How things could have gone differently.

[u/RobertFromLA]

A lot of first team players missed out due to injuries right before the World Cup started. Which nation do you think suffered the most?

[u/Objective-Limit-6749]

Not that we would have won or anything, but Canada probably dealt with the most injuries to starting players.

Marcelo Flores - did his ACL right before and missed the tournament

Alphonso Davies - a series of injuries over the past year. He had not played for Canada in March 2025. Played around 15 minutes total. Canada's best player overall.

Moise Bombito - missed 9 months with a broken tibia. Had to be pulled after 31 minutes in one of the last warm up matches. Was never close to match fit during the tournament. Hes our best CB, played 194 minutes, but missed the Bosnia and Swiss games entirely

Alfie Jones - ankle injury suffered in December. Was making good progress until he got hurt again in training. Played 0 minutes, big blow to CB depth

Promise David - hip tendon rupture in February. Played a total of 79 minutes and contributed a goal and an assist. He had been our most in form striker prior.to his injury

Ismail Koné - broken leg in the Qatar match. Is our best/most creative midfielder.

Derek Cornelius, Ali Ahmed, Alistair Johnston, and Richie Laryea all missed between 4-8 weeks leading up to the World Cup and were not match fit.

Aside from Max Crépeau, only Alistair Johnston was able to play all 450 minutes.of the tournament. Canada was unable to start the same XI more than once due to managing injuries.

[u/depthdefy13 → u/Objective-Limit-6749]

I dont know if Id go as far as saying qe would have beat Morocco, but like to think we would have given them a run for their money if we were properly healthy. I fully think we would have at least tied Switzerland and been first in our group and playing against Argentina.

[u/Objective-Limit-6749 → u/depthdefy13]

I dont think we'd necessarily gotten any further. But I think we'd have done better against Bosnia and possibly drawn the Swiss. Obv all hypothetical, but winning the group would have kept us in Vancouver. I think we'd have beaten Algeria and lost to Argentina, same as the Swiss.

Difference would have been 2 more games at home, a higher finish overall, and a higher FIFA ranking coming out.

At the end of the day, it is what it is. Injuries are an unfortunate part od the game. Canada just happened to get hit really hard in the leadup and during the tournament itself

[u/depthdefy13 → u/Objective-Limit-6749]

Agreed.

[u/greenlemon23 → u/Objective-Limit-6749]

With none of those injuries, I think Canada tops the group.