Alphonso Davies available as Canada enters knockout stage

By the Editorial Team · Sunday, June 28, 2026

Canada confirmed that Alphonso Davies will be available to play in their round of 32 match against South Africa after recovering from a hamstring injury. His return provides a crucial advantage as Canada enters the knockout stage of the tournament, aiming to progress further with their key player back on the field.

Canada will have Alphonso Davies available as it begins the knockout stage of the tournament, head coach Jesse Marsch confirmed Saturday. The announcement came ahead of Sunday’s round of 32 match against South Africa at SoFi Stadium.

During the group stage, Marsch acknowledged that he used strategic deception regarding Davies’s health status. The Bayern Munich star and team captain, who had been sidelined with a hamstring injury, served as a decoy to disrupt opposing teams’ preparations, even though he was not yet fully recovered. Marsch suggested this gamesmanship aimed to manipulate opponents’ tactics during group play.

Now, however, Marsch stated that Davies is genuinely ready to compete and that the player himself expects to take the field against South Africa. Davies’s availability represents a significant boost for Canada, as the 24-year-old is widely regarded as the team's most impactful player on the international stage.

The upcoming match at SoFi Stadium marks the start of the knockout rounds for Canada in the co-hosted tournament. With Davies back in contention, Canada looks to advance further in the competition after navigating the group phase without its star midfielder.

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