Can captain Alphonso Davies boost Canada’s World Cup hopes?

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When it comes to leading a team into some of the most-watched sporting events of this decade, it has not be a good recent run for Canadian captains.

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Sidney Crosby and Marie-Philip Poulin, both injured early in the Olympic hockey competitions in Milan back in February, had to find ways to lead off of the ice. Their past success and pedigree made it easy to contribute.

And now Alphonso Davies, the superstar captain of the country’s men’s national soccer team, has not been available for World Cup action, a tournament that has the possibility of captivating a nation the same way Olympic hockey can when the country goes on a run.

Like Crosby and Poulin did in Italy, however, Davies is trying to make his voice heard and be influential in what are admittedly different circumstances and a different environment.

This isn’t hockey and Davies is certainly a different player than Crosby and Poulin, in terms of his international accomplishments thus far. But even as there seems to be no clear idea when Davies will see action in this World Cup, his leadership is being tapped into both for his intel and his powers of motivation.

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In a video released by Canada Soccer on Saturday, Davies’ rally cry to his teammates in the Toronto Stadium locker room shortly before Friday’s game against Bosnia and Herzegovina reveals how he is still trying and how his teammates respond to that voice. Davies hasn’t played for Canada in more than a year, but he’s still a leader.

“Think back to a time when you were a boy, glued to the TV when you’re watching the World Cup for the first time, watching your idols play in this tournament,” Davies says as he’s arm-in-arm with his teammates moments before they hit the pitch.

“Think about the time where you dream about moments like this. Fast forward 2026 (and) here we are. All the times your parents sacrificed, the people that your love are there with you. The confidence they gave you. You go out and show that tonight. You show then and the world how good we are as individual and as a team.”

Then the big finish, one that ended with a huge roar from the Canadian men that look up to him: “You play for the badge on the front to they can remember the name on the back.”

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When will Davies return?

At this point, there is an element of “if,” not “when” to the question.

In an interview with TSN’s James Duthie that aired shortly before Friday’s kickoff, Davies wasn’t exactly effusive in suggesting that his 2026 World Cup debut would be any time soon.

“Obviously there is as possibility,” Davies told Duthie. “Depends on if my rehab goes well and how my body reacts to different things on the pitch and in the gym. I don’t want to say no. I don’t want to say yes.

“No targets. No really set goals on when I come back. We’ll see. If it doesn’t (happen), it doesn’t. It is what it is.”

There are two possible motivations at play here. One, that both Davies and Canada are playing coy, feeling no need to tip their plans to the opposition. Another: That the star player’s club team, Bayern Munich, is in part calling the shots or at least influencing the player.

More from the interview with Duthie:

“Obviously as a player you want to play. I have to be realistic … if I’m not at my best – am I playing because I want to play and be selfish or am I playing because I want to help the team?

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“At this point right now me stepping on the pitch would not benefit the team if I’m not 100 per cent, especially the way we play with high intensity.

“I don’t think I’m there yet to give my full, my 100%”

Leading in absence

Even though he hasn’t played with the team in what must seem like forever — March 2025 is an eternity, especially when the World Cup is the end goal — Davies commands immense respect from his teammates.

He is recognized for his status as one of the premier defenders in the world and further to that there isn’t a player on the roster who isn’t aware of Davies’ game-changing abilities. Though he hasn’t been around the team much, he’s followed their lead-up to the World Cup closely, been in regular contact with coach Jesse Marsch regarding game plans and tactics and has been active in group chats with teammates.

As well as the locker-room speech prior to Friday’s tournament opener, Davies was on the field in uniform doing some light work in warmups and arm-on-arm with teammates during the anthems.

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Minutes before kickoff, Davies made his rounds with the starting 11, offering a hug and brief word of encouragement to each. It wasn’t quite the influence Crosby had in Milan after getting injured early in group play, but Davies seems committed to making his voice heard.

“I’ll be in the locker room talking to the guys,” Davies told Duthie about how he will continue to try to influence his teammates. “When it’s my time to speak, I speak. I’ll be there to lead them for sure.”

Quick Kicks

While the team arrived in Vancouver on Saturday, the travelling party was reportedly absent one of its key personnel. TSN reported that coach Marsch was in Santa Clara, Calif. on a scouting mission to catch the Group B clash between Switzerland and Qatar. What Marsch witnessed was that dramatic added-time goal by Qatar, who his team will face on Thursday in Vancouver … Sunday was listed as a rest day for Canada, which is expected to return to training on Monday at their B.C. training camp they’re hoping will be their home for multiple weeks.

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