Cyle Larin scored two minutes after coming on to give co-hosts Canada their first-ever World Cup point and deny Bosnia and Herzegovina victory in the first match in Group B at Toronto’s BMO Field.
Forward Larin turned and swerved in a clinical 31st goal of his international career with 11 minutes remaining, ensuring Les Rouges avoided becoming only the second host team in history to lose their opening game at the finals.
Jovo Lukic nodded in from ex-Arsenal defender Sead Kolasinac’s flick to give Sergej Barbarez’s team, who are ranked 26 places below their opponents at 35th by FIFA, a 21st-minute lead.
Kolasinac’s superb intervention prevented Canada from scoring sooner after the break, hooking the ball against the crossbar and away after Richie Laryea had completed a slick move by breaking clear and sending a low finish under goalkeeper Nikola Vasilj.
Canada vs Bosnia and Herzegovina analysis: Larin ‘lifted fans’
Canada had been beaten in all seven matches in which they had featured across their two previous editions at the finals, and their run seemed set to continue on a quiet evening for the country’s record scorer, Jonathan David.
Larin, who scored eight goals in 16 appearances on loan to Southampton last season to seal a permanent move to the Championship club from Mallorca, had other ideas.
Former England defender Stephen Warnock credited Larin with providing the impact head coach Jesse Marsch had wanted.
“That’s the attitude of the player coming onto the pitch,” Warnock told BBC Sport, analysing a goal that took a tiny deflection off opposition player Nikola Katic.
“It’s a lovely round-the-corner pass from Promise David. How quick is the touch, the swivel and turn?
We’ve reached peak Canadiana here at the March to the Match and arrived at Princes’ Gate near the stadium.
A man wearing a cowboy hat, fur coat, carrying a Tim Hortons whips everyone into a frenzy as they finish singing O Canada.
It’s 25 C and brilliantly sunny. pic.twitter.com/Tv8jZLN3nt
— Devin Heroux (@Devin_Heroux) June 12, 2026
“It’s deafening in here. It’s absolutely brilliant. [Canada fans] want to get behind their team – they wanted lifting, they needed lifting a little bit.
“Larin’s goal has just lifted them. It’s a lovely give-and-go round the corner. It’s all about how quickly he can take the ball, how quickly he can get his shot away.
“He doesn’t allow the goalkeeper to set himself, he doesn’t allow the defender to get close. He uses his body and rolls him perfectly.
“The finish is beautiful. Yes, it takes a little nick, but that control with his knee… brilliant from Cyle Larin.”
THE VIBES IN TORONTO RIGHT NOW 🇨🇦⚽️🇨🇦⚽️ pic.twitter.com/pzzMtjsYEa
— Made In Canada (@MadelnCanada) June 12, 2026
World Cup 2026: Canada team vs Bosnia and Herzegovina
Canada made one change in attack from their 1-1 draw with Ireland in Montreal on June 6, Tani Oluwaseyi supplanting Larin.
Captain Alphonso Davies was out with a hamstring strain and centre-back Moise Bombito was not ready to start following a broken leg but midfielder Ismael Kone recovered after missing training with a fever on Wednesday.
Forward Jayden Nelson replaced Marcelo Flores in the squad after the winger suffered a serious knee injury.
Canada starting XI: Maxime Crepeau, Alistair Johnston, Luc De Fougerolles, Derek Cornelius, Richie Laryea, Tajon Buchanan, Ismael Kone, Stephen Eustaquio, Liam Millar, Jonathan David, Tani Oluwaseyi
Canada 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 changed a winger from their 1-1 draw with Panama in St Louis six days earlier, Kerim Alajbegovic moving to the bench and Amar Memic coming in.
Haris Tabakovic was recovering from an ankle injury and on the bench, as were Edin Dzeko after missing training with a shoulder issue and midfielder Ivan Sunjic, who had been a doubt.
Bosnia and Herzegovina starting XI: 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
Canada, Bosnia and Herzegovina fixtures, schedule
Both teams are next in action next Thursday. Here’s when the action starts and the UK broadcaster.
| Date | Match | Time (BST) | ET | PT | Channel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 18 | Bosnia and Herzegovina vs Switzerland | 20:00 | 15:00 | 12:00 | ITV |
| June 18 | Canada vs Qatar | 23:00 | 18:00 | 15:00 | ITV |
World Cup 2026: Canada vs Bosnia and Herzegovina stats
- Canada are unbeaten in their last nine games (W5 D4) since a 1-0 home defeat to Australia in October 2025
- They have lost one of their last 29 games in Toronto (W18 D10)
- Defender Joel Waterman was also part of Canada’s squad at the finals in 2022 but did not make an appearance and did not come on in this match
- With 39 goals in 78 appearances, Juventus forward David is Canada’s record scorer
- Larin is their second-top all-time marksman of all time with 31 goals in 91 matches, although he had not added to that tally since netting in a friendly against Panama in Toronto in October 2024
- Bosnia and Herzegovina scored in all 10 of their qualifiers and are also unbeaten in nine matches (W2 D7, including friendlies) since a 2-1 home defeat to Austria in September 2025
- This was Bosnia and Herzegovina’s first competitive match against CONCACAF opposition and they had drawn each of their last five games against all opposition (including friendlies)
- Dzeko could become the second-oldest outfield player ever to feature at the World Cup, behind Cameroon’s Roger Milla, who was 42 years and 39 days of age at the 1994 finals in the USA
- The former Manchester City targetman is his country’s 143-cap all-time leading appearance-maker and 73-goal record scorer, netting six times during qualifying
- Barbaraz did not win any of his first eight matches in charge but guided his side through their first successful play-off campaign for a major tournament at the sixth attempt
