FIFA World Cup 2026 co-host Canada will begin their tournament journey against Bosnia and Herzegovina in Toronto on June 12, 2026, in what is expected to be a landmark occasion for the Canucks. World Cup 2026 co-hosts Canada launch their campaign on Friday evening with a Group B encounter against Bosnia and Herzegovina in Toronto.
This marks only the third World Cup appearance for Canada, and the nation is still searching for its first victory on football’s grandest stage.
Jesse Marsch’s team are widely expected to improve that record this summer, although a resilient Bosnia and Herzegovina side—who reached the tournament through the UEFA playoffs—will provide a demanding opening challenge.
Since their penalty shootout defeat to Guatemala in the CONCACAF Gold Cup quarter-finals last June, Canada have played 11 international friendlies, winning five. Marsch’s men most recently earned a 1-1 draw against the Republic of Ireland after securing a 2-0 victory over Uzbekistan.
Bosnia and Herzegovina defeated Romania 3-1 in their second-last qualifier, but a 1-1 draw against Austria on the final matchday forced them into the playoffs. Sergej Barbarez’s side subsequently overcame both Wales and, more notably, Italy via penalty shootouts to qualify for only their second World Cup. However, the European nation struggled to impress in their preparation matches, drawing 0-0 with North Macedonia and 1-1 with Panama.
Former Leeds United boss Jesse Marsch leads a Canada side that qualified directly for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar under John Herdman, demonstrating that the North American nation has been steadily building toward becoming a competitive force on the global stage for several years. Their role as co-hosts further adds to those expectations.
The Canadians performed exceptionally well by reaching the semi-finals of the 2024 CONMEBOL Copa America, although that achievement was sandwiched between disappointing quarter-final exits in the 2023 and 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup tournaments, placing Marsch under pressure heading into the summer.
Canada enter the competition in respectable form, currently enjoying an eight-match unbeaten streak. In their pre-World Cup friendlies, they defeated Uzbekistan 2-0 before sharing a 1-1 draw with the Republic of Ireland.
During qualification, Bosnia and Herzegovina traveled to Cardiff City Stadium and edged past Wales on penalties in their UEFA playoff semi-final. They then drew with Italy on home soil before defeating the four-time world champions in another penalty shootout.
Under Sergej Barbarez, with veteran captain Edin Dzeko continuing to spearhead the attack, the Bosnians have reached only their second FIFA World Cup, having previously appeared at Brazil 2014. Interestingly, despite that achievement, they have never participated in a UEFA European Championship.
Since those playoff triumphs, Bosnia and Herzegovina have prepared for the World Cup with friendly draws against North Macedonia and Panama.
Canada’s squad is arguably the strongest in the country’s history, at least on paper. Marsch has several players competing for elite European clubs, including Alphonso Davies of Bayern Munich, Tajon Buchanan of Villarreal, and Jonathan David of Juventus.
However, Nice centre-back Moise Bambito—widely considered Canada’s top defender—has failed to recover in time and will miss the World Cup. Influential attacker Marcelo Flores is also unavailable after suffering an ACL tear while representing Tigres UANL.
Edin Dzeko, now 40 years old, remains part of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s squad and boasts an impressive record of 73 goals in 148 international appearances.
Former Arsenal defender Sead Kolasinac is another important member of the squad and currently plays for Atalanta in Italy.
The biggest injury setback ahead of the World Cup for Canada is the absence of Nice defender Moïse Bombito, who has been ruled out of the competition. Attacking midfielder Marcelo Flores also suffered a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament after being named in the squad, representing another significant loss.
As a result, considerable responsibility will fall on key figures such as Alphonso Davies, Jonathan David, and Tajon Buchanan within Marsch’s high-intensity system.
Bayern Munich defender Alphonso Davies has endured injury-plagued seasons recently, and Canada’s star player has once again been sidelined by a fresh issue that rules him out of Friday’s opening fixture.
Canada have also battled defensive fitness concerns throughout the last year. Alfie Jones has regained full fitness, but Nice defender Moise Bombito, who missed much of last season, has suffered another major setback, leaving his availability for the remainder of the tournament uncertain.
Jacob Shaffelburg and Ali Ahmed have both been managing hamstring problems but have returned to training, while Marcelo Flores withdrew several weeks ago due to an ACL injury.
Jesse Marsch faces multiple injury concerns heading into the match. The Canada manager will be without three players originally selected in his World Cup squad when his team takes on Bosnia and Herzegovina on Friday.
Moise Bombito is unavailable and has been ruled out of the competition, while Marcelo Flores suffered an ACL injury after receiving a call-up. Jayden Nelson has been added to replace him. Meanwhile, Alphonso Davies remains the most notable absentee, with concerns continuing over his fitness.
Maxime Crepeau is expected to start ahead of Dayne St. Clair in goal, with Canada likely deploying a 4-4-2 formation. The defensive line should consist of Alistair Johnstone, Luc de Fougerolles, Derek Cornelius, and Richie Laryea.
In midfield, Ismael Kone and Stephen Eustaquio are expected to partner each other centrally, with the latter captaining the side in Davies’s absence. Tajon Buchanan and Liam Millar should operate on the flanks and provide creativity. Up front, Jonathan David and Cyle Larin are expected to lead the attack.
From Bosnia and Herzegovina’s original squad, reserve goalkeeper Osman Hadžikić was forced to withdraw through injury and has been replaced by Mladen Jurkas. The squad remains largely unchanged from the group that defeated Italy in the qualification playoffs and continues to revolve around veteran striker Edin Džeko, who belongs to the exclusive group of players aged 40 or older participating in this World Cup.
