A look up and a precise finish with sublime skill: Michael Olise once again demonstrated his exceptional quality in FC Bayern's 5–0 win over Bodø/Glimt. In the 83rd minute of the Champions League encounter, the Frenchman picked up pace down the right flank, cut inside and curled the ball beautifully into the top corner. A goal that was the perfect way to kick off the new Champions League campaign.
The German record champions' fans were thrilled by Olise's goal and chose it as FC Bayern's Goal of the Month for September. With 43.4 per cent of the vote, the forward came out on top against Alphonso Davies, who had also scored a spectacular goal to make it 3–0 during that same 5–0 win. Davies received 20.1 per cent of the vote.
Hot on Davies' heels were Jamal Musiala with his opener against Union Berlin (16.8 per cent) and Momoko Tanikawa, who also received 16.8 per cent of the votes for her winner against SC Freiburg. Fifth place went to Bogdan Olychenko for his opener for the FC Bayern reserves against Eichstätt (2.9 per cent).
It's already Olise's second consecutive fan accolade following his Goal of the Month for August. With his stunning finish against Bodø/Glimt, the Frenchman once again demonstrated that he's set to deliver special moments on a regular basis this season too.
Olise has been shortlisted for the Ballon d'Or alongside Harry Kane, Luis Díaz and Dayot Upamecano:

#champions

Bayern Munich scored five goals against Norwegian underdogs FK Bodø/Glimt. The rust in the Bavarians was evident as they struggled to build rhythm. The second half turned out to be a much better affair as Vincent Kompany's men found their feet and blew their opponents away.
Alphonso Davies, Joshua Kimmich and Michael Olise were frontrunners who woke the rest of the team up with their individual brilliance and finally reaped their rewards in the second half with deserved goals and ***** ists. Luis Diaz had an off day and was perhaps the only starter who couldn't pick himself up before the end of the game.
Without further ado, here are the match awards from Bayern Munich's first game and first victory of the Champions League season.
While Bodø/Glimt as a unit were fantastic in capitalizing on Bayern's rustiness by isolating the attackers, they failed to make scoresheet gains. In Bayern's emphatic attempts to crack the Bodø code, there were a few vulnerabilities especially early into the game. With some more numbers, the Norwegians could have sneaked at least one goal. Helmersen's shot at Neuer's open goal was a brave lone effort from his pressing.
Nonetheless, Kjetil Knutsen and his team deserve a shoutout for executing a great low-block. Nikita Haikin, the starting goalkeeper made some important saves and kept the game even. Unfortunately, he had to leave the pitch after the first half due to injury.

#munich

When the Bundesliga schedule was first confirmed and it became clear Schalke 04 would host Bayern Munich on jut the second Bundesliga matchday, the expectation was that Die Königsblauen would be swept aside rather convincingly. After all, the team's last meeting, three years ago, ended 6-0 to Bayern. That was under Thomas Tuchel's inconsistent Bayern. What could Kompany & Co do?
Stutter to a 0-0 draw, that is what. A dour Bayern team struggled to get out of second gear and really punish a defensively solid Schalke, who celebrate their first point since their return to the Bundesliga. Here are some observations on the match:
It is easy to forget after the match, but the first 15 minutes completely belonged to Bayern. The Bavarians' counterpress utterly suffocated the hosts, who simply could not exit their own half in those minutes. The team pinged the ball around, kept it well and utterly annihilated any counter attacks.
But, in what would become an unfortunate running theme throughout the match, the passing was far too slow and the players seemed unsure of their positions. One of Bayern's most important strengths is their ability to move the ball quickly from side to side. Players know their positions, know how to move the ball on and ping it back and forth. This forces the opposition defense to move side to side, which opens up **** e in the middle and opportunities to score.
This was missing today. It was clear that the chemistry among forwards Nathaniel Brown, Ismael Saibari and Lennart Karl was missing, but regulars such as Konrad Laimer, Alphonso Davies and Dayot Upamecano also struggled to really get into the flow of things. It was possible to overcome these issues (Nathaniel Brown, after all, would still have given Bayern the lead if it had not been for a phenomenal save by Loris Karius in the Schalke goal) and perhaps the players would have grown into the match more.

