Canada World Cup game highlights: Larin's tying goal with Bosnia-Herzegovina ignites celebrations across country

06/12/26 19:05

Bosnia fans leaving with full hearts

- Lana Hall

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Asim Durakovic and Haris Memishevich flew in from New Hampshire last night to see today’s World Cup match between Canada and Bosnia-Herzegovina. Even though their flight was delayed by a couple hours, the trek was worth it, they say.

“The atmosphere was insane,” Durakovic says of the energy at BMO Field. “And seeing it with, like, my people around me, that’s something I never experienced before.”

06/12/26 18:50

A long trip home for some Bosnia-Herzegovina fans

- Sophia Bertuzzi

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I’m in Liberty Village and the neighbourhood is bustling with Bosnian and Canadian supporters, many of whom are on their way back from the stadium.

But some have a longer trip home than others. Maja, Emma and Miki Malbasic, and Jasko Razic are originally from Bosnia and now live in Halifax. They told me they flew in this morning just to catch the match and will be flying home tonight.

After landing in Toronto, they started their day marching with other Bosnians on King Street and eagerly showed me videos.

In the stadium, they said everyone was super friendly and even met a few Bosnian fans who flew all the way from Bosnia for the games.

06/12/26 18:35

Leaving BMO Field after a ‘euphoric’ game

- Matthew Frank

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For Toronto resident Tejas Patel, nothing compares to the feeling of watching Canada’s goal against Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Canadian fans acted like the 12th player on the field and were crucial to help Canada score, he said.

“All of the fans were just cheering each and every kick of the ball, trying to get the team over the line,” Patel said outside BMO Field.

While he’s disappointed with a draw, Patel said he’s confident Canada team will rally to make it into the knockout rounds.

Patel was joined by his friend’s father Suresh Trips, who flew from India for the match. Trips, who adopted Canada as his team for the match, said watching the striker Cyle Larin’s tying goal was a “euphoric experience.”

He was underwhelmed at Toronto’s pre-World Cup displays and activities, but when match day rolled around, Trips said the energy around the stadium was palpable.

“After coming here, I could sense the fever. There was a lot of people, and a lot of red on the road,” he said.

06/12/26 18:21

Opinion: Toronto’s gateway roads are an embarrassment

- Marcus Gee

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Thousands of visitors will be coming to Toronto over the next couple of weeks to watch the World Cup. Many will be landing at Pearson airport and coming in by road. They may be surprised by what they see.

The two main highways that carry vehicles downtown – the 427 and the Gardiner Expressway – are in miserable shape. The guardrails are bent and rusted. The shoulders are littered with gravel, dirt and trash. The pavement is cracked and potholed in many places. Weeds poke up from the broken concrete along the edges.

I shudder to imagine what all those visitors will think. These roads are the gateway to Toronto. The drive in may be their first impression of the city, perhaps of the country. They come expecting to see a modern, progressive, well-run metropolis. Instead, they will see a shambles like this.

It is truly embarrassing. Toronto has had plenty of time to prepare. Eight full years have passed since it was announced that Canada, the United States and Mexico would host the World Cup. Getting these roadways in decent condition is the least we should have done.

Read the full column here.

06/12/26 18:16

Halifax fans celebrate hometown hero Shaffelburg

– Lindsay Jones

In Halifax, many in a crowd of hundreds of game watchers at Citadel Hill were sporting red soccer jerseys emblazoned with the surname of Jacob Shaffelburg, a player on the Canadian team from Port Williams, N.S.

Justin Sperdakes, wearing a red soccer scarf and jersey, said he wanted to be part of the energy of Canada hosting the World Cup.

“It’s a huge deal and we got to come out and represent,” he said as the smell of hot dog water wafted over the scene. “Just to be here with the community and support our hometown guy Jacob Shaffelburg as well.”

Janna Morrison said she was happy to see the community come together. “I’m liking what I see so far. This is great!” she said.

Jeffrey Adjei, sporting an Alphonso Davies jersey, said he is a huge fan of the soccer player, adding that they both have roots in Ghana.

“I’m just a big fan, and I’m supporting Canada as well,” he said, standing next to his friend on the grass. Though if Canada and Ghana make it to the finals, it will be tough to decide who to root for, he added.

06/12/26 17:47

FIFA’s costly demands on World Cup host cities

– Greg Mercer

Contracts between FIFA and host cities aren’t usually public, but The Globe’s Greg Mercer got access to them.

He explains what Toronto and Vancouver are on the hook for and how FIFA is able to make such costly demands on host cities.

06/12/26 17:42

Fans worked up an appetite

– Lana Hall

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Mary Prokos proudly supports Canada’s team as she dishes up hot dogs at the corner of Front Street West and Blue Jays Way in downtown Toronto.

The family-run hot dog stand has operated on that stretch for decades.

As the Canada vs. Bosnia-Herzegovina match wrapped up with a tie, the street began to swell with game watchers, many of whom looked like they could use a snack.

