Co-hosts Canada have World Cup 2026 lift-off after hitting back against Bosnia and Herzogovina in a hard-fought 1-1 draw in Toronto.
Following a star-studded opening ceremony, including Michael Buble and Alanis Morissette, Jesse Marsch’s side fell behind thanks to a first-half header from Jovo Lukic.
But Cyle Larin came off the bench to equalise with a fantastic half-volley in the latter stages before late pressure almost forced a famous comeback victory.
Larin almost pounced inside the box during stoppage time, with Bosnia surviving a late scare as the Maple Leafs avoided defeat in a World Cup for the first time in their history.
The tournament is officially up and running with wins for Mexico and South Korea on the first day of action – but empty seats in Guadalajara will have been a concern for organisers, and there were even similar issues at Toronto Stadium as Marsch’s men got underway.
Follow all of the latest from the World Cup with our live blog below.
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Canada vs Bosnia and Herzegovina LIVE
- FULL TIME: Canada draw 1-1 with Bosnia and Herzegovina after coming from behind
- 79' GOAL! Larin's fantastic half-volley on the turn brings hosts level (CAN 1-1 BIH)
- 53' CROSSBAR! Canada move ends with Kolasinac clearing shot from goalline onto woodwork
- 21' GOAL! Lukic nods home after corner is flicked on, as hosts fall behind (CAN 0-1 BIH)
- KICK-OFF! Co-hosts Canada start World Cup campaign against Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Group B opener follows star-studded opening ceremony with Michael Buble and Alanis Morissette set to perform
- Canada: Crepeau; Johnston, De Fougerolles, Cornelius, Laryea; Buchanan, Kone, Eustaquio, Millar; David, Oluwaseyi
- Bosnia and Herzegovina: Vasilj; Dedic, Katic, Muharemovic, Kolasinac, Bajraktarevic; Basic, Tahirovic; Memic, Demirovic, Lukic
Attendance watch
23:15 , Alan SmithFor those on attendance watch the crowd for this one was 43,002.
Its capacity is 45,736.
Marsch looks forward
23:00 , Alan Smith"We still have everything in hand and that's a big point for us to keep ourselves in the group. We have to make sure the next performance is a reflection and learning point from what we learnt today."
Larin hails 'special' moment
22:45 , Alan Smith"It was special for me. I was ready to come and help the team. I thought the goals would come. I score when Canada needs me, and always have done," the Canada goalscorer said having made a vital impact off the bench.
"I want to play every game. I’ve been working hard every game with my club to play every game, but sometimes you don’t have control [over that]. We just have to stay concentrated. We’ll be playing at home and just have to push the limit."
Game of two halves for Marsch
22:30 , Alan SmithThe Canada head coach adds: "I'm disappointed with the first half. I felt we were tentative - we didn't play as aggressively as I would have liked. We have got to find a way when we want to play as intensely and be hard to play against that we actually do it. We talked about it afterwards.
"Second half, the moment we stepped on the pitch, it was different. I told them we have got to learn these lessons, and we have got to learn from them quickly.”
Marsch's hydration break message
22:22 , Alan Smith"We felt like we had them,” he tells the world broadcasting feed. “You know like we were starting to push the game, the subs came on and made a big difference. We could see that they were fading. “
'Predictable' game - and result - for Bosnia
22:15 , Alan SmithAsmir Begovic, the former Bosnia goalkeeper most recently at Leicester City, says on the radio: “It really is the story of the Bosnia team over the last couple of years, it is what has given them their success - this collectiveness, fighting for each other, putting their bodies on the line, that's exactly why they've been comfortable. The game was very predictable in that sense.”
'Both will take point'
22:08 , Alan SmithWayne Rooney, on BBC, thinks Canada deserved all three points there.
“I thought it was a good game and I thought Canada were really good and did enough to win the game, but I think both teams will take a point,” he says from their Salford studio.
Both pleased?
22:01 , Alan SmithBoth teams will be relatively satisfied with a point each.
With Qatar, who were awful in a warm-up friendly against Ireland’s second string the other week, still to come for both, a point here means they are well placed to progress in such a bloated format.
Standby for more reaction.
Full-time! Canada 1-1 Bosnia
21:58 , Alan SmithThat’s that. A fair result. Canada have their first ever World Cup point, it’s a sixth draw in a row on this stage for Bosnia.
