World Cup 2026: Canada captain Alphonso Davies available for South Africa last-32 tie

Canada have received a timely lift ahead of their World Cup knockout campaign, with captain Alphonso Davies declared fit for Sunday’s last-32 meeting with South Africa. on Sunday.

Head coach Jesse Marsch confirmed the Bayern Munich star has recovered from a hamstring injury sustained during his club’s Champions League semi-final against Paris Saint-Germain, easing fears that he could miss the decisive stages of the tournament.

“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 on Saturday.

Davies’ return comes at a crucial moment for Canada, who have shown resilience throughout the group stage but lacked his pace and direct threat in wide areas during his absence.

The 25-year-old Ghana-born full-back was close to featuring in Canada’s final Group B match against Switzerland, a 2-1 defeat, but was held back by Marsch as a precautionary measure, with the coach opting not to rush his captain back into action.

The decision underlined Canada’s cautious approach to managing their most influential player, particularly given the physical demands of knockout football and his recent injury history.

Davies himself admitted the spell on the sidelines was difficult to accept, especially watching his teammates compete without him in high-stakes matches.

“It was hard to watch those three games,” he said. “It was painful. The only thing you want to do is play.”

Marsch has consistently stressed that player welfare remains a priority, particularly for key figures returning from long-term or high-risk injuries. He compared his approach to handling elite talent with extreme care, emphasising the need to avoid unnecessary risk.

“You have to treat them like they’re Ferraris,” he added.

Canada now head into the knockout stage with renewed optimism, as the return of their captain restores both leadership and attacking sharpness.

Davies’ pace, ball-carrying ability and experience at the highest level are expected to significantly alter their attacking threat against a South Africa side preparing for one of its toughest tests of the tournament.