Coach confirms: Bayern star to miss World Cup opener | OneFootball

It’s now official: Alphonso Davies will definitely not be available for Canada in their opening match of the 2026 World Cup. For FC Bayern, however, there is some positive news. A recent MRI offers hope for the left-back’s imminent return.

There had been speculation for a long time, but now the decision has been made: Alphonso Davies will miss Canada’s first World Cup match against Bosnia and Herzegovina on Friday night.

Canada’s national team coach Jesse Marsch officially confirmed the Bayern star’s absence on Thursday and at the same time provided an encouraging update on his captain’s condition.

MRI offers cause for optimism

“We did an MRI yesterday. It showed very positive signs that he’s healing incredibly well. Almost completely,” Marsch explained ahead of the World Cup opener.

According to this, Davies is well on his way back after his thigh muscle injury. Medical examinations have shown that the healing process is actually progressing better than expected.

Nevertheless, playing against Bosnia is still too soon. “He won’t be available for tomorrow. But I believe he’s showing that he recovers really well from muscle injuries,” Marsch emphasized.

However, Canadian fans don’t have to write off their superstar entirely for the World Cup.

There is still hope for his return for the remaining group stage matches against Qatar on June 18 and against Switzerland on June 24. “We’re very hopeful that over the next few days and the coming week, we can speed things up and give him a chance to be back soon,” Marsch explained.

This means Davies could be available again as early as the decisive phase of the group stage.

Bayern is closely monitoring the situation

At Säbener Straße, developments are naturally being followed with particular interest.

FC Bayern officials have recently placed great emphasis on staying closely informed about the Canadian’s health status. This stems from the complicated experiences of 2025, when Davies returned to Munich with a torn cruciate ligament following an international break.

According to kicker, the record champions are even hoping that Davies will play as late as possible—or ideally not at all—in the group stage.

From Bayern’s perspective, giving him additional rest would certainly have advantages. After all, the 25-year-old has repeatedly battled various injury issues in recent months and is still seeking to regain the physical stability of earlier years.

The focus remains on a full recovery

For Canada, however, the loss of their captain is a major setback. The North Americans aim to win a World Cup match for the first time in history at their home tournament and simultaneously advance to the knockout stage. In their previous World Cup appearances in 1986 and 2022, Canada was eliminated as the bottom team in its group on both occasions.

Whether Davies will be fit in time could therefore have a decisive impact on the hosts’ chances. From FC Bayern’s perspective, however, the current development is likely to be viewed positively.