Alphonso Davies Sidelined: The Real Reason Behind His Absence from Canada's Clashes with Romania and Wales
Canada's men's national soccer team will compete in their initial fixtures since the 2025–26 European season commenced, though they'll be without Bayern Munich's Alphonso Davies in their lineup.
The 24-year-old defender is among multiple crucial players absent from manager Jesse Marsch's roster. OGC Nice's central defender Moise Bombito is unavailable while recovering from wrist surgery, and Celtic's Alistair Johnston will miss out due to a hamstring injury sustained during UEFA Champions League qualification rounds.
Regarding Davies, his rehabilitation from the injury he incurred against the United States men's national team during the 2025 Concacaf Nations League Finals in March continues to progress well.
What Injury Does Alphonso Davies Have?
Davies experienced an ACL rupture in that particular match against the USMNT, which initially led many to believe he would be sidelined for the rest of the year and possibly jeopardize his participation in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
However, he has recently resumed training sessions with Bayern Munich and is now practicing with both feet. His recovery schedule has been updated to autumn—significantly faster than typical recovery periods for this type of injury—and he might be ready for Canada's November international matches against Ecuador and another opponent to be announced.
What Has Jesse Marsch Said About Alphonso Davies' Injury?
There's no question about Davies' importance to Canada coach Jesse Marsch, and it's evident that the speedy fullback's determined attitude is accelerating his return to competitive play.
"I wouldn't wager against Alphonso [being prepared for November 13,]" Marsch informed Canadian Soccer Daily's Brendan Dunlop before the matches against Romania and Wales—a comeback that would see Davies surpass the typical six to eight month recovery period that ACL injury patients usually require.
"He possesses exceptional physical attributes, and based on my conversations with him and the club over recent months, everyone reports that he's progressing excellently and achieving all the necessary metrics and milestones."
Davies' return to the Canadian national team would occur at a crucial moment as they continue preparations for their inaugural World Cup matches on domestic territory, relying solely on friendly matches for preparation without continental qualifying campaigns or tournaments.
What's Next for Alphonso Davies?
Davies' eventual return to the Canadian national squad will mark his first appearance since a complicated situation involving Davies' representative Nick Huoseh, FC Bayern, and Canada Soccer, following the German club's threat of legal proceedings for fielding Davies when he was reportedly not completely healthy.
"Naturally, there's significant frustration about being unavailable, but there are always advantages to having some time to contemplate your personal circumstances, your career, and to refocus your mindset for what success will require," Marsch added. "Alphonso has longed to play football again. He's yearned to be back on the field. He's been able to focus on his personal life in a different manner."
Between the September international fixtures and November's schedule, the Canadian team will also face Australia in Montréal and Colombia in New Jersey during October.
At the club level, Bayern Munich have returned to full competition, participating in the Bundesliga and DFB Pokal, with their Champions League group stage campaign beginning against Chelsea on September 17. Davies could potentially return from Matchday 5 onward, when Bayern visit north London to face Mikel Arteta's Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.