06/12/26 17:40

The crowds were out in full force at Toronto’s City Hall

– Om Shanbhag

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Nathan Phillips Square was packed with Canada supporters as the game counted down its final minutes.

“We were all tense the first hour, then they scored and everybody went wild,” said Linda Mackay. “We’re all proud to be Canadian today.”

Terry Mutoko rushed to the square after finishing work.

“We are all super pumped up,” she said. “The city is buzzing, everybody is so excited, everybody is so happy, there’s so much joy here.”

Fans streamed out of the square immediately after the game ended, funnelling onto nearby streets.

Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow took the stage after the game, calling Toronto a soccer city and telling fans that she’d see them at the next game.

06/12/26 17:38

The post-match crowd control effort is well underway

– Matthew Frank

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Crowds are surging towards BMO Field’s exits and train stations after the final whistle was blown.

A line of police officers is holding back fans for one-minute intervals as they arrive at the GO station to manage train car capacity.

06/12/26 17:35

For fans with torn allegiances, a tie was the perfect outcome

– Olivia Grandy

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Fans at the Mrakovic Fine Foods parking-lot watch party in Etobicoke sighed in relief as the Canada vs. Bosnia-Herzegovina match concluded with a tie.

“Unity” is the word Azra Rizvic, a Bosnian American, used to describe how she felt after the game.

Her party of four travelled from Indiana to be at the event and are taking advantage of the deli’s food offerings.

“We’ll take it,” Rizvic said about the result. She also plans to hit a downtown afterparty this evening.

06/12/26 17:24

High fives on Ossington after Canada earns its first World Cup point

– Sophia Bertuzzi

I’m now on Ossington Street, where things are surprisingly quiet.

At Paris Paris, however, I came across at least 100 fans nestled on one of the strip’s largest patios. They caught the end of the game as they soaked up the afternoon sun.

Staff were wearing custom jerseys. “It’s just kind of fun, as you saw when Canada scored,” said Carlos Fernandes, who works at the wine bar and restaurant.

“Everybody’s high-fiving each other. No one knows each other, but that’s kind of what it’s all about.”

06/12/26 17:02

Canada’s big moment brings cheers (and upsets Timbits)

– Lana Hall

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Couple Kayla McKesey and Osmar Fernandes are lucky: they live just down the street from the office of the Institute for Canadian Citizenship, which is hosting a watch party for the Canada vs. Bosnia-Herzegovina match, meaning they avoided the crush of traffic in downtown Toronto.

Fernandes, who is originally from Brazil, supports that country’s Corinthians soccer team, but he is “more than happy” to cheer on Canada today.

McKesey tagged along for the game, but thought the first half of the match was “a little sad.”

Moments after their photo was taken, Canada scored its first goal in the game, prompting Fernandes to yell and slap the table in exuberance, upsetting a carton of Timbits.

06/12/26 16:57

Canada ties Bosnia-Herzegovina in first World Cup match on home turf

- Neil Davidson

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Substitute Cyle Larin scored in the 78th minute to give Canada a 1-1 draw with Bosnia-Herzegovina at the World Cup in Toronto on Friday.

Larin, taking a nifty feed from fellow substitute Promise David, outmuscled a defender and beat Bosnian goalkeeper Nikola Vasilj with a shot that took a deflection on its way in.

Larin’s goal, his 31st in 91 international appearances, was enough to give Canada its first point at the soccer showcase in seven games over three trips to the tournament.

Jovo Lukic’s first-half goal off a corner had given the Bosnians the early lead. Canada had its chances but failed to convert until Larin stepped up.

Read the full story here.

06/12/26 16:54

Marsch rolls the dice with Osorio for six minutes of stoppage

– Paul Attfield

Six minutes of stoppage time have been announced at the end of the game, and Canada head coach Jesse Marsch has made his last roll of the dice in an effort to secure a win and a full complement of three points.

Toronto FC captain Jonathan Osorio, in his home club stadium of BMO Field, has come on to replace Stephen Eustáquio, Canada’s captain on the day.

06/12/26 16:53

More than 43,000 people packed BMO Field for Canada’s World Cup opener

– Paul Attfield

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While the result is still TBD, the official attendance has been announced for the first men’s World Cup game on Canadian soil.

A total of 43,002 crammed into BMO Field on Friday to witness Canada play Bosnia-Herzegovina, just 34 shy of the FIFA’s officially announced capacity of 43,036.

06/12/26 16:47

Bosnia-Herzegovina fans subdued after Larin scores equalizer

– Olivia Grandy

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Mixed emotions washed over a parking lot full of fans at Mrakovic Fine Foods in west-end Toronto as the score was tied during the final minutes.

“I’m happy Canada scored, but our roots are back in Bosnia, so we’re hoping they pull through,” said fan Aida Numanovic.

Some have travelled the distance to take in the authentic atmosphere, including the smell of grilled Cevapi.

