Alphonso Davies ruled out of Canada's World Cup opener

Bayern Munich full‑back Alphonso Davies will miss Canada's opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup against Bosnia‑Herzegovina after a hamstring injury sustained in Bayern's Champions League semifinal against Paris Saint‑Germain on May 6. Coach Jesse Marsch said the player underwent an MRI scan and remains hopeful he can return later in the group stage, adding, "We're getting ready to ramp things up." Davies, born in a refugee camp in Ghana and raised in Canada, has been a key figure for the Canadian side, scoring the nation's first World Cup goal in 2022 and earning multiple CONCACAF Player of the Year awards. His absence is viewed as a significant blow as Canada seeks its first World Cup points and aims for a knockout‑stage berth for the first time.

The injury highlights Canada's growing football ambitions, with soccer now the most‑played youth sport in the country and the World Cup seen as a catalyst for further growth.