There was hope before tonight’s game that Canada would win their first World Cup match, but it was only a “historic” draw.
Cyle Larin’s goal was “beautiful” as he made history for the host nation
Cyle Larin scored two minutes after entering the field, giving host nation Canada the first World Cup point in the country’s history. At the same time, he denied Bosnia and Herzegovina victory in the first game of Group B at Toronto’s BMO Field.
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Striker Larin turned up and clinched his 31st international goal in elegant fashion with 11 minutes remaining of the match. The goal ensured that Les Rouges avoided becoming only the second host nation in history to lose their opening match in a World Cup final.
Jovo Lukic nodded in from a forward pass from former Arsenal defender Sead Kolasinac after 21 minutes. Thus, Sergei Barbarez’s team took the lead – a team that is ranked 35 places lower than their opponent (35th place) by FIFA.
Kolasinac delivered a brilliant save that prevented Canada from scoring earlier in the second half. He cleared the ball after Richie Laryea had completed a delicious attacking sequence by breaking through and sending a low finish under goalkeeper Nikola Vasilj – the ball hit the crossbar and was cleared.
Canada vs Bosnia and Herzegovina analysis: Larin ‘lifted the fans’
Canada had lost all seven of their games in the two previous World Cup finals they had participated in, and the dismal streak seemed to continue on an otherwise quiet night for the country’s record scorer Jonathan David.
Larin, who scored eight goals in 16 games on loan at Southampton last season and secured a permanent move to the Championship club from Mallorca, had other plans.
Former England defender Stephen Warnock believed that Larin delivered the kind of effort that head coach Jesse Marsch had wanted.
“That’s the attitude a player has when he comes onto the pitch,” Warnock told BBC Sport in his analysis of a goal that was given a slight direction by opposing player Nikola Katic.
“It’s a beautiful wall fit from Promise David. As quickly as he takes the ball, twists and turns – unbelievable,” he continued.
“It’s deafening in here. It’s absolutely brilliant. The Canada fans will be cheering for their team – they needed a boost, they needed some energy,” Warnock said.
“Larin’s goals have just lifted them. There is a lovely wall fit around the corner. It’s all about how quickly he can receive the ball and how quickly he can get his finish away,” he explained.
“He doesn’t let the goalkeeper stand up, and he doesn’t let the defender get close. He uses his body and turns away the opponent perfectly,” Warnock said.
“The ending is beautiful. Yes, it gets a little direction, but that reception with the knee… that’s genius by Cyle Larin,” he concluded.
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World Cup 2026: Canada’s team vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina
Canada made one change to their attack from the 1-1 draw against Ireland in Montreal on June 6. Tani Oluwaseyi replaced Larin from the start.
Captain Alphonso Davies was out with a calf injury, and centre-back Moise Bombito was not ready to start after a broken leg. However, midfielder Ismael Kone had recovered after having to miss training on Wednesday due to a fever.
Striker Jayden Nelson replaced Marcelo Flores in the squad after the winger suffered a serious knee injury.
Canada’s starting eleven: Maxime Crepeau, Alistair Johnston, Luc De Fougerolles, Derek Cornelius, Richie Laryea, Tajon Buchanan, Ismael Kone, Stephen Eustaquio, Liam Millar, Jonathan David, Tani Oluwaseyi
Canada’s substitutes: Dayne St. Clair, Alfie Jones, Joel Waterman, Mathieu Choiniere, Cyle Larin, Jacob Shaffelburg, Moise Bombito, Owen Goodman, Alphonso Davies, Ali Ahmed, Jonathan Osorio, Niko Sigur, Promise David, Nathan Saliba, Jayden Nelson
World Cup 2026: Bosnia and Herzegovina team vs. Canada
Bosnia and Herzegovina substituted a winger from the 1-1 draw against Panama in St Louis six days earlier. Kerim Alajbegovic was relegated to the bench, while Amar Memic came into the team.
Haris Tabakovic was recovering from an ankle injury and was on the bench. So did Edin Dzeko after having to sit out training with a shoulder ailment, as well as midfielder Ivan Sunjic who had been doubtful for the match.
Bosnia and Herzegovina’s starting eleven: Nikola Vasilj, Amar Dedic, Nikola Katic, Tarik Muharemovic, Sead Kolasinac, Esmir Bajraktarevic, Ivan Basic, Benjamin Tahirovic, Amar Memic, Ermedin Demirovic, Jovo Lukic
Bosnia and Herzegovina substitutes: Mladen Jurkas, Nihad Mujakic, Dennis Hadzikadunic, Armin Gigovic, Samed Bazdar, Edin Dzeko, Ivan Sunjic, Amir Hadziahmetovic, Dzenis Burnic, Kerim Alajbegovic, Stjepan Radeljic, Martin Zlomislic, Haris Tabakovic, Arjan Malic, Ermin Mahmic
World Cup 2026: Canada vs Bosnia and Herzegovina – Stats
- Canada are unbeaten in their last nine games (five wins, four draws) since a 1–0 loss at home to Australia in October 2025.
- They have lost one of their last 29 games in Toronto (18 wins, 10 draws).
- Defender Joel Waterman was also part of Canada’s squad for the 2022 playoffs, but he didn’t get any playing time at the time, including in this game.
- With 39 goals in 78 games, Juventus striker Jonathan David is Canada’s all-time goalscorer.
- Larin is the country’s second-leading goalscorer of all time with 31 goals in 91 games. However, he hadn’t scored since netting in a friendly against Panama in Toronto in October 2024.
- Bosnia and Herzegovina scored in all ten of their ten qualifiers and are also unbeaten in nine games (two wins, seven draws, including friendlies) since a 2-1 loss at home to Austria in September 2025.
- This was Bosnia and Herzegovina’s first competitive match against CONCACAF opposition, and they have drawn each of their last five matches against all opponents (including friendlies).
- Dzeko could become the second-oldest outfield player ever to participate in a World Cup. Only Cameroon’s Roger Milla was older – he was 42 years and 39 days old during the 1994 USA playoffs.
- The former Manchester City striker is his country’s all-time winningest international with 143 appearances, and he is also the country’s all-time goalscorer with 73 goals, six of which came during qualifying.
- Barbarez didn’t win any of his first eight games as boss, but he led his team through his first successful play-off campaign for a championship game – at the sixth attempt.