#players #first

16' — Karius safely collects the corner from Joshua Kimmich.
13' — Lorius Karius denies Nathaniel Brown inside the box. Bayern corner.
8' — Alphonso Davies receives the ball on the left wing, and his intended cross nearly ended up in the net.
7' — Jonathan Tah collides with a Schalke player. Play is waved on.
5' — Luis Díaz beats three players inside the Schalke box but the hosts clear the ball.

#karius #corner #nathaniel #brown

Content Warning: This story contains references to suicide.
Former Detroit Lions and Denver Broncos defensive back Alphonso Smith Jr. died on Wednesday, the Palm Beach County Medical Examiner's Office confirmed to the Denver Post.
He was 40.
Specifics of his death are not yet known. According to TMZ, Smith died by suicide in Pahokee, Florida, on Wednesday.
Smith spent four seasons in the league throughout his career, first with the Broncos after they selected him with the No. 37 overall pick out of Wake Forest in 2009. Smith spent his rookie campaign with the Broncos, but was then dealt to the Detroit Lions the following year. He immediately had his best campaign with his new team, and had 39 total tackles and five interceptions that season, including one that he ran back for a score.

#Broncos #detroit #spent

Bayern Munich fans turned out to be quite a handful according to a recent ******* ysis on Reddit. German sports betting portal Wettfreunde scoured Bundesliga subreddits to evaluate fan behavior. The Bavarian faithful finished second behind rivals Borussia Dortmund in profanity. On the flip side, Paderborn's fans were both the best-behaved and the most positive.
Some important snaps from are presented below (captured via iMiaSanMia):
– wettfreunde ******* yzed over 130,000 comments from Bundesliga subreddits between August 2025 and August 2026 to determine the most negative, positive, vulgar and polite fan bases over there.

9.89% of comments made by Bayern fans contained swear words (in English and German),… pic.twitter.com/g8DP5IpXoZ
Over 130,000 comments between August 2025 and August of 2026 were ******* yzed from subreddits to ******* s for vulgarity, politeness, negativity and positivity. And, the results are interesting for Bayern. Despite ranking second with nearly 10 percent of the comments containing swear words in German and English, it was negativity that took center-stage. The ******* ysis revealed a sheer lack in optimism among Bayern's fans with over 54 percent of the comments being negative in nature. Only Werder Bremen's supporters beat the Bavarians in this regard by a slim margin of 0.8 percent.
Let us cut to the chase here. Bayern has two major traumas in recent history. The first being injuries tanking the squad's ability in the business end of the season. Second being a run of premature exits from the Champions League. The number of times that Bayern has been the better side only to get shipped off due to missed chances, abysmal officiating or just poor luck has left its mark on the fans. The absence of Jamal Musiala and Alphonso Davies due to major injuries, Thomas Müller leaving the club and a thin squad at the start of last season did not leave much room for positivity to start with.

#bundesliga

Bayern Munich's Alphonso Davies said he was distressed by his team-mate and friend Jamal Musiala collapsing in two recent friendlies, but hopes the German champions can help rally their playmaker.
Germany's Musiala, 23, has been diagnosed with absence seizures, which are brief losses of consciousness, after slumping to the turf in friendlies against RB Leipzig on Saturday and Heidenheim on Tuesday.
Doctors say they will not prevent him playing at the top level, but whether he will feature in the Franz Beckenbauer Super Cup at Borussia Dortmund on Saturday remains to be seen.
"It was heartbreaking to see Jamal like that on the pitch. But anyone who knows Jamal knows he will come back stronger," Canada's Davies told reporters at the launch of Bayern's tie-up with the NHL on Thursday.
"Of course we want to support him, not only as a player but also as a person. The doctors are trying their best to get him through this situation. We want to give him a lot of positive energy and help him fight through it."

#musiala #friendlies #want

Bayern Munich set off for their pre-season tour of Asia on Saturday without several high-profile first-team players.
As previously agreed, World Cup semi-finalists Harry Kane, Dayot Upamecano and Michael Olise didn't travel, as they are still on vacation.
Alphonso Davies, Jamal Musiala, new signing Ismael Saibari, Serge Gnabry and Lennart Karl were also absent, having remained in Munich to continue their respective recovery programmes.
Meanwhile, the available German World Cup participants, including captain Manuel Neuer and Joshua Kimmich, were part of the travelling squad.
Bayern have also taken several highly-rated academy prospects, including 16-year-old striker Bastian ***** omo, 16-year-old centre-back Filip Pavic, 19-year-old midfielder Guido Della Rovere, 17-year-old winger Maycon Cardozo and 19-year-old midfielder Felipe Chavez.