“I’d rather be here than in the stadium,” said Sara Barac, a Bosnian American from Pittsburgh, who drove five hours with her friends to attend the Balkan-themed watch party in Etobicoke.

06/12/26 16:46

Montreal fans lose their minds as Canada ties it up

– Eric Andrew-Gee

Delirium at the Bishop & Bagg pub in Montreal as Canada tied the game 1-1.

“We deserved that, we deserved that,” cried Spiro Malandrakis. “That’s 80 minutes of work.”

Patrick Bui, wearing a Canada away jersey, said with a heavy dose of Canadian irony, “I’ve never felt so proud to be a Canadian.” His howls of delight at the goal were in total earnest, though.

06/12/26 16:45

Some ticket holders missed Canada’s equalizing goal to avoid traffic

– Matthew Frank

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Before Canada equalized the game, fans had already begun streaming out of BMO Field to avoid the traffic getting home.

Deborah Baxter says she left the match early with her family to book an Uber before the “rush of people.”

She says it took her an hour to arrive at the stadium after taking an Uber from her home in Rosedale to a GO station to catch a train. She says it was “pandemonium.”

“Tons of people were packing [into the train],” she says. “It wasn’t organized with signs.”

The GO train should’ve had more service to address the massive crowds, she says.

06/12/26 16:40

Watch: Toronto FIFA Fan Festival erupts after Larin’s tying goal

06/12/26 16:39

Larin scores Canadian men’s first goal on home soil to tie it up

– Paul Attfield

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Fifteen minutes from full time, head coach Jesse Marsch has pushed all his chips into the middle, bringing on veteran striker Cyle Larin in place of Tani Oluwaseyi.

Larin, who had 30 goals in his 90 national-team matches coming into the World Cup, finished his season in red-hot form, averaging a goal every two games for Southampton in the English Championship.

The move paid almost immediate dividends, as Larin, taking a pass from fellow substitute Promise David in the 79th minute just inside the penalty area, swivelled and volleyed a right-footed shot beyond the despairing dive of Nikola Vasilj for Canada’s first men’s World Cup goal on Canadian soil, and third of all time.

06/12/26 16:28

New friends are beating the heat together while watching the game

– Om Shanbhag

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At Nathan Phillips Square, the sun is beating down on a watchful crowd. Many fans have taken to watching the game from under the concrete awnings of Toronto’s City Hall.

Barbara Di Mambro and Jennifer Hummel were both born in Toronto, and they met each other for the first time in the square today.

“To see the atmosphere, all these people, and our Canadians on Canadian soil, it’s fantastic,” said Di Mambro.

“It’s overwhelming,” laughed Hummel.

Di Mambro said that events like the World Cup bring the country together and showcase the diversity of Canadians.

“It makes you feel good that that’s what our country’s about.”

06/12/26 16:25

David, Millar and Buchanan come off as Marsch tinkers with lineup late in second

– Paul Attfield

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With about 30 minutes remaining, head coach Jesse Marsch has decided to tinker with his lineup.

Striker Promise David has replaced Jonathan David – the Canadian men’s 39-goal record scorer – while wingers Jacob Shaffelburg and Ali Ahmed are on for Liam Millar and Tajon Buchanan, respectively.

Bosnia-Herzegovina has also made a switch, bringing on Armin Gigovic and Samed Bazdar for Ivan Basic and the goal scorer, Jovo Lukic.

06/12/26 16:17

Fans’ frustration grows over Canada’s near misses

– Eric Andrew-Gee

In Montreal’s Bishop & Bagg pub, frustration was building at Canada’s goalless ways in the second half, despite the team’s strong play and numerous chances.

Spiro Malandrakis cried out after the latest thwarted scoring opportunity.

“This is like watching Harry Potter in Spanish, I don’t know what I’m watching but I love the movie,” he said.

06/12/26 16:14

Crépeau to the rescue after Laryea nearly equalizes for Canada

- Paul Attfield

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Richie Laryea almost found a breakthrough for Canada, taking a pass from Stephen Eustáquio to put him through on goalkeeper Nikola Vasilj, but though his right-footed shot beat the goalkeeper, defender Sead Kolasinac was able to deflect onto the crossbar and away to safety.

Seconds later, Ermedin Demirovic almost increased the lead for Bosnia, but Maxime Crépeau came to the rescue for Canada, saving bravely at his feet.

06/12/26 16:13

Oluwaseyi and Vasilj’s scary collision early in the second

– Paul Attfield

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Less than three minutes into the second half, Canadian striker Tani Oluwaseyi felt the full effects of an inadvertent punch to the head by the Bosnian goalkeeper, as Nikola Vasilj followed through to clear a long ball from Alistair Johnston.

Though both players went down, both were able to continue.

06/12/26 16:10

Optimism abounds for the second half

– Lana Hall

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Parth Vats came from Mississauga to see this year’s first World Cup match featuring the Canadian team, here at the offices of the Institute for Canadian Citizenship in downtown Toronto.

