Alphonso Davies Unlikely to Face Qatar as Recovery Continues

Summary: 

• Alphonso Davies remains on a modified training program and is unlikely to play against Qatar.
• The Canada captain has not played internationally since suffering an ACL injury in March 2025.
• Canada still hopes Davies can return later in the FIFA World Cup.

Canada’s hopes of having captain and star defender Alphonso Davies back on the pitch for Thursday’s 2026 FIFA World Cup match against Qatar appear to have taken a setback, with the Bayern Munich player still not training at full intensity.

“Healing Incredibly Well”

Davies was ruled out of Canada’s opening 1-1 draw against Bosnia and Herzegovina in Toronto. At the time, head coach Jesse Marsch said an MRI scan showed the player was “healing incredibly well, almost completely“.

However, during Monday’s training session in Vancouver, Davies remained on a modified “return to play” program. He took part in light jogging with teammates before continuing much of his work individually. 

While he was later seen working with a ball and taking shots at goal, he has yet to resume unrestricted training.

CanMNT 🇨🇦 captain Alphonso Davies is back training with the rest of his teammates, finally in proper boots again 👟 👀

3 days to go before Qatar in Vancouver ⏰ pic.twitter.com/1F28oLWzhE

— OneSoccer (@onesoccer) June 15, 2026

That makes a return against Qatar highly unlikely, as players typically need several full training sessions before being considered match-ready.

Strenuous Recovery Path

Davies’s recovery has been anything but smooth and easy since he tore his ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) while on international duty with Canada in March 2025. 

The injury came shortly after Bayern Munich signed him to a long-term contract reportedly worth around $190 million. 

Although he returned to club action in December, he has since suffered three separate hamstring and muscle injuries, common complications following ACL rehabilitation.

His most recent setback occurred on May 6 and was expected to keep him sidelined for four to six weeks. Canada included Davies in its 26-man World Cup squad earlier this month in the hope he would recover in time to contribute during the tournament.

Moments before the world watched us.#CANMNT pic.twitter.com/U3R6VWlUbg

— CANMNT (@CANMNT_Official) June 13, 2026

Meanwhile, defender Moise Bombito, who is also recovering from a broken leg, was able to fully participate in training and could be available for selection against Qatar.

For now, Canada appears set to proceed cautiously with Davies, prioritizing his long-term fitness while keeping open the possibility of a return later in the tournament.