Davies says lingering hamstring injury kept him out of World Cup knockout game

HOUSTON — Canada captain Alphonso Davies says a lingering hamstring injury kept him out of Canada’s final game of this summer’s FIFA World Cup.

Many expected Davies to play a big part in Canada’s round-of-16 matchup with Morocco on Saturday, but head coach Jesse Marsch did not bring him in off the bench. Morocco won 3-0 and Canada was eliminated from the tournament.

Davies was hurt in early May while playing for Bayern Munich in a Champions League semifinal.

He told reporters after the game that he “felt a little bit of something” in training earlier in the week and decided not to play because he knew he wouldn’t be at his best.

Marsch added that Davies underwent an MRI on Friday that came back clear, but Davies still didn’t feel right when he woke up Saturday morning.

Davies says it was “mentally tough” to not be on the field but he looked for other ways to support his teammates instead.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 4, 2026.

Gemma Karstens-Smith, The Canadian Press