Davies sits again as Marsch reshuffles Canada vs South Africa

Davies on – Alphonso Davies will not start for Canada against South Africa in the Round of 32 at SoFi Stadium, even as coach Jesse Marsch insists the Bayern Munich star is available after recovering from a hamstring injury. Canada made several other lineup changes, with M

The hardest part of a recovery isn’t the rehab. It’s the waiting.

For Alphonso Davies, that waiting continues into Canada’s Round of 32 clash with South Africa on Sunday at SoFi Stadium. The Edmonton native was left out of manager Jesse Marsch’s first 11 and will make his first appearance of the 2026 FIFA World Cup as a substitute instead.

Davies has not played a single minute across the entire group stage. recovering from a hamstring injury suffered in early May. His absence shaped Canada’s tournament. and Marsch has admitted this week that he leaned on Davies as a decoy during group play—using gamesmanship to force opponents to game-plan for a player who wasn’t actually ready to return.

That approach is over now. Marsch told reporters Davies would be available in Los Angeles as Canada’s World Cup co-hosts begin their knockout run against South Africa.

“Now that we have Alphonso back and healthy and ready to perform. I think it’s a big moment for the team and a big boost for the team. ” Marsch said. “I think in general. all the players that came into camp with little injuries are now really close to 100 per cent and ready to perform at the highest level and be at our best in these matches.”.

Davies’ availability comes with a clear message: Canada will bring him into the plan carefully. after Marsch made the decision not to rush him through protocols even when he was medically cleared for recent matches. Marsch said Davies had injured his hamstring three times in the past four months. including during the Champions League semifinals last month.

Marsch also explained what it cost to keep Davies out.

“For me to go tell our best player. and a guy that is a huge piece of everything that we do. that we have to wait. was also painful. ” Marsch said. “But we’ve done this in the best interests of Alphonso and his career and his health. so it’s nice now that we can have a plan that leads to him being back on the pitch.”.

Before Sunday, Marsch said Davies was available for Canada’s two most recent games—which Davies technically was—but the coach said the deception is no longer necessary.

The lineup changes around that decision show how Canada is trying to strike a balance between urgency and stability. Moïse Bombito was inserted into the starting 11 for the first time this tournament. The 26-year-old had only played one half—against Qatar—in his first national team action since returning from a leg injury.

Up top, Marsch has gone with Tani Oluwaseyi, starting him next to Jonathan David in place of Cyle Larin.

Captain Stephen Eustáquio is also back among the starters. He missed Canada’s group-stage finale against Switzerland due to a muscle injury.

Davies, for his part, has been carrying disappointment as much as anticipation. He scored Canada’s first World Cup goal in Qatar four years ago, and he had been looking forward to this tournament—especially with the chance to host.

The hamstring kept him from the home games in Toronto and Vancouver. Marsch’s plan held, even as Davies tried to push for minutes late in the group stage against Switzerland last Wednesday.

“Obviously, it was painful,” Davies said. “The only thing you want to do is play football. That’s what I’m really passionate about. The first game, watching it, I was eager to be on the pitch. Second game, even more so. The third game. I went to him before the game and asked him. ‘Do you think I can get a couple of minutes?’ He could have said. ‘Yeah. we’ll just throw you in there. ‘ but obviously he cares about me and the team as human beings as well. so he sat me down … and I thought about it, and I said, ‘He’s right.’ It was kind of hard to hear.”.

Now Davies is back in the picture for SoFi Stadium, but Marsch refused to confirm how many minutes he will play or even the position he could take. Either way, the 25-year-old is expected to give everything he has as Canada seeks its first men’s knockout-round victory.

Canada, now in its third World Cup appearance, had an opportunity to stay home in Vancouver for this round. The loss to Switzerland sent Marsch’s team to the Los Angeles area as the second-place finisher in Group B.

The stadium connection runs deeper than this tournament. Canada played the third-place match of the Concacaf Nations League tournament in this same venue in March 2025, beating the U.S. 2-1. Davies was then lost to a torn knee ligament that sidelined him until December.

On Sunday, the field itself carries the reminder of how close this moment is to what he started a year ago. SoFi Stadium rolls out a hybrid turf largely made of natural grass for top soccer events.

“Could have happened anywhere,” Davies said. “Coming back to the stadium, I get to finish something I started a year ago in March. I really enjoy playing in this stadium. The first time, it was beautiful. It was cut short, but that happens. It’s football.”

MISRYOUM Canada South Africa 2026 FIFA World Cup Round of 32 Alphonso Davies Jesse Marsch Moïse Bombito Tani Oluwaseyi Jonathan David Stephen Eustáquio Cyle Larin SoFi Stadium