Canada draws 1-1 with Bosnia in tense World Cup opener, earning first-ever point
Co-hosts Canada avoided a seventh straight World Cup defeat, coming from behind to draw 1-1 with Bosnia-Herzegovina in Toronto, their first ever point at the finals.
Historic first point
Canada had lost all six of their previous World Cup matches across the 1986 and 2022 tournaments. The 1-1 draw against Bosnia-Herzegovina in front of 43,002 fans at BMO Field in Toronto ended that streak and delivered the co-hosts' very first point at the finals.
Electric atmosphere
The city buzzed hours before kick-off, with fans from both nations singing and drumming through downtown Toronto. The official opening party initially struggled to fill seats, but by the time five-time Grammy winner Michael Bublé took the stage shortly before kick-off the stadium was near capacity. Rock icon Alanis Morissette then stirred the home crowd with a rousing rendition of the Canadian national anthem. Hollywood star and Wrexham AFC co-owner Ryan Reynolds was among the crowd, celebrating the point with fellow Canadian fans.
Match action
Bosnia-Herzegovina nearly silenced the hosts in the third minute when Amar Memic fired over from close range. Canada responded with a Jonathan David effort that goalkeeper Nikola Vasilj saved comfortably. The deadlock was broken in the 21st minute: Sead Kolasinac flicked on a corner at the near post and striker Jovo Lukic nodded the ball home from point-blank range. The visitors, coached by Sergej Barbarez, sat deep and defended their lead smartly, frustrating the Canadian attack. Just after the break, Kolasinac again proved crucial, clearing a seemingly certain equaliser off his own goal line in the 53rd minute.
Canada pressed harder and finally found a way through in the closing stages. Substitute Cyle Larin, introduced as a joker, collected a quick passing move and unleashed a shot from about 14 metres that took a decisive deflection off defender Nikola Katić. The ball looped into the net, sparking wild celebrations among the home fans. Reports differ slightly on the exact minute – some outlets place the goal in the 78th minute, others in the 80th – but the result was the same: 1-1.
- Jovo Lukic heads Bosnia into the lead from a corner.
- Sead Kolasinac clears a Canadian equaliser off the line.
- Cyle Larin equalises with a deflected strike (78th minute).
Missing superstars
Both sides were without their talismanic captains. Canada's Alphonso Davies, nursing an injury, remained on the bench throughout, while Bosnia-Herzegovina's 40-year-old Edin Džeko also started as a substitute. In their absence, players with Swiss Super League experience filled the starting line-ups: Liam Miller (FC Basel) for Canada, and Nikola Katić (FC Zurich) alongside Ermedin Demirović (FC St. Gallen) for Bosnia. Another current Super League midfielder, Armin Gigović (YB), came on as a substitute.
Group B outlook
The draw leaves both teams with a point from the opening match. Switzerland and Qatar, the other Group B participants, face each other on Saturday. Canada next host Qatar on Thursday at midnight (local time, three hours after Bosnia's clash with Switzerland at 21:00). Each side retains a chance of reaching the knockout stage for the first time.
