Alphonso Davies Prioritizes Honeymoon Over Canada Friendlies

Alphonso Davies has chosen Paris and a honeymoon over a September grind of friendlies – and his national team coach is fully on board.

Between the World Cup and the start of pre-season at Bayern Munich, the Canada captain married his partner Sheyenne Jen in Paris on 23 July. The plan now is simple: step away, breathe, and celebrate properly. That means Davies will miss Canada’s three scheduled friendlies against Chile, Peru and the USA.

This is not a power play. It is a calculated decision.

Coach Jesse Marsch made it clear the call came after open talks with his star left-back. They even floated the idea of Davies spending only half of the camp on honeymoon before joining up with the squad. Marsch shut that door himself.

He wanted Davies to enjoy his honeymoon fully, then return to work on his physical condition and form without compromise. No half measures. No juggling.

The caution makes sense when you trace the last 18 months of Davies’ career.

The 25-year-old tore his cruciate ligament at the start of 2025 while on duty with Canada. The injury wiped out three quarters of his year. When he finally came back, he ran into more problems: recurring health issues and, late last season, a muscle fibre tear that ruled him out for Bayern Munich in the closing stages of the campaign.

The World Cup on home soil was supposed to be his stage. Instead, he managed just 16 minutes for Canada.

Back in Munich, still bothered by the injury, Davies was eased in. He trained on his own at first, rebuilding his base and confidence. Then the switch flipped. He rediscovered his rhythm, his acceleration, his edge. The reward: a fine goal in Bayern’s 5-0 win over FK Bodö/Glimt, a reminder of the level he can hit when his body cooperates.

Marsch has seen enough to know what is at stake.

“He is playing really well, looks very fit and feels very good,” the Canada coach said, explaining why they are protecting him now. The aim is clear: have Davies fully primed for November, when Canada face important matches, again in March, and then across the entire next cycle.

Canada do not just want Davies available. They want him able to “fully commit himself” to the demands of the national team every time he pulls on the shirt. That means respecting this window, even if it leaves a hole in the squad for three friendlies.

For Bayern, the timeline is more immediate. Davies is set to face Union Berlin in Munich on Friday. After that, the club’s schedule eases briefly, with the next match not until 10 October away at Augsburg.

A honeymoon now, a clear run of training and matches after, and a national team banking on a fully rebuilt star for the games that really matter. If Canada get the version of Alphonso Davies that shredded defences before his knee gave way, this quiet September absence will be remembered as a turning point, not a sacrifice.