Alphonso Davies was selected for Canada‘s World Cup roster on Friday night, though it remains uncertain if he will be fit for the team’s first match due to a hamstring injury.
The Bayern Munich defender sustained the injury earlier this month during a loss to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League semifinals.
As Canada’s captain, Davies is one of the standout players on the roster, joined by notable talent such as Juventus forward Jonathan David, Southampton forward Cyle Larin, and Villarreal midfielder Tajon Buchanan.
Coach Jesse Marsch has assembled a squad of 26 players, including nine defenders, ten midfielders, four forwards, and three goalkeepers for the World Cup, which kicks off on June 11.
Earlier this week, Marsch listed Davies in the initial 32-player training camp squad, but he has yet to join the team as he continues his recovery in Germany.
The Canadian squad has been training in Charlotte, North Carolina, in preparation for two upcoming friendly matches against Uzbekistan on Monday in Edmonton and against Ireland on June 5 in Montreal.
As a co-host of the World Cup with the United States and Mexico, Canada will compete in Group B alongside Switzerland, Qatar, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, who eliminated Italy in the European playoffs.
All three of Canada’s group-stage matches will take place on home turf. Currently ranked No. 30 in the world, Canada will begin its campaign against Bosnia and Herzegovina on June 12 in Toronto.
This marks Canada’s third World Cup appearance, having previously participated in 1986 and 2022, yet the team has never progressed beyond the group stage. In Qatar four years ago, Canada finished last in its group, although Davies scored the nation’s inaugural World Cup goal in a 4-1 loss to Croatia.
Other players returning from injuries include forward Promise David, who underwent hip surgery for a ruptured tendon in February, and defender Moïse Bombito, who hasn’t played for the national team since suffering a leg injury in a 2-2 draw with Monaco in October.
Midfielder Jacob Shaffelburg also made the cut, despite injuring his hamstring earlier this month.
Coach Marsch has yet to name a starting goalkeeper between Maxime Crépeau and Dayne St. Clair, both of whom will participate in the coming friendlies before a decision is made.
“We’re both mature enough to understand our roles for the team, whatever the decision is,” said Crépeau during the Canadian broadcast announcing the squad. “We will support each other and the team both on and off the field.”
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Canada’s World Cup final squad:
**Goalkeepers:** Maxime Crépeau (Orlando City), Owen Goodman (Barnsley), Dayne St. Clair (Inter Miami).
**Defenders:** Moïse Bombito (Nice), Derek Cornelius (Rangers), Alphonso Davies (Bayern Munich), Luc de Fougerolles (Dender EH), Alistair Johnston (Celtic), Alfie Jones (Middlesbrough), Richie Laryea (Toronto), Niko Sigur (Hajduk Split), Joel Waterman (Chicago Fire).
**Midfielders:** Ali Ahmed (Norwich City), Tajon Buchanan (Villarreal), Mathieu Choinière (LAFC), Stephen Eustáquio (LAFC), Marcelo Flores (Tigres UANL), Ismaël Koné (Sassuolo), Liam Millar (Hull City), Jonathan Osorio (Toronto), Nathan-Dylan Saliba (Anderlecht), Jacob Shaffelburg (LAFC).
**Forwards:** Jonathan David (Juventus), Promise David (Royale Union Saint-Gilloise), Cyle Larin (Southampton), Tani Oluwaseyi (Villarreal).