“It’s a really proud time for the country to see our own Team Canada play in our own homeland.”

The first half didn’t exactly go well for the Canadian men, but Vats is optimistic about the second half. “We didn’t get a goal yet, but the next half’s where it’s gonna be,” he says.

06/12/26 16:09

Soaking up history – and sunshine – outside the stadium

– Greg Mercer

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Thousands of fans gathered outside the stadium didn’t have tickets. Instead, they listened on their phones and cheered whenever something happened on the pitch. A few joined fans high above their heads whenever chants of “Let’s go Canada” broke out.

One man was getting live reports from a friend inside BMO Field, and would blow a horn in response. Others brought their children, clad in Alphonso Davies jerseys, just so they could soak up the atmosphere. A few hoped they could buy a last-minute ticket to witness soccer history.

“I figured it was worth a shot,” said Toronto’s Scott Burchill, who came to the game with $100 in his pocket and a Canada flag draped around his neck. “I just wanted to scratch a World Cup game off my list.”

06/12/26 16:01

Desperate times on the streets of Montreal

– Eric Andrew-Gee

Not everyone in Montreal could find a comfortable place to watch the game. One woman on St-Viateur St. – of bagel fame – was watching on a 16-inch MacBook as she walked down the street.

06/12/26 15:53

Canada has dominated possession but couldn’t convert chances in first 45

– Paul Attfield

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Canada has reached halftime of its first World Cup game on home soil trailing 1-0.

Despite the Canadians dominating possession by a 67-33 margin, and owning a 9-1 edge in corner kicks, Bosnia-Herzegovina own the advantage in the only stat line that counts: the score.

As the Bosnians demonstrated, execution at this level is everything, and the European team – ranked 34 places below Canada in the FIFA world rankings – capitalized on its one corner.

Jovo Lukic headed the delivery from former Arsenal defender Sead Kolasinac past Maxime Crépeau in the Canadian goal in the 21st minute to put Bosnia-Herzegovina, playing in just its second World Cup, in front.

Canada has had its chances, though. The best one fell to its best striker, Jonathan David, but the men’s team’s record goal-scorer could only fire his shot straight at the Bosnia goalkeeper from 12 yards out in the 17th minute. Tani Oluwaseyi, starting in place of Cyle Larin, also had a good opportunity in the 32nd minute, but he could only blaze over.

The Bosnian team leads in the yellow-card stakes too, with two to Canada’s one. Alistair Johnston received the first caution of the match in the 11th. minute.

06/12/26 15:52

How long is a soccer game?

– Sarah Wallace

Unlike most other sports, soccer is played straight through with minimal interruptions in time. A soccer game is 90 minutes, played in two 45-minute halves.

Stoppage time is added to the end of every half and is usually about five minutes. This time is to get back minutes after delays that might have been caused by video reviews or injury.

For the World Cup, there is also a scheduled, short water break in the middle of each half.

06/12/26 15:43

Not the first World Cup goal scored in Canada

– J. Kelly Nestruck

TSN’s play-by-play announcer Luke Wileman said the following after that dispiriting goal by Bosnia-Herzegovina: “And the first World Cup goal scored on Canadian soil is not from Canada.”

Don’t use that info at your next soccer trivia night. As was pointed out to me by Jenn Hoegg on Bluesky, Wileman should have said: “First men’s World Cup goal.”

Canadian captain Christine Sinclair scored the first World Cup goal on Canadian soil against China during the opening game of the Women’s World Cup in 2015 at Edmonton’s Commonwealth Stadium.

06/12/26 15:40

Two arrested for allegedly assaulting police at BMO Field

– Jill Mahoney

Two people were arrested for allegedly assaulting police in the stands at BMO Field before the game got underway.

A Toronto police spokeswoman said on social media that two officers sustained minor injuries as they responded to altercations in the stands at around 2:10 p.m.

06/12/26 15:35

This London fan bought his Canada shirt at the airport when he landed

– Sophia Bertuzzi

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Turns out the World Cup isn’t just bringing soccer fans together, but old friend groups.

Cole Grossman, Luke Henley, Jack Kelly and Matt Richards met at McGill University, when Richards was on an overseas exchange from London. I met the group at Pennies and walked with them back to Cafe Diplomatico down College Street.

Richards, who flew in last night from London, picked up the Canada shirt he is wearing at the airport upon arrival. While he’ll be cheering for both Canada and England, he seems more excited about Canada’s prospect of succeeding in the tournament.

He says they’ll be going to the FIFA Fan Festival for the England and Croatia game on Wednesday, but it’s the least optimistic he’s been about England for a long time.

Henley admits he’s “less of a soccer fan” and “more of a Canada fan.”

