World Cup
Marsch says Davies not ready for Switzerland loss
Canada coach Jesse Marsch confirmed that left‑back Alphonso Davies was not ready to play in the 2‑1 defeat to Switzerland at BC Place in Vancouver on Wednesday, June 24 2026. Despite dressing for the match, the 19‑year‑old captain remained on the bench after injuring his left hamstring with Bayern Munich in early May.
Marsch admitted after the game that he had employed Davies as a tactical decoy to mislead the opposition. The coach had previously indicated a day earlier that the captain was expected to return from his hamstring problem.
Davies was listed among the substitutes and took his place on the bench, but he never entered the field of play. His absence left Canada without their regular left‑back for the match.
Davies set for Canada debut vs Switzerland with World Cup fate on line
Canada nevertheless secured second place in Group B, ensuring progression to the World Cup knockout stage. The group finish came despite the loss, with the team accumulating enough points to move on. The Canadians will meet the runner‑up of Group A in Los Angeles on Sunday. The venue for the round‑of‑16 clash will be in the United States. After the final whistle, Davies raised his hand to acknowledge the Vancouver crowd despite not having played. His gesture highlighted the support the team received at BC Place.