Alphonso Davies returns to Canadian men’s soccer team for CONCACAF Nations League play

A healthy Alphonso Davies is finally set to rejoin Canada’s men’s soccer team.

The 26-year-old Bayern Munich left back is one of 23 players head coach Jesse Marsch has called into camp as Canada prepares to take on Guatemala in the CONCACAF Nations League quarter-finals this month.

“I’m super excited to have him back,” Marsch said Tuesday on a video call. “I think the whole team is. I think he’s going to add a lot to who we are.”

Davies, Canada’s captain, played limited minutes in just one game at this summer’s World Cup as he recovered from a hamstring injury. He then missed the nation’s three friendlies in late September and early October for his honeymoon.

He has played 13 games for Bayern this season, tallying three goals and three assists.

“He’s in really good shape and form, mentally, physically, psychologically, I think in all ways,” Marsch said. “He’s really excited to come back and be with the national team.

“It has been laborious for everyone, including Alphonso, to get himself to this point where he feels like he’s back playing his best football. But I think we can all see now that that’s the case.”

Davies has been used in a more offensive role with Bayern this season, playing as a wingback instead of his usual fullback position. It’s a move Marsch would like to try with the national team.

He could be limited in his options, though, as Canada deals with a rash of injuries.

Canada will be without several defenders against Guatemala, including Marseille centre back Derek Cornelius, Middlesbrough centre back Alfie Jones and Celtic right-back Alistair Johnston.

Southampton striker Cyle Larin and Swansea City midfielder Stephen Eustáquio also picked up new injuries this week, taking two more of the country’s top talents out of contention.

“This is nothing new, unfortunately. We have gotten accustomed to as a staff watching the matches and keeping our fingers crossed,” Marsch said. “This has been the case over the last year and a half, probably, dealing with these situations and trying to support the players so that they can get themselves back to form and fitness and everything else.”

The coach will look to fill some of the injury holes with a pair of 18-year-old athletes, calling Toronto FC defender Richard Chukwu and Feyenoord midfielder Kevin Khan into training camp.

“I think one of the beauties is it gives more opportunities for players to come into the mix and establish themselves within the group,” Marsch said.

Goalkeeper Maxime Crépeau also rejoins the Canadian squad after missing the fall friendlies following the death of his father.

Canada, currently ranked 27th in the world, will visit No. 95 Guatemala to open the two-legged series on Nov. 13 before hosting the second leg at Toronto’s BMO Field on Nov. 16.

The winner of the series earns a spot in the CONCACAF Nations League finals in Los Angeles in March 2027 and qualifies for the 2027 CONCACAF Gold Cup.

The loser will play in the Gold Cup preliminary round.

Canada, Mexico, the United States and Panama each earned a bye into the Nations League quarter-finals as the region’s top four teams.

Guatemala will make its first quarter-final appearance in the tournament after winning its group during qualifiers.

The nation’s final game in qualifiers – a 1-0 victory over Suriname on Oct. 5 – turned nasty.

CONCACAF said in a release that it handed out punishments to the Guatemalan Football Association for “multiple incidents” during the game, including “discriminatory chants directed at Suriname players by Guatemala supporters, objects thrown onto the field of play, and players’ involvement in a post-match confrontation.”

The sanctions include three-game suspensions to players Jonathan Franco and Carlos Estrada for their roles in the confrontation.

Guatemala will also be forced to close 25 per cent of the stadium for its next home CONCACAF Nations League match and submit a plan for how it will prevent discrimination at future games.

Marsch said he and his staff are preparing the players for what they could experience in Guatemala City.

“It’s not just about racism, it’s about how difficult it is to play in these stadiums and in these environments, and what it means to these teams, and what it means to play away in CONCACAF,” he said.

“So we’ll make sure that in all ways this is a big part of our preparation and that we’re ready to go down to Guatemala, a really tough place to play, and make sure that we’re ready to deliver a very strong, professional, clear, disciplined performance that can help us set up to be successful in this two-game series.”