Canada 1-1 Bosnia
21:58 , Alan Smith90+6’ - Into the final minute and Muharemovic has produced a stunning block to deny Larin, who has been excellent aside from his equaliser. Laryea crosses to the forward and he shoots goalwards but the Bosnia defender stretches his left leg to get a vital block in.
Canada 1-1 Bosnia
21:56 , Alan Smith90+5’ - Ahmed floats in a cross from the right that Vasilj collects. Can Canada fashion one more chance? I don’t think Bosnia are capable of it.
Canada 1-1 Bosnia
21:55 , Alan Smith90+4’ - “Ref, you suck,” chant the home fans after Bosnia get a free kick just inside the Canada half. They send half a dozen forward but it is taken short initially and hwne the ball is finally launched Canada clear.
Larin tries to counter but Katic cynically rugby tackles him to stop it. That is a yellow card and one the Bosnia defender will happily take in the circumstances.
The free kick is taken quickly - and put straight out for a throw in. What a waste.
Canada 1-1 Bosnia
21:53 , Alan Smith90+2’ - Eustaquio is off and the vastly experienced Osorio is on for the final few minutes.
Canada 1-1 Bosnia
21:51 , Alan Smith90’ - There will be six minutes added on.
Canada 1-1 Bosnia
21:51 , Alan Smith89’ - A couple of minutes tick by where Canada are on the ball but unable to find a way past the compact white shirts. It’s tense, those who have been on since the start are tiring. And you wonder if someone will twitch during added time.
Canada 1-1 Bosnia
21:48 , Alan Smith87’ - Johnston flings in another long throw. Katic heads it away. Johnston crosses it in with his foot. Katic heads it away once more.
Canada 1-1 Bosnia
21:47 , Alan Smith85’ - Bosnia, who have introduced Burnic for Kolasinac, win a corner from nowhere. But they are unable to convert it into a meaningful attempt.
Canada 1-1 Bosnia
21:45 , Alan Smith82’ - The noise has now gone up significantly in Toronto. Canada are pushing, looking far more likely to level, and Bosnia may find themselves hanging on.
Kolasinac, who has put in a mighty shift, goes down injured and seems likely to hobble off, unable to continue.
Canada 1-1 Bosnia
21:41 , Alan SmithIt’s such good centre-forward play. With his back to goal on the edge of the area, Larin receives a pass from Promise David. He turns and in a fluid movement shoots. It takes a deflection but zips into the net.
Now can Canada push on in search of a winner?
GOAL! Canada 1-1 Bosnia (Larin, 79)
21:40 , Alan SmithAnd with his first act the substitute levels it up!
Canada 0-1 Bosnia
21:38 , Alan Smith77’ - Canada’s momentum seems to have slowed since the break. In the stands Ryan Reynolds is posing for selfies with Canada fans. And who are we to judge why they are not manically cheering for their team.
Canada 0-1 Bosnia
21:38 , Alan Smith76’ - And now a Canada change as Larin replaces Oluwaseyi, who gave maximum effort but lacked the ruthless touch.
Canada 0-1 Bosnia
21:37 , Alan Smith74 ‘ - Two more changes for Bosnia.
Sunjic and Alajbegovic are on. Memic and Bajraktarevic are off.
Canada 0-1 Bosnia
21:34 , Alan Smith72’ - We’re back underway.
21:33 , Alan SmithA look at Kolasinac’s brilliant clearance off the bar earlier on. The finest bit of defending seen in the three games so far - and there may be few celebrated as intensely by tournament’s end.
Canada 0-1 Bosnia
21:30 , Alan Smith69’ - We’re playing on though. Ahmed makes a foray down the right, it’s worked in and Oluwaseyi is fouled by Kolasinac. Bosnia want the break but the referee would like the free kick to be taken first. It is lofted in but no one can get on the end of it. And we will now have the break.
Canada 0-1 Bosnia
21:28 , Alan Smith67’ - Another big chance for Canada, this one cleared off the line by Katic. Shaffelburg does well, finding Oluwaseyi at the back stick. His header is on target but Bosnia have a defender there to hook it away.
They are getting closer - but now the hydration break is about to hurt their momentum.
Canada 0-1 Bosnia
21:27 , Alan Smith66’ - Let’s go Canada can be heard from the stands again. Eustaquio shoots well wide from outside the box.
