A healthy Alphonso Davies is finally set to rejoin Canada’s men’s soccer team.
The 26-year-old Bayern Munich left back is one of 23 players head coach Jesse Marsch has called into camp as Canada prepares to face Guatemala in the CONCACAF Nations League quarter-finals.
Davies Back to Full Fitness
“I’m super excited to have him back,” Marsch said on a video call. “I think the whole team is. I think he’s going to add a lot to who we are.”
Davies, Canada’s captain, played limited minutes in just one World Cup game while recovering from a hamstring injury. He then missed the national team’s three friendlies in late September and early October for his honeymoon. This season he has played 13 games for Bayern, with three goals and three assists.
“He’s in really good shape and form, mentally, physically, psychologically, I think in all ways,” Marsch said. “He’s really excited to come back and be with the national team. It has been laborious for everyone, including Alphonso, to get himself to this point where he feels like he’s back playing his best football. But I think we can all see now that that’s the case.”
A More Attacking Role
At Bayern this season, Davies has been used further forward, playing as a wingback rather than his usual fullback position. Marsch would like to try the same move with the national team, although injuries elsewhere may limit his options.
Injuries Thin the Squad
Canada will be missing several key players against Guatemala:
- Derek Cornelius, Marseille centre back
- Alfie Jones, Middlesbrough centre back
- Alistair Johnston, Celtic right back
- Cyle Larin, Southampton striker (new injury)
- Stephen Eustáquio, Swansea City midfielder (new injury)
“This is nothing new, unfortunately. We have gotten accustomed to as a staff watching the matches and keeping our fingers crossed,” Marsch said. “This has been the case over the last year and a half, probably, dealing with these situations and trying to support the players so that they can get themselves back to form and fitness and everything else.”
New Faces and Returning Players
To fill some of the gaps, Marsch has called up two 18-year-olds: Toronto FC defender Richard Chukwu and Feyenoord midfielder Kevin Khan.
“I think one of the beauties is it gives more opportunities for players to come into the mix and establish themselves within the group,” Marsch said.
Goalkeeper Maxime Crépeau also returns after missing the autumn friendlies following the death of his father.
What Is at Stake in the Quarter-Final
Canada, ranked 27th in the world, opens the two-legged series away to No. 95 Guatemala and then hosts the return leg.
| Date | Fixture | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| November 13 | Guatemala vs Canada (first leg) | Guatemala City |
| November 16 | Canada vs Guatemala (second leg) | BMO Field, Toronto |
The outcome matters for both teams:
- Winner: a place in the CONCACAF Nations League finals in Los Angeles in March 2027 and qualification for the 2027 CONCACAF Gold Cup.
- Loser: a spot in the Gold Cup preliminary round.
Canada, Mexico, the United States and Panama each received a bye into the quarter-finals as the region’s top four teams. Guatemala reached this stage for the first time by winning its qualifying group.
Sanctions on Guatemala After Suriname Match
Guatemala’s final qualifier, a 1-0 win over Suriname on October 5, turned ugly. CONCACAF said it punished the Guatemalan Football Association for several incidents during that game, including discriminatory chants aimed at Suriname players by Guatemala supporters, objects thrown onto the field and players’ involvement in a post-match confrontation.
The sanctions include:
- Three-game suspensions for players Jonathan Franco and Carlos Estrada over the confrontation.
- Closing 25 per cent of the stadium for Guatemala’s next home Nations League match.
- Submitting a plan to prevent discrimination at future games.
Preparing for a Hostile Away Leg
Marsch said his staff are preparing the players for what they may face in Guatemala City.
“It’s not just about racism, it’s about how difficult it is to play in these stadiums and in these environments, and what it means to these teams, and what it means to play away in CONCACAF,” he said.
“So we’ll make sure that in all ways this is a big part of our preparation and that we’re ready to go down to Guatemala, a really tough place to play, and make sure that we’re ready to deliver a very strong, professional, clear, disciplined performance that can help us set up to be successful in this two-game series.”
