Canada secured a historic first point at a FIFA World Cup, rallying to a 1-1 draw against a resilient Bosnia-Herzegovina in their Group B opener at Toronto Stadium. A late equaliser from substitute Cyle Larin cancelled out Jovo Lukić's first-half header, sending the home crowd into raptures on a memorable night for Canadian football.
Match Overview
The atmosphere in Toronto was electric, with over 43,000 fans witnessing Canada's first-ever World Cup match on home soil. Co-hosts Canada, led by coach Jesse Marsch, started with intent, pressing high and looking to assert dominance. However, it was Bosnia-Herzegovina, under coach Sergej Barbarez, who struck first against the run of play. In the 21st minute, a dangerous in-swinging corner from Ivan Bašić was flicked on by Sead Kolašinac to Jovo Lukić, who headed home from close range to give the Dragons a 1-0 lead. This marked Lukić's first international goal and the first World Cup goal scored on Canadian soil.
Canada responded with sustained pressure, controlling possession for much of the first half, but struggled to convert their chances. Jonathan David had a significant opportunity early on, but his shot was comfortably saved by Bosnian goalkeeper Nikola Vasilj. The physical nature of the contest was evident, with Alistair Johnston receiving a yellow card in the 15th minute for Canada, followed by Ermedin Demirović and Jovo Lukić for Bosnia-Herzegovina just before half-time.
Key Moments
The second half saw Canada intensify their attacking efforts. A crucial moment arrived in the 53rd minute when Richie Laryea's goal-bound shot was heroically cleared off the line by Sead Kolašinac, deflecting off the crossbar to deny Canada an equaliser. Canadian defender Luc de Fougerolles was cautioned shortly after. Coach Jesse Marsch made tactical changes, and the impact was almost immediate. In the 76th minute, Cyle Larin was introduced from the bench, and just two minutes later, he made history. Receiving a pass from Promise David, Larin turned sharply and fired a deflected strike past Vasilj to level the score at 1-1. This marked Canada's first-ever point in a men's World Cup, ending a run of six consecutive defeats across previous tournaments.
Canada pushed for a winner in the dying moments, with Larin nearly snatching a second, but Tarik Muharemović produced a vital block in stoppage time to preserve the draw. Nikola Katić received the final yellow card of the match in the 93rd minute. The draw sets up an intriguing Group B, which also features Qatar and Switzerland.
Watch: Bosnian Jovo Lukić scores his first international goal in the FIFA World Cup.
https://twitter.com/FOXSoccer/status/1799797071987624200
By the Numbers
21 — minutes it took for Jovo Lukić to open the scoring for Bosnia-Herzegovina, a historic first World Cup goal on Canadian soil.
78 — minutes on the clock when Cyle Larin secured Canada's historic first World Cup point, a moment that ignited the Toronto crowd.
2 — minutes it took for substitute Cyle Larin to find the equaliser after entering the match, making an immediate and decisive impact.
64% — Canada's possession in the first half, highlighting their dominance despite trailing 1-0 at the break.
5 — yellow cards shown by Argentinian referee Facundo Tello, reflecting the competitive and physical nature of the Group B encounter.
Looking Ahead
This hard-fought draw provides Canada with a crucial first point in their World Cup campaign, a significant psychological boost as they aim to progress from Group B. They will now travel to Vancouver for their next fixture against Qatar on 18 June. Bosnia-Herzegovina, having shown their defensive solidity and clinical finishing, will take confidence from their performance, particularly after their dramatic qualification journey which saw them overcome Wales and Italy in playoffs. They next face Switzerland in Los Angeles on 18 June. Both teams demonstrated they have the quality and determination to challenge for a place in the knockout stages of the tournament. Readers can follow team news and standings at /teams/canada, /teams/bosnia-herzegovina, and /standings.
Kickoff XI is an independent publication and is not affiliated with FIFA.
