2026 FIFA World Cup: Canada chase first win against Bosnia-Herzegovina

Group B action at the 2026 FIFA World Cup gets underway on Friday as co-hosts Canada take on Bosnia-Herzegovina at Toronto Stadium, with both nations eager to make a positive start to their campaign.

For Canada, the match presents an opportunity to secure a first-ever FIFA World Cup victory. Despite appearing at the 1986 and 2022 tournaments, the Canadians have lost all six of their previous World Cup matches, scoring only twice and conceding 12 goals.

Having qualified automatically as tournament co-hosts, Jesse Marsch’s side enters the competition carrying the hopes of a nation eager to make history on home soil.

Under Marsch, Canada have shown encouraging signs heading into the tournament despite a series of injury setbacks.

The Canadians have been defensively solid in recent months, conceding no more than one goal in each of their last six matches, and will be confident of progressing from a group that also includes Qatar and Switzerland.

However, concerns remain over the fitness of captain Alphonso Davies, who is battling a hamstring strain and remains doubtful for the opening fixture.

Defender Moise Bombito is also unlikely to feature as he continues his recovery from a left tibia injury, while Jayden Nelson has replaced Marcelo Flores in the squad after the latter suffered an ACL injury.

Goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau, who missed the 2022 World Cup due to a broken leg, is expected to start between the posts, while hometown favourite Jonathan Osorio could feature in front of the Toronto crowd.

All eyes will also be on Canada’s record goalscorer, Jonathan David, who is one goal away from reaching the 40-goal mark for his country.

Bosnia-Herzegovina arrived in Canada buoyed by their dramatic qualification campaign, which saw them upset Italy in a penalty shootout to secure a place at the World Cup for only the second time in their history.

The Europeans last appeared at the tournament in 2014 and will be led by veteran striker Edin Džeko, who continues to inspire the national team at the age of 40.

Bosnia’s all-time leading scorer and most-capped player has netted 73 international goals since making his debut in 2007 and remains the focal point of the team’s attack.

Haris Tabaković is part of the squad despite suffering an ankle injury late in the club season, although he is not expected to feature in the opening match.

Bosnia have proven difficult to break down in recent matches, keeping clean sheets in the first half of each of their last six international outings.

Their only previous World Cup victory came in a 3-1 win over Iran in 2014, while they will also be seeking a first win over a CONCACAF nation since defeating Mexico in a friendly more than a decade ago.

With Canada desperate to end their long wait for a World Cup victory and Bosnia eager to mark their return to the global stage with a positive result, Friday’s encounter promises to be one of the most intriguing fixtures of the opening round.