Despite missing star player Alphonso Davies due to injury, the Canadians dominated long stretches of the Group B opening match. However, it was Bosnia and Herzegovina who struck first against the run of play. In the 21st minute, forward Jovo Lukić connected with a precise header off a cross from captain Sead Kolašinac to silence the home crowd, News.Az reports, citing NBC News.
Canada piled on the pressure throughout the second half, maintaining 61% possession and logging an expected goals (xG) advantage of 1.25 to 0.98. The hosts were repeatedly denied by a stubborn Bosnian defense, including a spectacular goalline clearance by Kolašinac to stop a Tani Oluwaseyi header.
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The breakthrough finally came in the 78th minute. Just moments after subbing into the match, Canadian forward Cyle Larin collected a slick flick inside the box, turned his defender, and fired home a deflected strike to bring the hosts level.
The result marks a historic milestone for Canada’s men’s national team. In their previous World Cup appearances in 1986 and 2022, the team was sent home after losing all three of their group-stage matches without securing a single point.
Canada will look to build on the momentum when they face Qatar in their second Group B fixture on Thursday, June 18.