#year #bayern #munich #harry

According to Abendzeitung journalist Maximilian Koch, Bayern Munich star Alphonso Davies could miss the team's tour of Asia.
Davies, who missed a chunk of last season due to recovery from his ACL tear has been battling a muscular issue for months. The injury limited Davies' participation at the World Cup and still appears to be a major issue for the Canadian star:
Alphonso Davies, der erst in dieser Woche ins Mannschaftstraining zurückgekehrt ist, fehlt heute im Aufgebot. Ob er mit auf die Asien-Tour geht, wird noch entschieden. #FCBayern Abendzeitung pic.twitter.com/QRDBMZRSkg
Alphonso Davies, who only returned to team training this week, is absent from the squad today. Whether he will join the Asia tour is yet to be decided. #FCBayern
Abendzeitung
Davies' injury history seems to be a point of frustration for the Bavarians, who were wary enough of it to go out and buy former Eintracht Frankfurt left-back Nathaniel Brown earlier this summer.

#abendzeitung

According to Abendzeitung journalist Maximilian Koch, Bayern Munich star Alphonso Davies could miss the team's tour of Asia.
Davies, who missed a chunk of last season due to recovery from his ACL tear has been battling a muscular issue for months. The injury limited Davies' participation at the World Cup and still appears to be a major issue for the Canadian star:
Alphonso Davies, who only returned to team training this week, is absent from the squad today. Whether he will join the Asia tour is yet to be decided. #FCBayern
Abendzeitung
Davies' injury history seems to be a point of frustration for the Bavarians, who were wary enough of it to go out and buy former Eintracht Frankfurt left-back Nathaniel Brown earlier this summer.
Now, it might just make sense to take a step back and ensure that Davies can get full healthy. The 25-year-old has had three injuries since last February and could be at risk of being in a perpetual state of injury if he does not take the proper time to rest and recovery.

#abendzeitung #alphonso #tour

Left back Nathaniel Brown has said he wants to continu8e to impress and Bayern Munich like at previous club Eintracht Frankfurt and in the German national team.
"I want to show what I can do. I know what I can do and what I can't," Brown said at his presentation on Wednesday at Bayern's pre-season training camp in the Bavarian town of Rottach-Egern.
"The coach has already shown me what I do well. I've spoken with him a lot. I want to play as many games as possible, help the team, and ultimately win ***** les."
Brown will compete with Alphonso Davies for the left back position. The Canada captain has been plagued by injuries, but Bayern board member for sport Max Eberl said they are not really considering selling him.
Brown made a big impression in Frankfurt which brought him into the national team, where he was among very few German players to do well at the World Cup where the team went out in the last 32.

#team #german #national #well

Bayern Munich are hoping the arrival of Nathaniel Brown will motivate Alphonso Davies to return to his best form, according to Sport1.
A club source told the outlet: "Thankfully, the competition for places here is brutal."
The Bayern hierarchy reportedly expects Davies to respond positively to the increased competition and consistently improve his performances, provided he can stay injury-free.
Although the Bundesliga champions would be prepared to listen to exceptional offers for the Canadian this summer, Sport1 reports that a departure currently appears unlikely.
Instead, Bayern expect Davies to remain at the club and use the added competition from Brown as an opportunity to prove his critics wrong with consistent displays throughout the season.

#davies #sport1 #munich #nathaniel

Bayern Munich proved to be ahead of the curve with the signing of Moroccan star Ismael Saibari. However, his injury in the game against Canada in the round of 16 ended his run at the World Cup. Now, after examination by Bayern's medical team, the versatile forward is set to join his teammates in the second week of August after they return from their Audi Summer tour.
Per a report by Kicker's Frank Linkesch, Saibari's injury has been inspected by the Bayern medical team in Munich. The diagnosis has revealed a torn muscle fiber in his thigh. The 25-year-old will be missing on the annual Audi Summer tour. The tour will be back in Asia from the 1st to the 8th of August, in the cities of Jeju, South Korea and Hong Kong. Die Roten will be facing Jeju SK FC and the Premier League's Aston Villa respectively.
With Saibari out for another 10 days, returnee Arijon Ibrahimović is likely to get game time in the upcoming friendly fixtures. More players are expected to return from the injury wing for Bayern including Serge Gnabry, Lennart Karl and Alphonso Davies. With the new signings, the club have beefed up a slim but high quality attacking roster to better cope with the gameload.
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#injury #munich #august

