Canada coach explains unique reason why Alphonso Davies didn't play
If you thought Canada’s Alphonso Davies was finally going to make his 2026 FIFA World Cup debut against Switzerland on Wednesday, consider yourself fooled.
For the third consecutive FIFA World Cup match, Canada’s star player was once again an unused sub even after head coach Jesse Marsch said he could potentially make an appearance before the game.
As Canada dropped its first game of the 2026 FIFA World Cup against a decent, yet beatable, Switzerland side, the question looming large among reporters was the reason why Davies saw no time.
Marsch’s decision not to play the Bayern Munich star was a unique one, nonetheless, but it was to hide from the fact that Davies wasn’t ready.
“Alphonso wasn’t ready yet. I was using him as a decoy,” Marsch responded.
“He was never going to play today.”
Jesse Marsch admits to using Alphonso Davies as a “decoy” and that he was not ready to play today. #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/U8qd6LGCQn
â TSN (@TSN_Sports) June 24, 2026
Davies suffered a hamstring injury while playing for Bayern Munich in the Champions League semi-final against Paris Saint-Germain in early May and was unable to resume training with Canada until just this week.
The reporter who asked the question about why the 25-year-old wing back didn’t play followed Marsch’s remark, asking if the “decoy” worked.
“There were like three questions about Davies in Switzerland’s match-day media availability,” Marsch replied.
He went on to say that, given the stakes of Canada’s next match, Davies will be ready to play on Sunday.
Davies himself had no time for the reporters on hand post-game. He blew past reporters, choosing not to speak on the matter surrounding his injury. He did not address the media once during Canada’s nine days (and two games) in Vancouver.
Canada’s Alphonso Davies applauds fans after the match against Bosnia and Herzegovina. (Kevin Sousa/Imagn Images)
Canada had a chance to win Group B on Wednesday afternoon with either a win or a draw against the Swiss side.
If they won, they would’ve remained in Vancouver for potentially their next two knockout stage games, but instead, they’ll head to Los Angeles to face the runner-up of Group A (either South Korea or Czechia).
Marsch said his Canadian side needs to understand how to handle opponents like Switzerland better.
“We were way too passive and had very little intensity,” said Marsch on Canada’s play. “We have to be the aggressor.”
Despite now having no more games on Canadian soil for the rest of this 2026 FIFA World Cup, Marsch says the team’s goal remains the same.
“We still want to electrify this nation,” he said. “We still have a massive opportunity ahead of us, even though it’ll be from Los Angeles.”
Canada’s knockout stage opponent will likely be South Korea if they win or draw against South Africa on Wednesday night in Monterrey, Mexico.
The do-or-die game will be played on June 28 at Los Angeles Stadium at 3 p.m. EDT (12 p.m. PDT).