Veteran captain Edin Dzeko is a doubt for this week’s match after picking up a knock recently. While the former Inter Milan striker could force his way back into the starting lineup, it would not be surprising if he were rested to ensure full fitness for later group-stage matches.
The most likely replacement for Dzeko would have been Borussia Monchengladbach forward Haris Tabakovic, but he is also an injury concern after only recently rejoining the squad following recovery.
Defensively, Nidal Celik is pushing for inclusion after Sead Kolasinac was forced off during the spring match against Italy through injury. Nevertheless, it would be surprising if the former Arsenal defender did not partner Nikola Katic and Tarek Muharemovic in Bosnia’s back three.
Like his Canadian counterpart, Sergej Barbarez has fitness concerns to manage ahead of the clash at BMO Field. Bosnia and Herzegovina’s coach is expected to be without one player on Friday.
Barbarez remains concerned about Haris Tabakovic’s condition after the striker suffered a serious ankle injury late in the 2025/26 season. Although included in the squad, he may not be ready to feature against Canada.
Nikola Vasilj is expected to start in goal, with Bosnia and Herzegovina likely adopting a 4-4-2 formation against Canada on Friday. While Barbarez experimented with a 4-2-3-1 system in friendlies, the 4-4-2 setup delivered greater success during the playoffs. The defense should feature Amar Dedic, Nikola Katic, Tarik Muharemovic, and Sead Kolasinac.
In midfield, Benjamin Tahirovic and Ivan Sunjic are expected to anchor the center of the park, while Amar Memic and Esmir Bajraktarevic operate in wide positions. Up front, Ermedin Demirovic and Edin Dzeko are projected to form the attacking partnership for the Dragons.
Canada and Bosnia and Herzegovina have faced each other only twice, both meetings coming in friendly matches played at neutral venues. Bosnia and Herzegovina recorded a 1-0 victory in 2013, while the 2019 encounter finished in a scoreless draw. Given the experimental nature of those friendlies, neither match provides much tactical relevance, making this World Cup showdown effectively their first meaningful competitive encounter.
This will be the first meeting between Canada and Bosnia and Herzegovina in any official competition.
Date: Friday, June 12, 2026
Kick-off Time: 8.00 p.m. BST (3.00 p.m. ET, 12:30 a.m. IST, Saturday, 5:00 a.m. AEST, Saturday)
Venue: Toronto Stadium, Toronto, Canada
Competition: FIFA World Cup 2026 – Group B
Referee: Facundo Tello (Argentina)
VAR: Hernan Mastrangelo (Argentina)
The match will be available on BBC One in the United Kingdom, Fox in the United States, Zee5 in India, and SBS in Australia.
Dayne St Clair, Maxime Crepeau, Owen Goodman, Alistair Johnston, Derek Cornelius, Richie Laryea, Niko Sigur, Joel Waterman, Luc de Fougerolles, Moise Bombito, Alphonso Davies, Alfie Jones, Stephen Eustaquio, Ismael Kone, Tajon Buchanan, Mathieu Choiniere, Ali Ahmed, Nathan Saliba, Liam Millar, Marcelo Flores, Jacob Shaffelburg, Jonathan Osorio, Jonathan David, Cyle Larin, Tani Oluwaseyi, Promise David
Nikola Vasilj, Martin Zlomislic, Osman Hadzikic, Sead Kolasinac, Amar Dedic, Nihad Mujakic, Nikola Katic, Tarik Muharemovic, Stjepan Radeljic, Dennis Hadzikadunic, Nidal Celik, Amir Hadziahmetovic, Ivan Sunjic, Ivan Basic, Dzenis Burnic, Ermin Mahmic, Benjamin Tahirovic, Amar Memic, Armin Gigovic, Kerim Alajbegovic, Esmir Bajraktarevic, Ermedin Demirovic, Jovo Lukic, Samed Bazdar, Haris Tabakovic, Edin Džeko
Crepeau; Johnston, De Fougerolles, Cornelius, Davies; Buchanan, Eustaquio, Kone, Millar; David, Larin
Unavailable: Davies (Injured)
Questionable: Bombito (Injured)
Vasilj; Muharemovic, Katic, Kolasinac; Dedic, Sunjic, Hadziahmetovic, Basic, Bajraktarevic; Alajbegovic; Demirovic
Unavailable:
Questionable: Tabakovic (Injured), Dzeko (Injured)
Canada possess significant attacking talent through players such as Jonathan David, Alphonso Davies, Tajon Buchanan, and Cyle Larin, among others. However, despite Marsch’s energetic and aggressive approach, the Canadians have often lacked efficiency and clinical finishing in the final third. Bosnia and Herzegovina, meanwhile, are expected to rely on the disciplined defensive structure that has become central to Barbarez’s tactical philosophy since March. Canada remain favorites, but the pressure of expectation, their occasional attacking shortcomings, and Bosnia’s defensive organization suggest a low-scoring contest in Toronto.
Neither side arrives at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in particularly impressive form, with draws featuring prominently in recent results. However, the hosts hold a slight edge, having kept five clean sheets in their last seven matches. Bosnia and Herzegovina, by contrast, have displayed defensive vulnerabilities at times, weaknesses that Canada could exploit.
Furthermore, home advantage tilts the balance further toward the Canadians, and a closely fought encounter could ultimately be decided in favor of the hosts.
It represents a difficult opening fixture for both teams, with Canada benefiting from strong support in Toronto while facing a stern examination from Bosnia and Herzegovina.
A draw for either nation—which would represent Canada’s first-ever World Cup point—would not be a disastrous outcome, particularly with Qatar viewed as the weakest side in Group B.
However, a victory could go a long way toward securing a place in the last 32.
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