Alphonso Davies has attracted interest from Saudi Arabia, according to Sport Bild.
The report claims that representatives from Saudi Arabian clubs have visited Bayern's Säbener Straße headquarters to explore the conditions for a possible transfer.
Nothing concrete has emerged so far, but Bayern would reportedly be open in principle to selling the left-back – not least because he earns a significant salary of €15–20 million per year.
Whether Davies would be interested in a move to Saudi Arabia, however, is doubtful.
After the Canada captain's injury-plagued 2025/26 season, Bayern have brought in Nathaniel Brown from Eintracht Frankfurt to provide competition at left-back.

USA's Christian Pulisic, Canada's Alphonso Davies learn same lesson the hard way at 2026 FIFA World Cup originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Christian Pulisic and Alphonso Davies were supposed to be the saviors. They were supposed to be the guys to lead the United States and Canada into their respective next, and potentially most glorious, eras.
Pulisic was dubbed Captain America early on, and even though he didn't wear the captain's armband at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, he was clearly the talisman for the USMNT's hopes. Davies was the captain for Canada at this tournament after standing out for Bayern Munich.
In the end, both leave at the Round of 16, along with co-host Mexico.
Morocco thrashed Canada 3-0, and the U.S. lost to Belgium 4-1.

Coming into this World Cup, Canada’s hopes hinged on the form of their one world-class player, Alphonso Davies. This has been the case for every major competition they have entered since he made his international debut in 2017, and it’s easy to see why: over the last nine years, Davies has transformed Canada’s fortunes.
After being grouped in each of the first three Gold Cups in the 2010s, Canada have reached the quarter-final or further in five consecutive installments. The Bayern Munich star was also at the fore as they qualified for the 2022 World Cup, the first time they reached men’s football’s biggest stage since 1986. And their fourth-place finish at the 2024 Copa América involved a fit and firing Davies.
Related: Ounahi and Rahimi put Morocco in World Cup quarter-finals and end Canada’s journey
It’s a team sport, but when a roster has one indisputable star, its hopes are often inextricably tied to that player. That was bad news for Canada at this World Cup. Davies missed all three of Canada’s group games as he recovered from an injury he suffered in May. Finally, in the last-32, Davies came off the bench for 15 minutes and helped inspire Canada to victory over South Africa. Surely, it seemed, the Bayern star would take on a similar role on Saturday.
As Canada chased an equalizer against Morocco, though, fans were left wondering when Davies would come off the bench to jolt his team back to life. Marsch never brought on Davies. Canada ended up losing the match 3-0, ending their World Cup hopes.

There was a buzz among Bayern Munich fans during Canada’s 3-0 loss to Morocco in the World Cup and it centered on this question: “What is going on with Alphonso Davies?”
Canada coach Jesse Marsch had talked openly over the last few weeks about Davies making progress and being ready to play, but when it came to actually hitting the pitch, the Bayern Munich star only registered 16 minutes total.
After Canada’s elimination, Marsch dropped a bombshell that Davies had suffered a setback in training and underwent an MRI. Thankfully, there was no serious injury or damage.
“Alphonso didn’t feel right yesterday in training and we got an MRI. And it was clear, so the good news was that there was no injury, but his hamstring didn’t feel right. So we were hoping that by the time this morning he woke up that he would feel better, but he didn’t. So we wanted to be cautious and make sure that we weren’t risking anything,” Marsch told Sportsnet (as captured by iMiaSanMia). “”And obviously, at the 60th minute when it’s 1-0, it would’ve been great to have him in the match. Or even at halftime. But we weren’t able to have him healthy and it killed him more than anyone, but I think it was the right decision to preserve him and his career and get him fully healthy.”
Davies’ ill-fated hamstring became an issue in the second half of the season for Bayern Munich. Of course, this follows a serious ACL tear for Davies, who needs some serious downtime to work on making a full recovery from what is quickly becoming a recurring issue.

