Every week it’s Steven Caldwell’s job to put together his 26-man roster for Canada’s 2026 FIFA World Cup, but lately it seems like more and more options are dwindling as the injuries to Jesse Marsch’s squad keep piling up. This past week was no different with captain Alphonso Davies joining the walking wounded. It’s another unfortunate injury for a player whose season has been snakebitten.
Davies returned to action for Bayern Munich this past December after missing almost 10 months recovering from an ACL injury incurred last spring on international duty. Last month, Davies picked up a torn muscle fibre in a game against Eintracht. That kept him out of action for two weeks. He returned last week in Bayern’s Champions League Round of 16 first-leg match against Atalanta, coming on as a second-half substitute. In the 64th minute, Davies set up France winger Michael Olisé for his second of the match as Bayern won comfortably in a rout by a score of 6-1.
But there was nothing comfortable about the way Davies’ match ended. In the 70th minute, Davies played a pass to a teammate and then sunk down in obvious discomfort. Waving his arms in frustration, Davies called to be subbed off and came off the field visibly emotional as Tom Bischof came on to finish the match in his stead.
After the match, manager Vincent Kompany confirmed that it was a hamstring ailment. While Davies has returned to training and the injury doesn’t appear to be as severe as initially worried, it’s almost a virtual certainty that he will miss out on Canada’s pair of friendlies this month against Tunisia and Iceland at Toronto’s BMO Field. If Davies were the only injury concern, it would be one thing, but the list is a lengthy one now.
With the recent injuries to Davies and Stephen Eustáquio, who bizarrely collided with a referee and has now missed Los Angeles FC’s last two matches, Marsch is now dealing with 10 key absences. Most glaring, though, is that seven of the 10 (if you include Davies as a left-back) are on the backline. Though almost all of these injuries should be cleared up in time for the World Cup, the issue becomes a lack of match time for a slew of important players as the World Cup draws near.
If there is a silver lining to Davies’ injury, it’s that Canada has cover at both left-back and at the wing. Toronto FC’s Richie Laryea has started his season strongly and is Caldwell’s choice to start at left-back for Canada. Up the field, Toronto-born Ali Ahmed has taken the Championship by storm since his January move from Vancouver Whitecaps to Norwich City.
The Canaries have won eight of their last 10 league matches, including Saturday’s 2-0 win over Preston North End in which Ahmed scored his fourth league goal in 11 league matches. He now has more Championship goals than he did in four Major League Soccer seasons combined. Should Davies be unable to start on the left wing, Ahmed is raring for the opportunity to take his place.
As demonstrated by the Form Tracker, Ahmed currently leads the way among Marsch’s wing options. Of note is the play of Junior Hoilett, who has a pair of assists in seven matches since joining League Two’s Swindon Town from Hibernian. Age (the Brampton, Ont. native will be 36 by the time the World Cup starts) and level of competition are working against Hoilett’s inclusion, despite the respect and affection he commands from Canada’s coaching staff and players.
Here’s a look at this week’s team.
Race for the Roster: Week 37 (4-4-2)
Forwards
STARTERS: Jonathan David (Juventus) and Tani Oluwaseyi (Villarreal)
BENCH: Promise David (Union SG) INJ, Daniel Jebbison (Preston North End, on loan from Bournemouth), Cyle Larin (Southampton, on loan from Mallorca) and Marcelo Flores (Tigres)
Midfield and Defenders
STARTING MIDFIELDERS: Alphonso Davies (Bayern Munich) INJ, Ismaël Koné (Sassuolo), Stephen Eustaquio (Los Angeles FC, on loan from Porto) INJ and Tajon Buchanan (Villarreal)
BENCH: Jacob Shaffelburg (Los Angeles) INJ, Liam Millar (Hull City), Nathan Saliba (Anderlecht), Mathieu Choiniere (Los Angeles FC) and Ali Ahmed (Norwich City)
STARTING DEFENDERS: Richie Laryea (Toronto FC), Derek Cornelius (Rangers, on loan from Marseille) INJ, Moise Bombito (Nice) INJ and Alistair Johnston (Celtic) INJ
BENCH: Niko Sigur (Hajduk Split), Alfie Jones (Middlesbrough) INJ, Joel Waterman (Chicago Fire) and Luc de Fougerolles (Dender, on loan from Fulham) INJ
Goalkeeper
STARTER: Dayne St. Clair (Inter Miami)
BENCH: Maxime Crepeau (Orlando City) and Owen Goodman (Huddersfield Town, on loan from Crystal Palace)
IN THE HUNT: James Pantemis (Portland Timbers) and Jonathan Sirois (FC Dallas)
