It is understandable if many fans are not exactly embracing the weekly hostilities on soccer pitches around the world.
Tuesday marked 100 days until the 2026 World Cup kicks off. It is getting real — and raw — especially when it comes to the always-growing injury list.
The latest high-profile name to fall victim is Brazil’s Real Madrid superstar Rodrygo, who suffered an ACL injury and will miss as much as 10 months of action.
It's dreadful blow for the Samba boys, but what separates the upper echelon of teams is depth. Rodrygo is a loss, yes, but with names like Vini Jr., Raphinha, Cunha, Pedro and Estevao all competing for minutes up front for Brazil, it is easy to suggest the team will be just fine.
Which brings us to Canada. Compared to the 2022 World Cup squad, the first XI is certainly improved, but also relatively familiar. Alphonso Davies, Jonathan David, Stephen Eustaquio, Tajon Buchanan and Alistair Johnston are all still aboard, just now more experienced and probably plain better.
Players 1-11 were always going to be strong, but the big difference in the 2026 version of Team Canada is the depth. There are simply more options available to Jesse Marsch than there were to John Herdman four years ago.
However, we are not talking Brazil-level depth here. This is still Canada, a developing soccer nation. Significant injuries will affect the squad, which is not at the stage where it has a conveyor belt of talent playing in the top leagues.
This fact is, that's what's making fans chew their nails down to the quick. It's been a rough few months, with the latest gut punch being the quad ligament injury Promise David suffered last week. The Union St. Gilloise man underwent surgery on Friday and has been given a window of three to five months to recover.
The math is not easy reading. Even if David has a speedy recovery, and is back to training within three months, will it be worth risking a place in the Canadian squad for a recuperating player whose pure power and athleticism are his biggest features?
The door will not close until it is closed, but it can be safely assumed that behind the scenes the coaching staff is planning on a World Cup without David.
It is a devastating blow. David may not have proven himself as a starter for Canada just yet, but he is the only Canadian striker who has scored consistently this season, sitting tied for third in Belgium this season with nine goals. The next best goal-scoring Canadian strikers are Lausanne’s Theo Bair and Dan Jebbison of Preston North End, who each have six.
It was expected Marsch would have given David some significant minutes at the end of March in friendlies against Iceland and Tunisia.
Up front, Canada is far deeper than four years ago, but prolific it is not. Only Jonathan David and Tani Oluwaseyi are currently in a top-tier league, and while David’s playing time has finally become consistent at Juventus in the Italian Serie A, Oluwaseyi generally earns his minutes at Spain’s Villarreal off the bench.
In fact, it could be argued that Canada’s main goal-scoring threats will come from the right wing and central midfield. Ismael Kone has five goals for Sassuolo in the Serie A, as his breakout season continues unblemished. Oluwaseyi’s teammate at Villarreal, Tajon Buchanan, also has five goals from a wide berth.
As such, it is in attack where Canada cannot afford another long-term injury. It is from this position that I watch soccer each week with terror coursing through my veins for the Canadians.
Ironically, it is on defence where the team should be most comfortable, despite the fact that in recent months Canada has seen its defensive guard decimated. Currently, and this has mainly been the case since well before Christmas, the entire back four is out injured:
• Alphonso Davies (hamstring tear)
• Moise Bombito (broken leg)
• Derek Cornelius (thigh muscle tear)
• Alistair Johnston (hamstring surgery)
Ouch!
Oh, and almost forgot...
• Alfie Jones (ankle surgery)
Defensively, Canada’s depth is as strong as it has ever been. Luc de Fougerolles of Dender, Vancouver’s Ralph Priso, Joel Waterman of Chicago and even 2022 World Cup veteran Kamal Miller of Portland have all stepped up when called upon. In de Fougerolles and Priso, there is some genuine excitement as to what the future holds.
Let’s not fool anyone though. Any two of Bombito, Cornelius and Jones will start in the heart of defence at the World Cup, assuming they are healthy. Thankfully, all are close to a return to action, refreshed and potentially re-invigorated.
In Davies' absence, the Richie Laryea emergence has been well documented at left back — to the point where many believe he will be the Game 1 starter. At right back, Johnston, when healthy, will battle with Niko Sigur, who continues to shine in that position for country while playing midfield for his club in Croatia.
On paper, then, it is understandable why there may be some panic regarding the injury list on defence. But with three months of soccer left before the World Cup, there's plenty of time to get healthy — not to mention gain important experience.
Up front, however, provides a different dilemma, with both health and form emerging as significant causes for concern.
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