“Anything – Olympics, World Cup – where you can support Canada, the country and the national team is exciting,” he says. “The city will be buzzing, it’ll be lively, and it’ll be a lot of fun. And, we’re hosting our friend from England, so it’ll be good.”

At Diplomatico, I took their photo before they headed in for their reservation, which was a great idea considering the walk-in lineup was already down the block.

06/12/26 15:28

An intense police presence around BMO Field

– Matthew Frank

Security is tight around the stadium.

Around and outside BMO Field, the Toronto Police Service has deployed constables on horseback, police dogs and scores of officers patrolling the grounds.

Vehicle roadblocks are positioned on Stratchan Avenue with police at the checkpoints, blocking traffic to the stadium.

Within the concourse, crowds had to clear for police cruisers driving with flashing lights at least twice.

06/12/26 15:27

A lone cheer for Bosnia on a Vancouver patio

– Mike Hager

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When Bosnia-Herzegovina scored their first goal, Alenka Dahan’s shriek was the only sound at the crowded outdoor patio on Vancouver’s Granville entertainment district.

She and her seven-year-old son Cairo were the only ones clad in jerseys from her ancestral homeland – the lone blues in a sea of whites and reds.

Ms. Dahan was glad to be watching the World Cup with her Italian Canadian best friend Alissa Russo, after Bosnia-Herzegovina beat Italy at the end of March to qualify for the World Cup.

Finally, she said, they are both rooting for Bosnia-Herzegovina in its second trip to the tournament.

06/12/26 15:26

Cheers erupt at Bosnian watch party after first goal of match

– Olivia Grandy

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The crowd erupts and horns are honking at the Mrakovic Fine Foods outdoor watch party as Bosnia-Herzegovina scores its first goal.

“We just started,” says Lejla Krdzalic, a Bosnian Canadian from Mississauga whose husband, father, and brothers are at BMO Field today.

06/12/26 15:23

Bosnians strike first

– Paul Attfield

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Bosnia-Herzegovina strikes first in the 21st minute, as Jovo Lukic heads a corner kick from Sead Kolasinec past Maxime Crépeau in the Canadian goal.

Canada should have been in front at that point, but Jonathan David’s shot in the 17th minute, from around the penalty spot, was straight at Bosnian goalkeeper Nikola Vasilj.

06/12/26 15:22

A missed opportunity for Jonathan David

– Paul Attfield

After a lively opening, during which Canada was often on the front foot, Jonathan David should have opened the scoring in the 17th minute, following up on a rebound after Tani Oluwaseyi’s header rebounded off a defender.

But his shot, from around the penalty spot, was straight at goalkeeper Nikola Vasilj.

Fully aware of how chances need to be taken at this level, head coach Jesse Marsch could be seen angrily punching the air in frustration after the opportunity was squandered.

06/12/26 15:20

A yellow card for Alistair Johnston

– Paul Attfield

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Canada’s Alistair Johnston receives the first yellow card of the game, cautioned in the 11th minute for a late tackle on Amar Memic as he threatened to streak away from a backpedalling Canadian defence.

Striker Tani Oluwaseyi put Canada behind the eight-ball, passing backwards to no one in particular, allowing Bosnia-Herzegovina to threaten down the left.

06/12/26 15:12

Fans are taking in the match from Vancouver before its first game tomorrow

– Mike Hager

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Still buoyed by his birth country South Korea’s opening win the previous night, Jae Kim was cheerfully speedwalking into Vancouver’s downtown late Friday morning to meet friends at a bar to cheer on his adopted country of Canada.

The 44-year-old cook who works at a downtown hotel fondly remembers experiencing the 2002 World Cup in his hometown of Seoul, and is excited about the tournament touching down in Vancouver tomorrow – despite being disillusioned with the stratospheric ticket prices and demands FIFA has extracted from the host cities.

“They just want money,” he said of soccer’s global governing body.

However, he said, it hasn’t stopped him from requesting today as a day off months ago to ensure he could watch the squad’s opening game.

06/12/26 15:08

Flip through Canada’s playbook to World Cup glory

– Paul Attfield

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Four years ago was just a trial run. Canada’s involvement in the Qatar World Cup was something of an unexpected development as far as Canada Soccer was concerned – the real goal was always to make an impression on home soil.

But now the expectation levels are higher.

The Canadian men are desperate to make it count. Still without a win on this stage – Canada is 0-6 in its two appearances at the men’s World Cup, in Qatar and in Mexico in 1986 – head coach Jesse Marsch and his team will almost certainly have to wipe that blemish from the history books if they are to reach the knockout rounds.

During his two years behind the bench, Marsch has elevated this program to its highest-ever place of 26th in the FIFA rankings – and it enters the tournament as the 30th best team on the planet. Combined with their run to the Copa America semi-finals two years ago, there is real belief that the Canadian men can now make a mark on the world stage.

That being said, Canada can excel in three key ways: the penalty kick, slide plays and the press.

Flip through our playbook to learn more about the strategy.

