Host country Canada took its first point ever at a World Cup in its opening match against Bosnia and Herzegovina in Toronto on Friday. With an equalizer in the 78th minute from striker Cyle Larin, the Canadian team managed to force a draw in front of a frenzied home crowd of 43,000 spectators, after a long deficit.
Canada, which does not have a strong domestic football tradition, has participated in the World Cup twice before, in 1986 and in 2022, losing all six matches in the group stage. Bayern Munich star Alphonso Davies scored Canada’s first World Cup goal against Croatia four years ago in Qatar – but was now left out due to a hamstring injury.
Hopes that the Canadian team would score the first goal in a World Cup on Canadian soil were dashed by Jovo Lukic’s headed goal after a corner kick in the 21st minute: he gave Bosnia, which is participating in a World Cup for the second time, early momentum in the match. PSV player Esmir Bajraktarevic was in the starting line-up for Bosnia.
Canada, in front of a legion of Canadian fans, many of them dressed in red, had more possession for much of the match. However, it failed to capitalize on several opportunities. Larin, who played for Feyenoord, changed that more than a minute after he entered the field.
After the equalizer, the Canadians increased the pressure, but they were unable to advance to a victory on home soil. The draw was still cause for satisfaction among fans in Toronto and other Canadian cities. There is a feeling among supporters that the country has its best ever chance of progressing past the group stages. The other two countries in Group B are Qatar and Switzerland.
Before the match there was an opening ceremony at Toronto Stadium, with performances by Michael Bublé, among others. Alanis Morissette sang the Canadian national anthem before the game.
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2026 FIFA World Cup
Host country Canada scores its first World Cup point ever with a draw against Bosnia-Herzegovina in Toronto