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TORONTO — Eight years ago, Alphonso Davies delivered the speech that helped secure the 2026 World Cup hosting rights for the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Slight in stature and sporting braces on his wide smile, he stood before the FIFA Congress in Moscow and gave a stirring address as the youngest and most prominent star in North American soccer at that moment.
"My name is Alphonso Davies. My parents are from Liberia and fled the civil war," he said, his 17-year-old voice wavering between teenage uncertainty and flashes of confidence. "It was a difficult life, but when I was five years old, a country called Canada took us in, and the boys on the football team made me feel like I belonged.
"My dream is to one day compete in the World Cup. The people of North America have always welcomed me, and if given the chance, I know they'll welcome you."
Nearly eight years to the day after that bid triumphed by a wide margin, he received new life-changing news: he's heading to his second World Cup.
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CanMNT 🇨🇦 captain Alphonso Davies once took the stage as a young boy and invited the world to come to Canada 🏆
In 2026, his dream becomes reality ✨ pic.twitter.com/YV7Rmd0wYh
Back in 2018, the teenager could only have fantasized about playing in the 2026 tournament. Canada sat 80th in the FIFA rankings at the time, having climbed from 122nd just a few years earlier. The notion of qualifying for a World Cup, let alone being part of a top-30 nation or making any real mark, felt like pure fantasy.
Yet the spark in Davies's eyes and his infectious grin hinted at what was possible. He guided Canada to the 2022 World Cup four years after that Moscow speech, claimed a UEFA Champions League title and other honors with Bayern Munich, and netted Canada's first-ever goal on soccer's biggest stage.
Since that milestone, the nation's soccer profile has grown significantly around him. Canada's 2026 squad, as head coach Jesse Marsch describes it, is "one of, if not the best, squads that Canada has ever had," and includes 13 players who were part of the 2022 campaign.
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For a boy born in Buduburam, Ghana, who spent his earliest years in a Liberian refugee camp before settling in the cold climate of Edmonton, it has been an extraordinary journey—one that surpasses even his most ambitious dreams.
Though he was absent from the squad announcement in Charlotte while continuing to recover from a hamstring injury during his brief rest period following the club season, Davies still saw his name displayed on a banner draped across Toronto's iconic CN Tower.
He will link up with the squad in Edmonton and is expected to attend Monday's friendly against Uzbekistan in front of a crowd exceeding 45,000 supporters.
While his availability for both friendlies and the June 12 World Cup opener against Bosnia and Herzegovina remains uncertain, he is still expected to contribute. Current timelines suggest he could make his tournament debut on June 18 in Vancouver against Qatar.
"[Davies] is really excited," Marsch said. "He's already out on the pitch running, so we need to assess where he stands in his overall recovery and then look for ways to speed things up ... I'm genuinely hopeful that he gets a few days to recharge and comes in feeling fresh."
Marsch Exhausted By Injury Concern
Marsch appeared visibly drained when speaking to reporters following Friday's roster announcement, worn down by the barrage of questions surrounding a squad that included nine players, Davies among them, working their way back from various injuries.
"I wish all the questions weren't about injuries," Marsch added, having made the contentious decision to include LAFC winger Jacob Shaffelburg despite the Nova Scotia native training separately throughout the week. "Will everyone be fully fit for the Bosnia match? No, that won't be the case, but we will have a strong core ready to go, and we believe we'll grow stronger as the tournament progresses."
Shaffelburg could potentially be available for the opener. Nevertheless, Canada has brought in Austin FC winger Jayden Nelson for the friendlies, a clear sign that Shaffelburg's recovery may not reach full readiness before final selection decisions must be made.
Marsch has put his trust in four central defenders and four forwards, with each of the four center backs—Moïse Bombito, Derek Cornelius, Alfie Jones and Luc De Fougerolles—having navigated injuries and setbacks throughout 2025–26. His fifth option, Joel Waterman, provides experienced depth but is likely only a contingency.
In attack, Jonathan David, Cyle Larin and Tani Olwauseyi form a healthy trio of strikers for the 4-4-2 system. The imposing Promise David also made the squad, though he hasn't featured since Feb. 21 as he approaches full fitness following a swift recovery from hip surgery.
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Canada's Calmness Ahead of World Cup Spotlight
Despite the injury concerns and other challenges, Canada appears more composed than most nations. Unlike the USMNT, there was no large-scale event for players to discover their World Cup fate. Those in Charlotte found out in a hotel ballroom, and players who didn't make the cut were informed of their slim chances before camp even began.
By opting to prepare in the southern United States—both to acclimatize to the potential heat of outdoor World Cup venues and to sidestep the enormous attention that would follow them in Canada—the group managed to stay composed and sharply focused.
"We've talked a lot about sorting out tickets, arranging family travel, and cutting out all kinds of distractions," Marsch said. "We don't have banners everywhere celebrating Canada and maple leaves; we have a few things up so we know this is our space, but we're not trying to generate any more energy than what we need to simply stay focused."
Now, further decisions await. Dayne St. Clair joked that he and Maxime Crépeau might settle the starting goalkeeper debate with a game of rock, paper, scissors—a call Marsch will make following the Uzbekistan match. Other positional battles will also need to be resolved as injury recoveries develop.
Regardless, all 26 Canadian men carry enormous belief in making a deep run on home soil—something they could never have envisioned when Davies stepped to the podium in Moscow eight years ago.