Bayern Munich fans can breathe a sigh of relief after Canada head coach Jesse Marsch confirmed that Alphonso Davies did not suffer a serious injury despite missing his side's World Cup Round of 16 defeat to Morocco.
Davies was a notable absentee as Canada exited the tournament, prompting immediate concern over the fitness of one of Bayern's most important players. But speaking after the match, Marsch explained that the decision to leave the full-back out was purely precautionary.
"Alphonso didn't feel right yesterday in training and we got an MRI," Marsch said.
"The good news was that there was no injury, but his hamstring didn't feel right."
Canada had hoped the Bayern defender would recover overnight and be available for the knockout clash, but his condition failed to improve sufficiently on matchday.

No more math. No more goal differential calculations or need for an advanced physics degree to figure out which third place finishers in groups will play in the knockout rounds, who they’ll play, where they’ll play. For 10 consecutive days, starting Sunday, global soccer fans will be treated to a steady diet of win-or-go-home World Cup games, unspooling in stadiums across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Right through the Rounds of 32 and 16; on July 8th, there’s one day off before the quarters.
On the first day of knockoutpalooza, one of the World Cup co-hosts, Canada, took center stage. Canada was in an unusual, and potentially difficult, spot for its Round of 32 contest against South Africa: it became the first World Cup host country to play a game outside its borders. Canada just needed a draw with Switzerland in its final group stage game, on June 24th in Vancouver, to remain in British Columbia through the Round of 16, should Canada get that far. Instead, Switzerland won 2-1, shuttling the Canadians, who’ve never reached a World Cup elimination round in their two prior appearances, in 1986 and 2022, to Los Angeles.
At least the trip was a straight jaunt down the coast. And all game long, Canada outclassed South Africa, who at times appeared content to hold the ball and take the game to a penalty shootout (earning jeers from the Canada-heavy crowd). Canada doubled South Africa’s shot output, 12-6. Off a late first-half corner kick, a Moïse Bombito header was kicked off the line by South African defender Aubrey Modiba. The rebound pinballed onto the foot of Canada’s Tajon Buchanan, who slammed it towards the post: South African keeper Ronwen Williams body-saved the shot. Moments later, Canada appeared to earn a penalty shot via a violent tackle on Richie Laryea. But the ref swallowed his whistle. As the half came to a close, fiery Canada coach Jesse Marsch had to be restrained by Bombito, lest he say too much to the officials.
In the 75th minute, Canada’s Alphonso Davies, a Bayern Munich standout, came onto the pitch to spark the team: the defender hadn’t played since early May, when he injured a hamstring in a Champions League semifinal. But Canada still couldn’t break through: the game looked headed for this World Cup’s first 30-minute extra time session. But Canada, it turns out, had more dramatic ideas in mind.
In second-half stoppage time, the 92nd minute of the match, a South African player headed a Canada cross out of the box—to the chest of Stephen Eustáquio, one of Canada’s leaders. He touched the ball down and fired from the top of the penalty area, right inside the far post. Williams had no shot at saving it.

For 75 minutes, Canada and South Africa struggled to find a way to break through in the World Cup’s inaugural round of 32 clash. Neither team ceded an inch. Canada couldn’t be baited into intensifying its press as South Africa dawdled playing out from the back. South Africa worked to advance upfield but struggled to find dangerous avenues into the box.
Then, at long last, 345 minutes into Canada’s tournament, Alphonso Davies crossed the touchline for his first involvement at World Cup 2026. The game, for Canada and neutrals alike, greatly benefitted.
Davies was “itching to get on the pitch,” he said afterward. “To be able to have these 15 minutes that I could get, to be there on the pitch to celebrate with the guys … [it was] truly amazing.”
Related: Canada first into last 16 as Stephen Eustáquio scores in stoppage time against South Africa
Even in a talented generation of Canadian men’s players, Davies stands alone as its best and most important. His path from Ghana to Vancouver, through the Whitecaps academy and eventually into the lineup for a Champions League-winning Bayern Munich has redefined what’s possible for a Canada international.

Canada and South Africa are set to meet in a historic World Cup Round of 32 clash at Los Angeles Stadium on Sunday, marking both nations’ first knockout match ever in a World Cup.
Canada progressed to the knockout round despite a 2-1 loss to Switzerland in their final Group B fixture. Jesse Marsch’s side impressed earlier in the tournament with their attacking quality, highlighted by a dominant 6-0 win over Qatar.
However, defensive vulnerabilities were exposed against stronger European opposition. Their high-pressing and attack-minded style produces plenty of chances, but defensive consistency remains a concern.
Canada faces several injury concerns ahead of this important match. Midfielder Ismaël Koné has been ruled out for the rest of the tournament after sustaining a serious leg injury in the match against Qatar.
Left-back Alphonso Davies is still a major doubt. He has yet to feature due to a hamstring issue and, at best, may only be available for a short appearance off the bench.