Canada 0-1 Bosnia
21:24 , Alan Smith62’ - Now a bunch of changes.
For Canada, Jonathan David, Buchanan and Millar are making way; Promise David, Ahmed and Shaffelburg are on.
Bosnia, meanwhile, replace Lukic and Basic with Gigovic and Bazdar.
Canada 0-1 Bosnia
21:22 , Alan Smith61’ - A follow up to that earlier penalty shout: Oluwaseyi was marginally offside before breaking clear so the spot kick chat was irrelevant.
Canada 0-1 Bosnia
21:20 , Alan Smith59’ - Crepeau gives away a cheap corner when deciding to punch a tame cross rather than catch it. It is swung in towards the six-yard line, where Muharemovic nods over. He should be getting that on target.
Canada 0-1 Bosnia
21:18 , Alan Smith57’ - A throw-in turnover! Kolasinac breaks one of the new rules, taking too long to restart the match, and the ball is instead given to Canada. That is good refereeing and a good tweak to the laws of the game.
Canada 0-1 Bosnia
21:17 , Alan Smith55’ - Now Bosnia counter and Demirovic only has Crepeau to beat with Canada’s defence caught too high. But the home goalkeeper does really well to emerge off his line and intervene. From the subsequent corner Canada clear.
Is the match beginning to open up?
Canada 0-1 Bosnia
21:15 , Alan Smith53’ - Oh so close for Canada. After some lovely one-touch interplay, Laryea breaks through and then sends a shot towards across the face of goal where Kolasinac makes an utterly remarkable intervention by sending a clearance off the crossbar. It’s celebrated like a goal.
Canada 0-1 Bosnia
21:11 , Alan Smith49’ - Canada want a penalty. Oluwaseyi is clean through with only goalkeeper Vasilj to beat. They collide with the goalkeeper just getting to the ball before then sending his fists into the head of the Canadian player. He wins the ball, it’s good goalkeeping, and the officials say no spot kick. Both players are fine to continue.
Canada 0-1 Bosnia
21:09 , Alan Smith47’ - There have been no changes at the break. Canada are on the front foot immediately and Oluwaseyi produces a brilliant turn before sending a dangerous ball across goal. That is much better from the forward.
Restarted! Canada 0-1 Bosnia
21:07 , Alan Smith46’ - We’re back underway. The posh seats are almost entirely empty - a bit like Wembley during a tedious friendly. For a host nation’s first game at a World Cup, however, that is an embarrassment.
21:01 , Alan SmithHow long before Marsch introduces Larin for Oluwaseyi, who has done his best but appears to not have the ruthless touch required?
Half-time! Canada 0-1 Bosnia
20:52 , Alan SmithAnd that’s the break. Bosnia’s goal was well done but Canada have dominated possession since, with just a lack of quality in attack letting them down.
Canada 0-1 Bosnia
20:51 , Alan Smith45+3 - Buchanan is challenged by Tahirovic and it diverts out for a corner. Again it is taken short and from a tight enough angle Johnston has a go. It is deflected by Kolasinac out for another corner - Canada’s ninth of the period. This one is met by Cornelius in the box but, unmarked, he powers a header wide.
Canada 0-1 Bosnia
20:49 , Alan Smith45+1 - Lukic becomes the latest player to get a booking for a raised leg that meets Buchanan.
Canada 0-1 Bosnia
20:48 , Alan Smith45’ - There will be four added minutes.
Canada 0-1 Bosnia
20:47 , Alan Smith44’ - Demirovic is booked for charging in on Cornelius. It is a definite foul. It is maybe not always worthy of a yellow card.
Canada 0-1 Bosnia
20:45 , Alan Smith42’ - Bosnia are sitting off increasingly, allowing Canada to come on to them. Which is fine so long as their hosts’ work in the final third remains sloppy. But you do get the sense that, as the break approaches, they are asking for trouble.
Canada 0-1 Bosnia
20:42 , Alan Smith38’ - Another Canada corner. This one conceded by Dedic under pressure from Kone. This one is taken short. It pings about for a bit before a long ball is sent into David. His first touch is poor and another opportunity goes awry.
