Canada kicked off the 2026 FIFA World Cup Round of 32 by edging past South Africa 1-0 in Inglewood on Sunday. The co-hosts looked like the better side throughout the encounter, and finally had cause to celebrate when a winner arrived in stoppage time.
While progression was always going to be the primary takeaway, the side will be equally delighted by the return of their talisman Alphonso Davies.
The speedster made his first appearance in the tournament when he came on for Tajon Buchanan in the 75th minute. In doing so, Davies scripted history by becoming the 1,000th player to feature in the ongoing World Cup.
Alphonso Davies has been subbed into the World Cup for the 1st time all tournament 🇨🇦 pic.twitter.com/1BuTaigYuu
— Made In Canada (@MadelnCanada) June 28, 2026
The match was also Davies’ first appearance for Canada since a CONCACAF Nations League semi-final appearance against USA in March 2025. The defender had lasted just 12 minutes before tearing his cruciate ligament, incidentally at the very stadium that marked his national return.
Further fitness issues thereafter had kept Davies from playing for Canada but the World Cup was set to mark his return. However, Davies ended up missing the group stages due to a grade two hamstring tear he picked up during Bayern Munich’s UEFA Champions League semifinal tie against Paris Saint-Germain in May.
Coach Jesse Marsch had kept fans and rivals guessing earlier in the tournament by misleading reporting on Davies’ status while calling him their “best player”. Nevertheless, the wait ultimately ended with a raucous applause as Davies came on at the Sofi Stadium.
The 25-year-old was immediately handed over the captain’s armband by teammate Stephen Eustaquio, indicating the respect he carries in the Canadian dressing room. It did not take him long to show exactly why.
Davies was deployed high up the pitch by Marsch, a position he extensively played in his youth before being shoe-horned into the left-back position by Bayern. Just seconds after setting foot on the pitch, the Canadian received the ball at the halfway line with plenty of space to run into.
Davies took a few steps forward before fizzing a pass through the lines towards the edge of the box to set-up a shot that went narrowly wide.
A couple minutes later, Davies took control of the ball on the left flank with Bafana Bafana set-up in a low block. He effortlessly skipped past his man to enter the penalty box. The action drew in another defender, and Davies used the space created behind them to play a nifty ball through to Jonathan David. A powerful shot ensued that was saved well by Rowan Williams.
The instant injection of quality into the game served as a telling reminder of why Davies is already believed by many to be the best Canadian footballer of all time.
“Alphonso Davies is playing football and the rest of the Canadian team playing soccer. The gap is frightening”, one fan ventured on X.
Davies was clearly still lacking full fitness, evident from his hesitance to sprint into spaces. Yet, it did not deter him from taking the game on.
“LOL Alphonso Davies is so clearly the best player on the pitch. He is levels above everyone on half a hamstring,” a user on X aptly remarked.
the dopamine that alphonso davies gave us in just 15 mins + stoppage time pic.twitter.com/aRNygQqlri
— zeke 🇨🇦 (@AverageFan_Z) June 28, 2026
“Alphonso Davies came in and you can suddenly see the difference in quality. Like, there are levels”, another echoed his sentiments.
As it turned out, the momentum proved by Davies proved crucial in stretching the South African defence to ultimately break through them.
“15 minutes of Alphonso Davies at 80% is still better than 15 from anyone else in that moment. Unbelievable to see Canada off to the Round of 16,” a comment on X read.
A user even drew parallels between Davies and James Maddison, who also spent the majority of the season at Tottenham Hotspur recovering from injury:
“Alphonso Davies lookin like James Maddison for Spurs at the end of the season…both obviously unfit and the best player on the team when in possession”
It remains to be seen whether Davies starts in Canada’s Round of 16 fixture in Houston on July 4. With their opponents slated to be either Netherlands or Morocco, the co-hosts will undoubtedly be desperate for the boost of quality that their young superstar provides.
