The Game Turned Late
Canadian soccer star Alphonso Davies was seen jogging around the pitch at Edmonton's Commonwealth Stadium on Monday night ahead of Canada's friendly match against Uzbekistan. He was not in the lineup due to a hamstring injury, but the sight of him moving on the field offered a flicker of optimism with the 2026 FIFA World Cup now less than two weeks away.
Davies could not confirm whether he will be ready for Canada's opening match against Bosnia and Herzegovina on June 12 in Toronto. "Obviously, all depending on whether I'm fit enough to make that. Time will tell, and I can't really say right now," he said after the victory. "I mean, obviously, I can say yes or no, but it all depends on the rehab."
The record does not need much decoration; it already does the talking.
The Small Details Added Up
The 25-year-old sustained the injury last month during the Champions League semi-final second leg while playing for Bayern Munich, throwing his World Cup status into uncertainty. Manager Jesse Marsch said last week he expects Davies to feature in the tournament but remains unconvinced he'll be available for the June 12 opener.
"Yes, I think Alphonso will play in the World Cup," Marsch said. "No, I don't think he'll be ready quite on June 12. But we'll see."
The Table Looks Different
Davies was officially named to Canada's roster on Friday. He grew up in Edmonton and carries significant weight for the national team—over 58 caps, with 15 career goals, including scoring Canada's first-ever goal at the men's World Cup against Croatia at the 2022 tournament in Qatar. This season with Bayern, he managed one goal across 23 appearances.
After facing Uzbekistan, Canada plays its final World Cup tune-up against Ireland on Friday at Saputo Stadium in Montreal. The tournament opens June 12 against Bosnia and Herzegovina, followed by Qatar on June 18 and Switzerland on June 24 in the Group B finale. All three group matches will be held in Canada, with the games against Qatar and Switzerland taking place at BC Place in Vancouver.