Alphonso Davies has been included in Canada's World Cup squad despite ongoing injury concerns. Coach Jesse Marsch announced the 26-man roster on Friday, featuring both Davies and Jonathan David as key players for the co-hosting nation.

Injury Concerns for Key Players

Davies, who plays as a defender for Bayern Munich, has struggled with a hamstring injury but has been deemed fit enough for selection. Juventus forward David is expected to lead the attack for a Canadian team that has yet to secure a victory in World Cup history, although they have made significant strides in the FIFA rankings recently. Other notable players in the squad include Porto's Stephen Eustaquio, Sassuolo's Ismael Kone, and Southampton's Cyle Larin.

Squad Announcement and Expectations

Despite several players facing injury doubts, including Nice defender Moise Bombito and Norwich midfielder Ali Ahmed, Marsch expressed confidence in the squad's overall quality. "We have really our best group of 26 players that this country has ever assembled at any one time," he stated, although he acknowledged that not all players are at full fitness. The squad announcement was marked by the display of players' names on banners at Toronto's iconic CN Tower.

As one of the three co-hosts, alongside the United States and Mexico, Canada will host all three of its group matches. The campaign kicks off against Bosnia-Herzegovina in Toronto on June 12, followed by matches in Vancouver against Qatar and Switzerland. Historically, Canada has struggled in World Cup appearances, losing all six matches in their previous two tournaments. However, they made headlines by reaching the semi-finals of the 2024 Copa America, narrowly losing to Uruguay in the third-place playoff.