Cup on a team that represents an entire country, more answers about his status would go a long way to connecting him to the nation he plays for.
Because the unfortunate reality is that, with Davies not even seeing the pitch in front of Canadian fans yet at this World Cup, an opportunity has been missed.
He is Canada’s most recognizable soccer player. Walk the stands of either BMO Field or BC Place through this tournament and you would have seen more Davies jerseys than any other Canadian player. If you want to hook the country’s next generation of athletes to a sport, you must connect them to their stars and show that younger generation what is possible.
Many remarkable Canadian players have become recognizable at this World Cup: Nathan Saliba, Jonathan David, Luc de Fougerolles, Maxime Crepeau, Cyle Larin and, of course, Koné. For Davies, his last major moment of joy at international level is approaching four years ago, when he scored Canada’s historic first ever goal at a men’s World Cup against Croatia at Qatar 2022.
Maybe he will end up being available and scoring another in the coming days. But with the second stage of the World Cup on the horizon, the situation around Davies is still unclear.
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Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