06/12/26 15:05

Keep an eye on striker Tani Oluwaseyi

– Paul Attfield

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It’s been a good few weeks for Tani Oluwaseyi. Fresh off seeing his beloved Arsenal F.C. win the English Premier League, he also got to watch them in the UEFA Champions League final two weeks ago.

Unfortunately, they lost that game, but as he said to me on Monday, winning that tournament would just have been “just icing on the cake” after an already good season.

That season just got a whole lot better Friday, with the striker, who plays for Villarreal in Spain’s La Liga alongside Tajon Buchanan, handed a starting role up front for Canada’s World Cup opener against Bosnia-Herzegovina.

He’ll hope to build on his two goals in 24 national team appearances with a historic goal in the World Cup as the Canadian men chase a first win at this level.

06/12/26 14:59

Alanis Morissette takes on O Canada, as Bosnia-Herzegovina gets a violin solo

– Cathal Kelly

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Tonight’s national anthem comparison:

Državna himna Bosne i Hercegovine – the Bosnian national anthem – which is called The Bosnian National Anthem – has no official lyrics. That makes it a crowd-sourced anthem. I like this DIY spirit. Played here via a mournful violin solo, while the fans sang in the background. Very moving, but not what I’d call uplifting. 8/10

O Canada - Alanis Morissette doing her trademark warble, wearing what looked like an outfit designed by someone who was thinking, “Elvis goes bowling.” Good pacing, zero “look at me” flourishes. Like the Bosnian one that preceded it, a sober anthem rendering. Boo. 7/10

Compared to the opening ceremony, which featured those fixtures of the Toronto cityscape, whales and polar bears – an 11/10.

06/12/26 14:58

Fully caffeinated and hoping for a tie game

– Olivia Grandy

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Cevapi and coffee are flying off the shelves at the packed Mrakovic Fine Foods deli as the Canada vs. Bosnia-Herzegovina kickoff nears.

Assistant manager Klodi Berisha says it’s been a normal day of kitchen prep – with some extra volume.

A tie would likely satisfy this west-end Toronto crowd, she said, adding that she’s personally “cheering for whoever wins.”

06/12/26 14:51

Will Arnett used his actual voice in the opening ceremony

– J. Kelly Nestruck

Italy didn’t make the World Cup, but Italian creative director Marco Balich, who was also behind the 2026 Winter Olympics ceremonies in Milano Cortino, got to produce the opening ceremony shows in Mexico, Canada and the United States.

I confess I’ve never watched a World Cup opening ceremony before – so I don’t know how this understated one compares. FIFA’s focus is definitely on the games themselves.

The second short presentation-slash-concert of the day at BMO Field started with the actor Will Arnett, in a black T-shirt and sunglasses, introducing a parade of flags from the 48 participating countries. He was using his actual, live voice, unlike the performers earlier.

Watching from home, I heard the United States flag get booed a little bit, and I definitely heard the wild cheers for Canada’s Maple Leaf.

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Michael Bublé then sang his cover of American soul singer Sam Cooke’s Bring It On Home to Me with a choir.

Next, Aleksandar Gajić, a Toronto violinist born in Serbia, played the anthem for the Bosnia-Herzogovina Team.

Things wrapped up with a red-clad Alanis Morissette singing O Canada in English and French. The CTV and TSN broadcast didn’t let us see much of the singer-songwriter, choosing instead to show us the Canadian team singing along.

If you feel robbed of Alanis, here’s a video of her singing the national anthem at the very first Ottawa Senators game in 1992.

06/12/26 14:48

Last-minute arrivals are dashing to their seats

– Matthew Frank

As the 3 p.m. ET kickoff approaches, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Canada fans are racing through the gate checkpoints to their seats.

Some stop to take quick selfies or buy scarfs emblazoned with team colours from vendors.

The music inside the stadium and fans’ cheers can be heard across the concourse.

06/12/26 14:45

Everyone is having a ball

– Lana Hall

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George Carothers, the Institute for Canadian Citizenship’s senior director of ideas and insights, is doing double duty as he hands out soccer balls while people scramble for seats at this packed watch party.

Carothers says he thinks soccer is the most accessible sport globally (sorry, hockey).

“You just need a ball and some friends,” he tells me. “So I think what we’re seeing here is a reflection of that. All over the world, people love this game.”

06/12/26 14:44

Who is Jesse Marsch, Canada’s head coach?

– Paul Attfield

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Jesse Marsch has achieved resounding success on the pitch – from reaching the Copa America semi-finals two years ago to guiding the Canadian men’s national soccer team to an all-time high of 26th in the world.

But for all those victories, nothing has resonated more strongly with Canada than when the American-born head coach came to his adopted country’s defence last year.

Ahead of the Nations League Finals tournament in late February, 2025, Mr. Marsch famously used a news conference to tell United States President Donald Trump to “lay off the ridiculous rhetoric about Canada being a 51st state.”

