New Bayern Munich teammates Alphonso Davies and Ismael Saibari set for World Cup showdown
New Bayern Munich teammates Alphonso Davies and Ismael Saibari will be on opposite sides when Canada take on Morocco in the FIFA World Cup 2026 round of 16. While the pair will soon be chasing trophies together at the Allianz Arena, their immediate focus is on helping their respective countries reach the quarter-finals.
Several players have lit up the World Cup this summer. While Harry Kane and Michael Olise have both made their mark on the tournament, they aren't the only Bayern players to do so. Left-back Davies returned in style to help Canada reach the round of 16, while Morocco's Saibari has already scored three goals and a match-winning penalty.
The latter is a new Bayern aquisition, having arrived at the Bundesliga champions from PSV Eindhoven at the end of June. Saibari was generating plenty of buzz before the World Cup kicked off, but it's fair to say his global fame has surged since his audacious lobbed goal against Brazil in Morocco's World Cup opener. That strike, alongside his thunderous effort against Scotland, gave Bayern fans a hint of what they can expect from the versatile forward next season.
Davies' triumphant comeback
For Canadian superstar Davies, the 2026 World Cup got off to a frustrating start. The 25-year-old, still recovering from a long-term muscle injury, was an unused substitute in all of Canada's group stage matches. It wasn't until the final 15 minutes of Canada's round of 32 match against South Africa that the watching world got their first glimpse of the Bayern superstar - and he didn't disappoint.
While Stephen Eustáquio scored the stoppage-time winner, Davies' late cameo appeared to give Canada an immediate lift, as his quality was evident from the outset. Up against Morocco next in the last 16, themselves fresh from a dramatic win against the Netherlands, a fit and firing Davies could make all the difference for the host nation.
Watch: The best of Alphonso Davies
Will Davies be fit in time?
Davies hasn't started for Canada since the 2025 CONCACAF Nations League third-place playoff, which happened to be at the same venue as the South Africa World Cup match (Los Angeles Stadium). Despite his cameo, it remains to be seen whether the 25-year-old has recovered in time to feature for longer against Morocco. But if he does start, he'll almost certainly be up against his new club teammate.
“Coming back to this stadium, [it’s] like now I get to finish something I started a year ago and really enjoy playing [here],” said Davies after the South Africa win. "The first time I was in this stadium, it was beautiful but it was cut short. At the end of the day, that’s football.”
Saibari's breakout year
By contrast, it's been a World Cup to remember for Saibari, who has been on fire for club and country in 2026. The 25-year-old was named Eredivisie Player of the Year last season, scoring 15 times and setting up eight goals in 27 league outings. Furthermore, he made 19 appearances and was involved in nine goals in 2023/24 and 29 appearances with 22 goal involvements in 2024/25.
The stats reflect the fact that Saibari doesn’t shy away from finishing. He took the second-most shots (76) of all Eredivisie players last season, 37 of them on target. “I think my style is best suited to the box, scoring goals and providing assists,” the attacking all-rounder, who can play as a striker, number 10 and a winger, once said.
Watch: Ready for Der Klassiker in 2026/27?
For Canada and Davies, history is very much against them in this fixture. They are yet to beat Morocco in their four previous meetings, with the most recent, at the 2022 World Cup, ending in a 2-1 win for the North African side on their famous run to the semis.
By the time the final whistle blows in Houston, one Bayern player will be celebrating a place in the last eight, while the other will be heading home to Munich - awaiting the return of their new teammate.