Canada 0-1 Bosnia
20:40 , Alan Smith38’ - Canada win another corner. It sees David try an overhead kick which is poorly executed but it does come off the side of Kolasinac for another corner. Eustaquio’s delivery is then walloped away.
Canada 0-1 Bosnia
20:39 , Alan Smith37’ - Canada are committed, no one is questioning their application, but there is a fairly noticeable lack of technical ability on show from some of those in red. The touch is a little off when needed, the passing a tad askew. Maybe it’s the occasion, who knows, but they will keep going.
Canada 0-1 Bosnia
20:36 , Alan Smith34’ - This is a good spell for Canada. A long throw from Johnston leads to Lukic heading it away for another corner. When delivered Bajraktarevic hooks it away.
Canada 0-1 Bosnia
20:35 , Alan Smith32’- Oluwaseyi does well to turn Muharemovic in the box but he panics when presented with the chance to shoot and blasts well over. Having done the hard bit in earning himself the opportunity, that is another waste.
Canada 0-1 Bosnia
20:31 , Alan Smith29’ - Buchanan, whose pace is a decent outlet for Canada, wins a corner after pressuring Kolasinac. This time the ball is put into the mixer. Pinball ensues and on the other flank David wins a foul off Muharemovic, who decides to make a silly push on the back.
The free kick is, however, wasted from a really promising position.
Canada 0-1 Bosnia
20:29 , Alan Smith26’ - We’re back underway and Canada, who are rather goal shy, must find some inspiration here. Bosnia look well drilled an a tad more canny than their hosts.
Look at what it means
20:29 , Alan Smith
Canada 0-1 Bosnia
20:27 , Alan Smith24’ - Inside the ground they are absolutely blaring Whitney Houston over the PA system. The Canadian fans are loving it. The Bosnia supporters are still celebrating their goal.
The break has probably come at a good time for Marsch.
Canada 0-1 Bosnia
20:25 , Alan Smith23’ - And now it’s time for the hydration break. And an opportunity for broadcasters around the world - aside from in the UK! - to cram in more adverts.
GOAL! Canada 0-1 Bosnia (Lukic, 21)
20:24 , Alan Smith21’ - Bosnia then win a corner. It’s taken towards the near post, where Kolasinac flicks on for Lukic to guide a nice close-range header past Crepeau and in. Lukic wheels away towards the dugout to celebrate.
Canada 0-0 Bosnia
20:22 , Alan Smith20’ - Eustaquio is unahppy to be called out for a foul on Bajraktarevic. It’s a free kick, nothing more, and that’s fair enough.
Canada 0-0 Bosnia
20:20 , Alan Smith17’ - That’s a spurned chance from David. The first real opening of the game as a deep cross isn’t dealt with by Dedic, who swipes the ball towards Canada’s centre-forward. He has space in front of him to shoot but scuffs an attempt with his left foot and Vasilj saves gratefully.
Canada 0-0 Bosnia
20:18 , Alan Smith16’ - Kone sets Oluwaseyi away down the inside left but the cross is slightly off.
Canada 0-0 Bosnia
20:17 , Alan Smith14’ - David gets in down the right and sends in a cross that is put out for a corner. That is met by plenty of excitement by the home support but it’s taken short again and ultimately wasted.
Bosnia try to counterattack but it’s held up by the ball coming off the referee.
Canada 0-0 Bosnia
20:14 , Alan Smith11’ - Johnston earns himself a very early booking with a really poor challenge on Memic, who tries to break down the left flank.
Canada 0-0 Bosnia
20:12 , Alan Smith10’ - Millar chucks in another long throw that is headed clear. “Let’s go Canada,” sing the home fans.
Empty seats latest
20:10 , Alan SmithThere remain quite a few blocks that are vacant on the far side of the ground as we watch it.
Canada 0-0 Bosnia
20:09 , Alan Smith6’ - De Fougerolles, the young Fulham centre back, earns the approval of home fans behind the goal by making a decent interception on Lukic.
Canada 0-0 Bosnia
20:07 , Alan Smith5’ - Another half chance for Bosnia. Lukic heads harmlessly wide after leaping high to meet a cross from the right flank.
Canada 0-0 Bosnia
20:05 , Alan Smith3’ - Not a bad start to this one. Bosnia make their first foray forward and after the ball breaks kindly to him at the edge of the box Memic blasts off target. But it is a sign of intent and hopefully a sign of things to come.