The 52-year-old had been in the job for less than a year to that point, but it proved a real litmus test of his credentials – far more than the x’s and o’s and tactical nuances.

Read more about the man behind Team Canada’s coaching and his approach to the job.

06/12/26 14:42

Four Canadian players to watch today

– Moira Wyton

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Canada’s team is talented up and down the lineup, but this World Cup could turn stars into hometown heroes and up-and-comers into household names.

While perhaps the biggest name of all, Alphonso Davies, won’t play today as he continues to recover from an injury, there are plenty of other players to keep your eyes on.

Be sure to watch out for clinical finishes from star forward Jonathan David, Canada’s all-time top male goal scorer, and for a potential breakout performance from Ismaël Koné, a promising young midfielder whose six-goal haul for Serie A’s Sassuolo club has Canadians wondering what he can do for this country.

Dynamic winger Tajon Buchanan, whose cross found Davies’s head for Canada’s first World Cup goal in 2022, will be looking for another big moment today. There’s also Alistair Johnston, a relentless right-back ready to deploy his iron stamina and perfectly timed tackles for Canada as he returns from a lengthy injury.

Read more about the five Canadian players to watch for here.

06/12/26 14:37

All that for a bag of chips?

– Jamie Ross

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I’ll admit to not doing a great job of planning ahead for this, but my late, extremely nutritious lunch consisting of a bag of chips and a bottle of water cost $15.82 at the stadium concession stand on the concourse.

06/12/26 14:35

Captain Alphonso Davies isn’t playing, but he is looking pretty spry

– Cathal Kelly

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Injured Canadian star Alphonso Davies won’t play in today’s game, but he is on the field for warm-ups in a uniform and cleats.

He’s kicking the ball around with a Canadian staffer. Possibly as part of his training regimen, the staffer isn’t what you’d call the most accurate passer in the world. Davies often has to run well out of his way to retrieve an errant ball.

Obviously, it’s not the same as running full tilt in a World Cup game, but Davies looks pretty spry. There are no obvious limitations in his movement, nor does he look like someone who is worried about hearing a snapping sound.

06/12/26 14:32

Smells like Canadian spirit

– Greg Mercer

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Thousands of fans are lingering outside BMO Field with 45 minutes to go before the game starts.

There’s red and white everywhere, with a few Bosnian fans here and there wearing their country’s blue and yellow.

Most people in blue jerseys here are Jays fans, however. They play tonight at the Rogers Centre. The GO trains to the stadium were packed with fans cheering for both home teams.

It feels like a carnival – people are handing out evangelical Christian brochures, kicking soccer balls and getting their faces painted. Many don’t seem to have tickets at all, but just came to experience the atmosphere.

It smells like Toronto: cannabis, sunscreen and a whiff of popcorn coming from the stadium.

06/12/26 14:30

This patio might be covered in blue and yellow, but not the patrons

– Sophia Bertuzzi

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It’s an hour until kickoff and I’m sitting at the corner of College and Beatrice Streets, at a bar called Pennies.

The streets of Little Italy are relatively quiet so far, with vendors and restaurants in set-up mode for the 3 p.m. ET game time and the beginning of an annual street festival.

Groups of Canadian fans dressed in red and white stand out on the patio – with the bar’s bright yellow facade and blue umbrellas, Pennies looks like it could be repping Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Anita Platz and Talia Niss, who I met out here, pointed this out as I took their picture.

Ms. Platz, who’s from Calgary, is visiting Toronto this weekend for the games, and said the atmosphere in the city has been “pretty exciting.” When I asked who they thought would win this afternoon, they said: “Obviously, Canada.”

06/12/26 14:26

Canadian fans are making noise at Nathan Phillips Square

– Om Shanbhag

The crowd around the stage at Nathan Phillips Square has grown. People here are cheering for Canadians performing in the opening ceremony and players as they are shown on the screen.

Some in the crowd booed as Bosnian fans were shown. Only a few Bosnia-Herzegovina supporters are outside Toronto City Hall representing their country.

Most people here are dressed in Canada jerseys or clad in red and white, but many are representing other countries altogether, wearing jerseys from Brazil, Croatia, Colombia and regional soccer leagues.

06/12/26 14:23

Canadian goalkeepers get their motors runnin’

– Neil Davidson

The Canadian goalkeepers came out for warm-up to the sounds of Steppenwolf’s Born to Be Wild and a thunderous ovation from the crowd.

06/12/26 14:20

Who is on Canada’s starting lineup?

– Neil Davidson

The 11 men starting for Canada go into the match with a combined 520 caps, or appearances for the national team.

Jonathan David and Richie Laryea lead with 77 and 75 caps, respectively. Defender Luc de Fougerolles has the fewest at 13.

06/12/26 14:20

Fans at BMO Field aren’t the only ones overheating

– Greg Mercer

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Soccer fans are waiting for train information at Union Station, where Go trains have been delayed by a few minutes.

