An injured and absent Alphonso Davies was named to Canada’s World Cup roster during Canada Soccer’s announcement on Friday.
Davies, 25, missed all of training camp in North Carolina while recovering from a hamstring injury, and is unlikely to be healthy in time for Canada’s first game of the World Cup, which is being co-hosted this time around by Canada, Mexico and the United States.
Other players dealing with injuries were also named to the squad, including Promise David, who was pretty much written off after rupturing a hip tendon on Feb. 21, but has staged a remarkable comeback.
Another storyline to watch for Canada during the tournament is who it tabs as its starting goalkeeper, with both Maxime Crépeau and Dayne St. Clair making a case.
“It is an honour to name our squad for a World Cup on home soil,” Canada head coach Jesse Marsch said in a statement released by Canada Soccer. “These players reflect the many communities, cultures and journeys that make up this country. They are determined, fearless, and proud to wear Canada across their chest. We look forward to uniting Canadians this summer, and we invite everyone to be part of this journey with us.”
Canada will kick off the tournament against Bosnia-Herzegovina in Toronto on June 12 before shifting to Vancouver for group-stage games against Qatar on June 18 and Switzerland on June 24.
The expanded 48-team tournament will see 104 games in Canada, the United States and Mexico between June 11 and July 19.
Canada’s World Cup Squad
Goalkeepers
Maxime Crépeau (Orlando City SC), Owen Goodman (Crystal Palace FC), Dayne St. Clair (Inter Miami FC)
Defenders
Moïse Bombito (OGC Nice), Derek Cornelius (Olympique de Marseille), Alphonso Davies (Bayern Munich), Luc de Fougerolles (Fulham FC), Alistair Johnston (Celtic FC), Alfie Jones (Middlesbrough FC), Richie Laryea (Toronto FC), Niko Sigur (Hadjuk Split), Joel Waterman (Chicago Fire FC)
Midfielders
Ali Ahmed (Norwich City FC), Tajon Buchanan (Villarreal CF), Mathieu Choinière (LAFC), Stephen Eustáquio (FC Porto), Marcelo Flores (Tigres UANL), Ismaël Koné (U.S. Sassuolo Calcio), Liam Millar (Hull City FC), Jonathan Osorio (Toronto FC), Nathan Saliba (R.S.C. Anderlecht), Jacob Shaffelburg (LAFC)
Forwards
Jonathan David (Juventus FC), Promise David (Royale Union Saint-Gilloise), Cyle Larin (RCD Mallorca), Tani Oluwaseyi (Villarreal CF)
–with files from The Canadian Press
