Alphonso Davies’ return brightens Canada’s landmark World Cup moment

Alphonso Davies looked effective if not fully fit in his substitute appearance. Photograph: Daniel Cole/Reuters For 75 minutes, Canada and South Africa struggled to find a way to break through in the World Cup’s inaugural round of 32 clash. Neither team ceded an inch. Canada couldn’t be baited into intensifying its press as South Africa dawdled playing out from the back. South Africa worked to advance upfield but struggled to find dangerous avenues into the box. Then, at long last, 345 minutes into Canada’s tournament, Alphonso Davies crossed the touchline for his first involvement at World Cup 2026. The game, for Canada and neutrals alike, greatly benefitted. Davies was “itching to get on the pitch,” he said afterward. “To be able to have these 15 minutes that I could get, to be there on the pitch to celebrate with the guys … [it was] truly amazing.” Related: Canada first into last 16 as Stephen Eustáquio scores in stoppage time against South Africa Even in a talented generation of Canadian men’s players, Davies stands alone as its best and most important. His path from Ghana to Vancouver, through the Whitecaps academy and eventually into the lineup for a Champions League-winning Bayern Munich has redefined what’s possible for a Canada international. But recent years have seen him struggle to stay healthy, especially since a March 2025 ACL tear at this same stadium, that complicated the dynamic between player, club, national team, and manager Jesse Marsch. A Godot-like figure at this World Cup – oft-cited but never seen – Davies finally got to work tonight. His first three involvements showed much of what Canada had missed: decisiveness on the ball, a constant pest along the left flank, and a vocal link between the field and bench that jolted the whole team to life. “When Alphonso comes in, I know it’s a big boost for the team,” goal-scorer Stephen Eustaquio said after the match. “He’s one of the best players, one of the best left backs in the world, the best player we have on our team. When we know that he’s healthy, [it] push[ed] the group to make sure that we were going to the knockout runs to have the possibility of him playing.” Davies quickly worked some nimble passing triangles with his left-sided comrades, with Eustaquio and left-back Richie Laryea and giving South Africa fits in the game’s waning minutes. His second pass was close to breaking the deadlock, as he threaded a through ball into Jonathan David’s stride. The Juventus striker was unable to get his shot beyond Ronwen Williams, but suddenly Canada seemed to have hit a rich vein. After his first five minutes, Davies’ play showed evidence that he wasn’t quite at 100%. Infamously position-agnostic throughout the 2022 World Cup, where he roamed all over the pitch hoping to create a spark, Davies almost solely stayed in the attacking half to conserve his energy and fitness. South Africa began sensing his limited strength, dropping shoulders and throwing hips to repeatedly shield him off the ball as his dribbles entered the final third. Davies went to ground often, either to draw fouls or preventing himself from aggravating his injuries. By that point, South Africa were already in two minds. Their disciplined approach was suddenly getting stretched. The left flank simply couldn’t be back-of-mind with Davies roaming. As the match entered second-half stoppage, Canada began a break up its right side. South Africa couldn’t overcommit and risk leaving Davies unmarked. It opened up more space in the center of the field – just what Eustaquio needed. Mild-mannered and reflective in interviews, Eustaquio has quietly established himself as one of the region’s best midfielders over the past half decade. His partnership with Ismael Koné was set to be vital for this tournament. When Koné suffered a broken lower leg against Qatar, even more pressure was heaped on to Eustaquio to keep the engine room whirring. On Sunday, with more focus on Davies, Eustaquio found it easier to join the attack. When the 29-year-old had the ball squared right into his stride he wasted no time, connecting with a volley that bounced beyond Williams to finally break a scoreless deadlock. “That shot, I felt that everybody in the team shot that ball with me,” Eustaquio said. “We have a special group. We feel like we are brothers. When we fight for each other, when we play for each other, special things like this can happen.” After such a stout defensive showing, South Africa understandably struggled to accept their first run to the knockouts ending in such dramatic fashion. “I mean, it wasn’t a dangerous ball inside the box,” goalkeeper Ronwen Williams said afterwards. “We had it covered, but I mean: amazing finish. That’s what you need at this level. Sometimes when the game is back and forth, you need someone to have that luck, and I think luck was on their side today. “That’s how football will go sometimes. A coin falls and it flips for you. Wasn’t to be for us.” Canada may need more favorable flips of fate in the next round, where they’ll face the winner of Morocco and the Netherlands. Both Eustaquio and defender Alastair Johnston appreciated the moment that awaits them, with Johnston calling both teams a “Goliath” figure while Eustaquio admitting it’s “going to be a very hard game.” Then again, these are the contests that Canada has long striven to play. There are parallels to be found with this group’s run to the Copa América semi-final, in which they beat Peru and Venezuela and drew with Chile before falling to Argentina. That experience has only amplified belief around Jesse Marsch’s side. With Davies having survived his first shift of the tournament, he could be working into the rotation at a pivotal point. “I felt great,” Davies said. “I felt great. It takes time building my confidence [up] and getting back to it, but definitely felt good.”