Recent rumors linking Bayern Munich to Borussia Dortmund midfielder Felix Nmecha appear to be wide of the mark. The German record champions are reportedly happy with the current group and Nmecha would be too expensive anyway, according to a report from Sport1 journalist Stefan ****** berger, as captured by iMiaSanMia:
Bayern believe they’re well-equipped in the central midfield area. Joshua Kimmich and Aleksandar Pavlović are still planned as the starting double pivot next season. Tom Bischof will be used more often as a backup in the position. In addition, Noël Aséko has ‘influential supporters’ within the club who want him to be a squad player and get appearances as another midfield backup. Bayern want to continue with the strategy of having a small squad, which allows young players to get their chance and prove themselves. The recent links to Felix Nmecha are questionable. The German international is not for sale unless a nine-figure offer were to come in, which is beyond Bayern’s reach. In addition, BVB’s management would prefer to sell abroad [StefanKumberger, SPORT1]
This is good — Bayern probably should not be trying to add positions to spend this summer when it is already investing significant resources in transfers in attack and defense. Moreover, the attacker, Ismael Saibari, is slated to play centrally when Bayern also has a short-term need for reinforcements at wing. And the defender, left-back Nathaniel Brown, will provide cover and competition for Alphonso Davies at left-back while the Bavarians mull their next big center-back signing, which is probably also due next summer at the latest.
Nmecha is having himself a great World Cup and that is going to raise his stock. If there is not a huge need right now, why not see how things shake out with the younger players? Bischof’s future is extremely bright and Aséko might just serve the club better by being the next showcase of academy-to-first team success than by finding a move elsewhere. There is too little clarity right now on what type of midfielder Bayern would need to add to this mix, so if a player already on the roster can do the job — why not? Then hit the market, if necessary, once the need crystallizes.
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Canada coach Jesse Marsch is never one to shy away from a mind game, and he was at it once more after his side fell 2-1 to Switzerland on Wednesday, finishing second in Group B of the 2026 World Cup.
Canadian captain Alphonso Davies arrived at the tournament nursing a hamstring injury sustained during Bayern Munich's narrow Champions League semifinal defeat to PSG. He was not fit enough to feature on the bench in Canada's opening World Cup fixture, but suited up for the team's 6-0 demolition of Qatar on match day two.
On Wednesday, he was again named among the substitutes. Speaking after the final whistle, Marsch disclosed that Davies was never actually fit enough to take the field. "He was never going to play today. I wanted Switzerland to have to think about him," he said.
• England face two major injury concerns ahead of crucial group stage finale

Late on Wednesday night, Bayern duo Alphonso Davies and Minjae Kim were in action at the World Cup with Canada and South Korea respectively. Both teams suffered defeats, but it was less painful for the co-hosts. Our round-up has all the details:
With captain Davies still on the bench waiting to make his comeback from a hamstring injury, the Canadians went down 2-1 against Switzerland in Vancouver. After a goalless first half, Ruben Vargas (46th minute) and Johan Manzambi (57’) struck early in the second period, with Promise David’s 76th-minute reply coming too late for the co-hosts, who finish second in Group B behind the Swiss.
Canada now face South Africa in the round of 32 on Sunday evening (21:00 CEST) but will be without home advantage from now on. Davies and Co would’ve played more matches in Vancouver had they won the group, but instead they’ll head to Los Angeles for now.
Kim and South Korea face a nervous wait to see if they make it through to the knockout rounds. The two-time Asian champions suffered an unlucky 1-0 loss to South Africa in Monterrey, Mexico. Thapelo Meseko scored the only goal of the game midway through the second half to fire Bafana Bafana into second place in Group A, behind co-hosts Mexico. South Korea end in third place and must now hope that, as well as Scotland, three other third-placed teams finish with a goal difference worse than theirs of -1.
Follow FC Bayern's players at 2026 World Cup