Canada 0-0 Bosnia
20:04 , Alan Smith1’ - The co-hosts immediately win a throw that is flung in and De Fougerolles has a prod towards goal that leads to them winning a corner. It is taken low and short and the move breaks down. A wasted early opportunity.
Kick-off! Canada 0-0 Bosnia
20:02 , Alan Smith1’ - Canada are in all red and get us underway, playing right to left as we watch. Bosnia are in white with blue sleeves.
Oh, Canada
19:59 , Alan SmithOh Canada, sung by Alanis Morrissette (and Jesse Marsch) is welcomed heartily by the home fans.
Now the players shake hands and we’re about to get started.
Anthems
19:56 , Alan SmithBoth squads surround the centre circle awaiting the anthems. Bosnia’s is up first and is played quite nicely by a violinist. There is some chanting in the background that isn’t the anthem but we cannot quite hear it exactly.
Almost time
19:53 , Alan SmithThe teams are in the tunnel and we’re approaching the end of the pre-match formalities.
19:51 , Alan SmithAt least the empty seats appear to have been filled.
19:50 , Alan SmithOh, we briefly have some Buble on TV, warbling away although Rooney, Richards and Giroud continue to speak over him.
19:48 , Alan SmithBBC’s coverage is not yet showing the second part of the ceremony. Instead they are broadcasting a rather interesting segment on how the Bosnia team has united the population.
Marsch's decisions
19:43 , Alan SmithMarsch explains why Tani Oluwaseyi is starting instead of Cyle Larin in attack: “We think he can stretch the back line and press well. We want to make it difficult for Bosnia. We know Cyle can come off the bench and promise a good way to end the game.”
Supplementary comments
19:36 , Alan SmithCanada goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau is asked how he slept last night by the world feed broadcast.
“Magnesium,” he says.
Atmosphere building - kind of
19:30 , Alan Smith
Absent stars
19:19 , Alan SmithAs we already knew, Alphonso Davies is not yet fit enough to start for the co-hosts, with Jesse Marsch hoping the hamstring heals in the next few days.
Bosnia’s biggest name Edin Dzeko is fit but the veteran forward will start from the bench.
That ceremony in pictures
19:10 , Alan SmithIt looked better than it sounded, trust me.
Team news
19:05 , Alan SmithAnyway, we’ll have a game in less than an hour.
Canada: Crepeau; Johnston, De Fougerolles, Cornelius, Laryea; Buchanan, Kone, Eustaquio, Millar; David, Oluwaseyi
Bosnia and Herzegovina: Vasilj; Dedic, Katic, Muharemovic, Kolasinac, Bajraktarevic; Basic, Tahirovic; Memic, Demirovic, Lukic
Are Canadian fans being shortchanged?
19:05 , Alan SmithThe fixtures show five group games apiece in Vancouver and Toronto, with two knockout matches by the Pacific Ocean, one near Lake Ontario. There is the possibility that England will be in Toronto for the last 32, or Argentina in Vancouver for the last 16. Canada have the carrot of knowing that, if they win Group B, they could advance to the quarter-finals before having to cross the border.
But in the pool stage, the highest-profile match is Germany against Ivory Coast. Croatia and Belgium visit once each. Some of the fixtures could rather blend into the background. Canada may have been shortchanged in the prioritisation of all things American. Fifa president Gianni Infantino, after all, wore a USA cap, with 45-47, the number of Trump’s presidencies, on the side when he attended the inaugural meeting of the inaptly named Board of Peace.
How forgotten co-hosts Canada can silence their noisy neighbours at World Cup 2026
"We'll give it a shot"
18:59 , Alan SmithOnce the ceremony finished the team on the stadium PA have started blaring Livin’ on a prayer and the crowd are suddenly loving it, roaring the chorus.
There’s something for those who organise such ceremonies to learn in that.
That's that, then
18:57 , Alan SmithAnd that’s part one of the ceremony over, which means we’ll have Buble in the Bocelli role close to kick-off. Something to look forward to!
Illuminate, yeah, yeah
18:55 , Alan SmithNow it’s the turn of Jessie Reyez and El Yanna, singing their song Illuminate, which immediately sounds like a poor pastiche of any Shakira song.
The fans seem only mildly interested.
The colour scheme is solid though - if you’re in neither red not white you will stand out like a sore thumb.
