Canada Soccer is sending a team physiotherapist to France to work with Ligue 1 club Nice to get centre back Moïse Bombito healthy for June’s World Cup, multiple sources tell TSN.
Last week, during Canada’s penultimate international window before the tournament, head coach Jesse Marsch revealed Bombito’s recovery from a broken left leg was not as far along as the team had hoped.
Marsch also told the media then that Canada Soccer and Nice were working together on a plan for Bombito. The 26-year-old is now seven months removed from breaking his left leg during a Ligue 1 match last October. At the time, Bombito was also dealing with a stress fracture in the same leg.
Bombito attended Canada’s March camp as a training player, and was seen during practice working alongside Canada’s medical team. Bombito worked through a circuit of stability drills and moved carefully through agility exercises. When he was seen jogging, Bombito moved slowly and intentionally.
There was hope around both Bombito and Canada that the Montreal native would have already seen game action before the March camp, if not shortly after. While there is still plenty of optimism there is enough time to get Bombito healthy to play in the World Cup, at the moment there’s no specific return-to-play date set.
What makes Bombito’s health a compelling storyline as Canada’s opening game against Bosnia and Herzegovina approaches on June 12 is his undeniable importance in Canada’s lineup, and the influence his presence has on the team’s tournament hopes.
Bombito is considered not only Canada’s best centre back, but also one of the best defenders in the Concacaf region. In his first real opportunity to start in Canada’s defence at the 2024 Copa América, Bombito quickly showed intelligence, composure, strength, and explosive speed as Canada progressed to the semifinals.
From May 2024 through March 2025, Bombito made 15 starts for Canada, playing the full 90 minutes on each occasion. As his Canadian profile grew, so too did his European club prospects, and he almost immediately became a mainstay in Nice’s lineup following a transfer from the Colorado Rapids in August 2024.
Nevertheless, come June, when Canada has pre-tournament friendlies scheduled against Uzbekistan in Edmonton and Ireland in Montreal, it will be almost 15 months since Bombito has worn a Canadian jersey, if he’s available to play.
Bombito’s prognosis will continue to be a major talking point around this team, but his is hardly the only injury affecting the fitness of Canada’s roster. Over the past month, nearly every position group has been hit.
Alphonso Davies’ health has been its own saga since Canada’s captain tore his ACL during the 2025 Concacaf Nations League Finals and missed nine months.
Davies has dealt with thigh and hamstring issues as he’s attempted to play himself back up to his supreme skill and speed, although he did come on late and set up the winner in Bayern Munich’s victory over Freiburg this past weekend.
In February, forward Promise David ruptured a tendon connecting his hip and thigh. And even if the 24-year-old continues to post updates of his post-surgery rehabilitation on social media, right now he is considered a longshot to be healthy in time for June.
Bombito’s fellow centre backs Luc de Fougerolles (ankle) and Derek Cornelius (hamstring) have not seen much gametime recently either.
Cornelius is healthy and multiple sources tell TSN he is now training with Rangers first team and, in the event of an injury to the lineup, may feature in the late spring championship phase of this season’s Scottish Premiership.
Rangers manager Danny Röhl allowed Cornelius to travel to Canada’s camp in Toronto in early March after reports emerged that the two were in the midst of a dispute and Röhl had sent Cornelius to train away from his teammates. Marsch then told the media he had attempted to act as a mediator.
By the end of March’s camp, de Fougerolles was training with the team and is closing in on a return for his Belgian club.Midfielder Jacob Shaffelburg (groin) and team vice-captain Stephen Eustáquio (leg hematoma) both missed March’s camp.
And though goalkeeper Maxime Crépeau nursed an injury early in camp too, he was fit enough to start Canada’s second March friendly against Tunisia.Canada’s opening game against Bosnia and Herzegovina is now 66 days away.