Canada and Qatar meet in Vancouver tonight, looking to pick up three points which could be crucial in their bids to reach the World Cup knockout stages.
Jesse Marsch may have been disappointed his Canada side failed to take all three points from their opening game against Bosnia and Herzegovina in Toronto. They put forward a spirited display and created multiple quality chances that on another day would’ve been converted. A sloppy goal from a set-piece meant that Cyle Larin’s goal was just the equaliser.
Still they did make history in attaining their first ever point at the World Cup finals and will be hoping to all but guarantee a place in the knockout rounds for the first time in their history with a win over Qatar.
While he missed a big chance in the first half of that game, Juventus striker Jonathan David was bright and showed a lot of positive sings in his cameo. There is also the fact that full-back and the side’s best player Alphonso Davies didn’t feature at all due to still recovering from a hamstring injury sustained earlier on this season.
Their opponents made history of their own in a shock result against Switzerland in a blistering San Francisco heat, after falling behind to a very controversial Breel Embolo penalty in the early stages of the game. The Qatari’s rallied and defended valiantly as Switzerland could not come up with an answer.

After missing Canada’s 1-1 opening World Cup draw against Bosnia and Herzegovina due to a muscle injury sustained while playing for Bayern Munich last month, Alphonso Davies could potentially return against Qatar on Thursday at 00:00 CEST.
Ahead of his team's second group-stage match, Canada head coach Jesse Marsch confirmed that Davies is available for selection.
“He’s been in training this week, and he’ll be available tomorrow, and we’ll see how the match goes and then make a decision on how we would choose to use him,” Marsch told reporters.
However, Marsch did not guarantee that the 25-year-old captain will feature.
“We’ve worked really well through this, and Alphonso is looking really good,” he said.

World Cup co-hosts Canada will have Bayern Munich defender Alphonso Davies available for their second group stage match against Qatar on Thursday.
"He's been training this week and will be available. We'll see how the game goes and how we use him," coach Jesse Marsch said in a news conference on Wednesday.
Davies suffered a torn muscle in the Champions League semi-final against Paris Saint-Germain in May and missed the 1-1 draw against Bosnia and Herzergovina.
"We've been working very closely with his physical therapists. He looks really good. He's ready," Marsch said.
Canada are second in Group B. Switzerland top the standings but all nations are tied on one point.

Jürgen Klopp has praised Eintracht Frankfurt's Nathaniel Brown highly amid reports suggesting Bayern Munich are closing in on a deal for the Germany left-back for a fee of around €55 million.
"It was already enjoyable watching him last season. If Eintracht Frankfurt do sell this player, I would strongly advise them to get properly paid for him. He's a really good player," the former Liverpool head coach said on MagentaTV.
"He's a great young player with excellent development over the past few years, so it doesn't surprise me that Bayern have noticed him," he added.
While Alphonso Davies spent a large part of the 2025/26 season on the sidelines, Konrad Laimer and Josip Stanišić mostly took turns playing at left-back for Bayern throughout the campaign.
According to Klopp, Brown would provide a significant boost in that position.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — Canada captain Alphonso Davies remained limited in the team's World Cup training session on Monday as he recovers from a hamstring injury.
Davies warmed up with the team at Canada's training base but remained in return to play protocol ahead of the co-host's second group match on Thursday against Qatar at BC Place in Vancouver.
The left back injured a hamstring last month while playing for Bayern Munich in 1-1 draw with Paris Saint-Germain that knocked the German club out of the Champions League semifinals.
Davies has not played for Canada since March 2025, when he tore an ACL in the CONCACAF Nations League finals. He has 15 goals in 58 games for Canada.
Canada opened the World Cup with a 1-1 draw against Bosnia-Herzegovina on Friday in Toronto. Late substitute Cyle Larin scored an equalizer for the Canadians in the 78th minute.

Why Alphonso Davies missing 2026 World Cup opener is huge blow to host Canada originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Although he is one of the best left-backs in the world when healthy, Canadian star Alphonso Davies has been on the receiving end of an unfortunate career injury history. While he hasn't played to close out Bayern Munich's season or in Canada's most recent friendlies, it has now been revealed that Davies will miss Les Rouges' first group-stage game.
Coach Jesse Marsch shared with Canadian news source CBC that Davies will eventually play, just not against Bosnia and Herzegovina next week.
The defender has been dealing with a hamstring injury since May and has missed Munich's closeout from another trophy-winning season in the Bundesliga.
Here's the latest on Canada's captain being absent for their opening game against Bosnia and Herzegovina.