Finding the gaps
18:52 , Alan SmithA wide shot of the stadium during Cara’s performance indicates that all the posh seats - the so-called prime real estate on the halfway line - are mostly empty while the cheaper spots (it’s all relative!) look fairly packed.
Quite like Wembley, then.
After Cara another singer appears, singing some beige Europop style song, followed by a rapper who is rhyming in French and shouting “ENERGY, ENERGY!” over and over. Neither are given a caption naming them on the broadcast.
Wild Things and Fire
18:48 , Alan SmithAlessia Cara is the first performer on stage, singing Wild Things and Fire. Neither of which I’m familiar with if I’m to be brutally honest.
Let’s hope Buble cracks out a Christmas tune.
Ceremony time
18:46 , Alan SmithThe artistic ceremony is underway, with people in traditional dress dancing and playing small drums. For now at least there are thousands of empty seats and it all feels rather low key compared to last night’s spectacle.
“This is more than a moment, this is true connection,” says a man wearing a baseball cap in the centre circle.
Empty seats latest
18:41 , Alan SmithFifa has defended its attendance figures at South Korea’s opening-day win against Czech Republic at the World Cup by insisting that some fans “stood in concourses rather than in their assigned seat.”
There were thousands of empty seats, in just the second match of the tournament, to further raise questions surrounding Fifa’s ticket prices for the world spectacle. South Korea defeated Czech Republic 2-1, in a gripping Group A contest in Guadalajara.
But amid controversy surrounding the ticket prices at the World Cup, with Fifa president Gianni Infantino defending the dynamic pricing policy at his press conference on the eve of the tournament, thousands of empty red seats could be seen throughout the contest at the Estadio Akron.
Fifa release statement after World Cup match sees thousands of empty seats
Breaking: Partey denied entry to Canada
18:33 , Lawrence OstlereThomas Partey has been denied entry to Canada and will not take part in Ghana’s first game of the World Cup.
The former Arsenal midfielder has been charged with seven counts of rape and one count of sexual assault by London’s Metropolitan Police and is awaiting trial. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Ghana are playing Panama in their first game of the tournament on Wednesday 17 June. The team and staff members are set to travel from their base on Rhode Island early next week, but Partey was denied a visa.
Thomas Partey denied entry to Canada for World Cup over rape allegations
While we wait
18:27 , Alan SmithWatching an internal feed from within the stadium while we wait for the broadcast to being, it seems that fans who have arrived early are having potential refereeing decisions explained to them in basic terms by a public announcer.
Luckily for those behind one of the goals, with no roof above, it looks quite sunny at the moment with only broken cloud.
Ceremony update
18:20 , Alan SmithThe opening ceremony will be getting underway at 18:30 BST apparently - though last night’s ended up 15 minutes later than advertised.
And for those looking to watch in the UK, it will be shown only on BBC’s iPlayer because their coverage on the main channel does not begin until 19:00 BST.
Azteca gold
18:12 , Alan SmithWhile we await our first true glimpse of Toronto, a reminder of what Canada are competing against.
Few stadiums in the world seem capable of evoking such levels of awe as the Azteca.
This shot from last night’s match - although enhanced by Getty’s editors - is a thing of beauty.
Canada look to change course of history
18:05 , Richard JollyCanada have the unenviable record of playing the joint most matches in the World Cup without picking up at least a point, along with El Salvador. There have been six, split equally between 1986 and 2026. Canada were minnows four decades ago, owing their place in part to the fact that Mexico qualified automatically as hosts.
They were a better side in 2022, but had the misfortune to be pitted against two of the eventual semi-finalists, Croatia and Morocco, plus a Belgium team who had come third in the previous tournament. They lost all three games, but while only Croatia routed them, that 4-1 triumph came after Canada led through Alphonso Davies. It followed an uncharacteristic display of Canadian tactlessness that rebounded on them: manager John Herdman, after the defeat to Belgium, said his side were going to “eff” Croatia. It only served to galvanise Zlatko Dalic’s side.
Canada's broadcaster makes their feelings known
17:58 , Alan SmithThis video from the Canadian host broadcaster is quite a nice watch and rather pointed.
The World Lives Here.
