Canada is out of the 2026 World Cup after losing 3-0 to Morocco at Houston Stadium on Saturday, July 4. Canada may be eliminated from the competition, but they made history in reaching the Round of 16 for the first time.
Despite the score, Canada was in the game and could've pulled an upset against Morocco after creating many chances in the first half, playing to a 0-0 draw at the break, and continuing to pile on the pressure in the second half.
One of the biggest absences for Canada against Morocco was Alphonso Davies, who was on the bench, but Canada head coach Jesse Marsch decided not to pick him to come on the pitch to play.
Davies played only one game for Canada in the 2026 World Cup, which was against South Africa in the Round of 32 last weekend.
Photo by Eric Verhoeven/Soccrates/Getty Images
Davies was available to play in the match on Saturday after Marsch hinted at using him as a sub or as a starter ahead of the game.
Jesse Marsch on His Decision to Sit Alphonso Davies
In an interview with TSN post-match, Marsch was asked about Davies, who didn't get minutes against Morocco.
Marsch admitted that he and the coaching staff did not want to risk Davies, who may continue to have hamstring problems despite playing in the previous match against South Africa in the Round of 32.
Marsch said, "For Alphonso, he’s learning to trust his body. As much as he wanted to play and we wanted him to play, it just wasn’t worth risking it."
Marsch said that it "did not feel right today" to play Davies because the player reportedly "wasn’t confident in his hamstring."
