Canada and Bosnia and Herzegovina share engaging 1-1 draw in Group B opener
Canada drew 1-1 with Bosnia and Herzegovina in their FIFA World Cup 2026 Group B opener at Toronto Stadium. Jovo Lukić headed Bosnia ahead before substitute Cyle Larin equalised for the co-hosts past Nikola Vasilj, who was among the Bosnian Bundesliga contingent who battled to a valuable point.
Canada 1-1 Bosnia and Herzegovina
Goals: 0-1 Lukić 21' (assist: Kolašinac), 1-1 Larin 78' (assist: P David)
Canada opened their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign at home against Bosnia and Herzegovina in Group B at Toronto Stadium without their captain Alphonso Davies, who was sidelined with a thigh injury.
Three Bundesliga players started for Bosnia: St. Pauli goalkeeper Nikola Vasilj, Schalke defender Nikola Katić, and VfB Stuttgart forward Ermedin Demirović, while Schalke's Edin Džeko was one of three more Germany-based players on the bench.
Watch: Vasilj taking his Bundesliga form to the World Cup
Lukić heads Bosnia in front
The match began at a lively pace, with both sides creating early chances. Ismaël Koné was fouled in the 17th minute, and moments later Jonathan David found himself through on goal, only for Vasilj to produce a superb reflex save.
Bosnia then took the lead in the 21st minute: Sead Kolašinac flicked a corner on at the near post and Jovo Lukić headed home from close range.
Canada press but Bosnia hold firm
After going behind, Canada dominated possession and piled on the pressure, earning corner after corner — Stephen Eustaquio delivered nine corners in the first half alone. David had two shots blocked in quick succession around the half-hour mark, and Tani Oluwaseyi fired over from inside the area.
Bosnia, however, remained compact and resolute at the back, with Katić and Kolašinac marshalling the defence as they took their narrow lead into the break.
Watch: Katić showing his defensive might for Schalke
Kolašinac clears off the line
Canada came out with renewed intent in the second half. In the 53rd minute, Richie Laryea clipped the ball past Vasilj on the left, only for Kolašinac to smash it off the goal line and onto his own crossbar to keep Bosnia ahead. Luc De Fougerolles was booked for a tactical foul shortly after.
On the counter, Demirović found himself one-on-one with goalkeeper Maxime Crépeau, but the Stuttgart striker could not get a controlled shot away. In the 66th minute, Oluwaseyi headed towards the far post, only for Katić to clear off the line once more.
Larin the super sub
Former RB Leipzig coach Jesse Marsch made a triple substitution for Canada in the 61st minute, bringing on Jacob Shaffelburg, Promise David, and Ali Ahmed. In the 76th minute, Cyle Larin replaced Oluwaseyi.
Just three minutes later, Larin made an immediate impact: Promise David played him in with a precise through ball, and Larin turned and fired home from the edge of the area to make it 1-1. Canada continued to push for a winner, with Larin having a late effort blocked deep into stoppage time, but the match ended all square.