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) June 11, 2026
Canada is all together different. Truly unique. And so is our relationship to the beautiful game. This is our opening to the 2026 World Cup. Narrated by Kiefer Sutherland. #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/8Z80ByCody
What to expect from tonight's opening ceremony
17:50 , Will CastleCanada now take the spotlight for their opening ceremony in Toronto, kicking off at 6:30pm BST on Friday 12 June at BMO Field.
For those in the UK, it will be shown live on BBC.
Leading the line-up is none other than Canadian icon Michael Buble, with the likes of Alessia Cara and Alanis Morissette among the other featured performers.
Palestinian singer Elyanna will also perform while French artist Vegedream, who is best known for his the timeless anthem “Ramenez la coupe a la maison” which celebrated France’s World Cup win in 2018.
Jessie Reyez, Nora Fatehi, Sanjoy and William Prince are also on the bill.
US and Canada World Cup opening ceremonies: Start time, performers and TV channel
Early arrivals
17:43 , Alan Smith
How forgotten co-hosts Canada can silence their noisy neighbours
17:42 , Richard JollyThere are times when Canada can seem the forgotten World Cup hosts. They have not staged the most celebrated World Cup of all or another of the most remarkable.
They have not sought to repel fans of other countries, turned a referee away, held an opposition striker for questioning at immigration, bombed a fellow competing nation. Canada’s conventional approach – helpful and welcoming – may be out of kilter with these times; with this United States.
Everyone else can be obscured by the publicity-hungry Trump administration. For the 51st state, as the expansionist, avaricious American president has called the northern neighbour, a first game may be a reminder to the rest of the world that this is Canada’s tournament too.
How forgotten co-hosts Canada can silence their noisy neighbours at World Cup 2026
Group B: a prediction
17:35 , Michael JonesSwitzerland should have no trouble in topping the group and progressing into the knockout rounds with three wins from three. Early momentum could prove key for the other three teams and with Canada only facing the Swiss in their final group game they hold an advantage. But, both Qatar and Bosnia and Herzgovina will fancy their chances and it will not be a surprise to see either of them go through at the expense of the co-hosts.
Bosnia's players to watch
17:26 , Alan SmithStar player: Edin Dzeko – The old man of the group he may be but he has proven his ability to perform, in big games and under pressure, even at the latter stage of his career.
Breakout talent: Kerim Alajbegovic – At the opposite end of the spectrum, 18-year-old Alabegovic has had a breakthrough year at Red Bull Salzburg with 17 goal contributions (goals and assists) from 44 appearances as well as scoring the decisive penalties in each of Bosnia’s play off shootouts.
Canada's players to watch
17:20 , Alan SmithStar player: Alphonso Davies – This pick is the obvious one and caveated providing he is fit to play in the following two matches after tonight. The 25-year-old left-back is clear as Canada’s best player and his experience playing in big games with Bayern could prove crucial in their quest to get past the group stage.
Breakout talent: Niko Sigur – Can play at both right-back and defensive midfield and is intelligent and competitive. Made the switch from Croatia to Canada and is favoured by Marsch so expect him to feature in all three group games.
Bosnia's 26-man squad
17:15 , Alan SmithGoalkeepers – Nikola Vasilj (St Pauli), Martin Zlomislic (Rijeka), Osman Hadzikic (Slaven Belupo)
Defenders – Sead Kolasinac (Atalanta), Amar Dedic (Benfica), Nihad Mujakic (Gaziantep), Nikola Katic (Schalke), Tarik Muharemovic (Sassuolo), Stjepan Radeljic (Rijeka), Dennis Hadzikadunic (Sampdoria), Nidal Celik (Lens)
Midfielders – Amir Hadziahmetovic (Hull City), Ivan Sunjic (Pafos), Ivan Basic (Astana), Dzenis Burnic (Karlsruher), Ermin Mahmic (Slovan Liberec), Benjamin Tahirovic (Brondby), Amar Memic (Viktoria Plzen), Armin Gigovic (Young Boys), Kerim Alajbegovic (RB Salzburg), Esmir Bajraktarevic (PSV Eindhoven)
Forwards – Ermedin Demirovic (VfB Stuttgart), Jovo Lukic (Universitatea Cluj), Samed Bazdar (Jagiellonia Bialystok), Haris Tabakovic (Borussia Monchengladbach), Edin Dzeko (Schalke)
Click here to read the full blog on The Independent's website
