Jesse Marsch believes that returning full-back Alphonso Davies will provide a huge boost for Canada ahead of their clash against South Africa at the World Cup. 

Canada are into the knockout stages of the World Cup for the very first time after finishing second in Group B, with Davies missing all three of those matches through injury.

The Bayern Munich defender sustained a series of hamstring injuries towards the end of the 2025-26 campaign, but is now fit and available to feature for Canada. 

Davies has made 58 appearances for Canada since his international debut in 2017, scoring 15 goals, and is widely considered as his nation's best player in the current team. 

And Marsch believes that his presence both on and off the pitch will help morale within Canada's ranks as they look to continue their impressive start at the World Cup. 

"Now that we have Alphonso back and healthy and ready to perform, I think it's a big moment for the team and a big boost for the team," Marsch said.

"I think in general, all the players that came into camp with little injuries are now close to 100% and ready to perform at the highest level and be at our best in these matches."

Marsch added that Davies was not rushed through injury protocols in order to have him at the peak of his powers for Canada's knockout campaign. 

"For me to go tell our best player, and a guy that is a huge piece of everything that we do, that we have to wait, was also painful," Marsch added.

"But we've done this in the best interests of Alphonso and his career and his health, so it's nice now that we can have a plan that leads to him being back on the pitch."

Davies scored Canada's first World Cup goal in Qatar four years ago, finding the back of the net after just 68 seconds in a 4-1 defeat to Croatia in Group F. 

The 25-year-old was unavailable for Canada's first three group games at this year's World Cup, all of which came on home soil, with Marsch's men playing their clash against South Africa at Los Angeles Stadium after losing home advantage following their defeat to Switzerland on MD3. 

While Davies said it was tough to watch on from the sidelines, he credited Marsch for his approach to his injury situation at the tournament. 

"Obviously, it was painful," Davies said. "The only thing you want to do is play football. That's what I'm really passionate about.

"The first game, watching it, I was eager to be on the pitch. Second game, even more so.

"The third game, I went to him before the game and asked him, 'Do you think I can get a couple of minutes?'. 

"He could have said, 'Yeah, we'll just throw you in there,' but obviously he cares about me and the team as human beings as well, so he sat me down, and I thought about it, and I said, 'He's right.' It was kind of hard to hear."

Marsch did not confirm how many minutes or what part Davies would play against South Africa, who are also in the last 32 of the World Cup for the very first time. 

It is the first time two teams are facing each other in their first knockout match since the 2002 tournament, when Turkiye beat hosts Japan 1-0. 

But the venue holds significance for Davies. He sustained a serious knee injury in the third-placed match of the CONCACAF Nations League in the same stadium in March 2025, which sidelined him until December of last year. 

"Could have happened anywhere," Davies said. "Coming back to the stadium, I get to finish something I started a year ago in March.

"I really enjoy playing in this stadium. The first time, it was beautiful. It was cut short, but that happens. It's football."