Players return, Canada downs Curacao 4-0 in Nations League

World Cup-bound Canadian players returned from their protest over stalled labor negotiations to beat Curaçao 4-0 on Thursday night in the CONCACAF Nations League.

Alphonso Davies converted a penalty kick in the 27th minute and added an left-footed goal in the 71st. Steven Vitoria and Lucas Cavallini also scored.

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The match marked Davies’ return to the national team after he was diagnosed with heart inflammation following COVID-19.

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Davies, who plays for Bayern Munich, did not play in Canada’s final two World Cup qualifying windows.

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Canada's players refused to play an exhibition against Panama on Sunday, issuing a public letter decrying the contract talks with Canada Soccer and listing a number of demands. Players also refused to practice last Friday and Saturday.

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But both sides met Sunday night, and the players agreed to return as the team prepares for its first World Cup appearance since 1986.

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The players also want transparency with Canadian Soccer Business, which signed an agreement with the federation in 2018 to oversee media rights, sponsorship deals and other commercial assets.

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Canada Soccer says the team's proposal is untenable. Canada is set to visit Honduras on Monday in CONCACAF Nations League play.

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Ranked No. 38, Canada opens the World Cup in Qatar against second-ranked Belgium on Nov. 23, plays No. 16 Croatia four days later and then faces No. 24 Morocco on Dec. 1.

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