The Main Point
MONTREAL — Alphonso Davies jogged apart from his teammates at CF Montréal's practice facility Wednesday, running through stretches with a trainer while Canada continued preparations for the World Cup opener on June 12 in Toronto.
The captain, still managing a left hamstring injury sustained in Bayern Munich's Champions League semifinal against Paris Saint-Germain in early May, did not definitively rule himself out of the tournament opener against Bosnia-Herzegovina.
The matchup already has enough history; the job is to keep the reading list shorter than the tension.
"The first game is coming up quickly," he said following the session. "We understand how important the first game is, but we understand recovery is always an important thing."
Davies called the recovery "day by day" and left the door open, though a video circulated a day earlier showing him telling a radio show the first game "won't be possible."
The Tension Underneath
The hamstring injury is the third for the 25-year-old Edmonton native since he returned December 8 from a 260-day absence due to a torn ACL in his right knee suffered during Nations League play against the United States in March 2025. He has not played for Canada since.
"Mentally, it was very draining, suffering these injuries," Davies said. "I was going into a hole where I was doubting myself."
The captain, who spoke at the FIFA Congress in Russia in 2018 about his journey from a refugee camp in Ghana to Canadian citizenship, said the situation has come full circle. "When I was a 17-year-old kid going to Russia and getting this World Cup to our country and not being able to participate, it dawned on me."
Davies was named to Canada's 26-player roster but his availability remains uncertain. Midfielder Jacob Shaffelburg also followed return-to-play protocols while defenders Moïse Bombite, Alfie Jones and midfielder Ali Ahmed trained limited.
The Next Step
Mathieu Choinière of Los Angeles FC said the team feels his presence even when he trains apart. "It's so good to have him back. He brings us energy and good vibes."
Canada, ranked 30th, plays No. 59 Ireland in an exhibition at Stade Saputo on Friday before opening the World Cup against Bosnia-Herzegovina. Group-stage matches follow against Qatar on June 18 and Switzerland on June 24.
If he cannot play, Davies said he will still offer support. "I'll give them the words of encouragement that they need."
"For me, there's no pressure," he added. "Football is a 26-man game; we count on everybody on the team."