A Metrolinx employee told me the increased frequency due to the World Cup is “overheating” the tracks and they need more time to cool down.

06/12/26 14:18

Opening ceremony was a ‘lip-synced affair’

– J. Kelly Nestruck

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Hi, I’m Kelly Nestruck and I’m the TV critic at The Globe and Mail. I’m watching the Canadian opening ceremony from my couch about a 20-minute walk away from BMO Field.

Based on the half-empty stands, it looks like ticket holders for today’s match weren’t all aware that there would be a ceremony an hour and half before the game – or perhaps they’re stuck in traffic getting here.

Or maybe they just knew that it was going to be an off-the-beat, lip-synced affair.

The first of two expected concerts began with singer-songwriter William Prince moving his mouth along to a recorded monologue about Canada’s Indigenous past and present, as a child next to him held a soccer ball.

Then, the skin was peeled off a giant, semi-deflated soccer ball to reveal Alessia Cara – who was quickly surrounded by giant, prancing polar bear, whale and moose puppets.

“The cool kids aren’t cool to me,” the Canadian singer-songwriter from Mississauga mouthed, the words of her song Wild Things a response to any at-home critics who might be finding the proceedings a little uncool. “They’re not cooler than we are”

Nora Fatehi, Vegedream and Sanjoy followed; then a glamourous-looking Jessie Reyez finished things off. More to come, hopefully in front of more filled seats.

06/12/26 14:13

The rivalry is heating up inside the stadium

– Neil Davidson

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Pre-game, the Bosnian fans are making their voices heard in a singalong at BMO Field. There is a solid phalanx of blue-clad Bosnian fans in the upper south stand.

06/12/26 14:12

Christine Sinclair is in the house

– Moira Wyton

The greatest of all time is at the game – and on her birthday, no less.

Canadian soccer legend Christine Sinclair, whose 190 international goals are a record for any player, male or female, was spotted in the stands at BMO Field sporting a Team Canada jersey.

Sinclair made 331 international appearances for Canada and captained the Canadian women’s team to Olympic gold at the 2020 Tokyo Games.

Let’s hope the men’s national team can deliver Sinclair a win for her 43rd birthday.

06/12/26 14:08

What’s an opening ceremony without some semblance of malfunction?

– Paul Attfield

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What would a Canadian global sporting opening ceremony be without some sort of scenery malfunction?

Just like during the Vancouver 2010 Olympics, when one of four cauldron arms failed to deploy at BC Place, the 2026 World Cup went off with something of a hitch.

This time, at Toronto’s BMO Field, a large World Cup rose up through the stage in the middle of the pitch – but part of the trophy’s body was hanging off, and it was hastily retracted.

06/12/26 14:05

Newcomers to Canada are gathering to celebrate their new home team

– Lana Hall

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I’m Lana, an arts reporter at The Globe and Mail. I’m joining you from the offices of the Institute for Canadian Citizenship at 325 Front Street West in downtown Toronto, where staff are setting up a massive World Cup match party for newcomers.

“There are so many immigrants from around the world that want to cheer on Team Canada and want to be on Team Canada as citizens,” Daniel Bernhard, the CEO of the institute, tells me.

“We thought, no better way to represent that reality and celebrate it than have everyone come here to cheer for Canada in a soccer sense.”

He’s expecting close to 300 people to join the party today.

06/12/26 14:02

Shocking no one, vehicle traffic near the stadium is ridiculous today

– Simon Houpt

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Hi, I’m Simon Houpt, and I cover the business of sports for the Globe. I’ll be at the official FIFA Fan Fest at Toronto’s Fort York and The Bentway today.

It will not surprise you to hear that, despite all of the City of Toronto’s efforts to promote a “transit-first” approach for today’s game, seemingly thousands of drivers didn’t get the message, believing they had the right to tie up downtown streets – including no-car transit throughways such as the central core of King Street.

As I walked southbound along Strachan Avenue, which was blocked off just south of King, dozens of police officers were trying to direct drivers east or west.

One man got out of his luxury SUV and showed an officer a special access pass, which apparently granted him a way through, then got back in his vehicle.

“Show your passes!” yelled one officer into the humid air. Most drivers did not have any to show. “Oh, it’s a mess,” one officer said to me, shaking his head.

06/12/26 14:00

Star-studded opening ceremony begins

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Canadian music star Alanis Morissette will perform O Canada before Canada’s World Cup opener against Bosnia-Herzegovina at BMO Field this afternoon.

The opening ceremony is underway, featuring performances from Canadian artists including Michael Bublé, Alessia Cara, Jessie Reyez and William Prince.

– The Canadian Press

06/12/26 13:55

Etobicoke party host promises that Bosnians ‘know how to party’

– Olivia Grandy

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People are beginning to assemble lawn chairs in front of a 26-foot-wide outdoor LED screen in the parking lot of Mrakovic Fine Foods in Etobicoke.

Adis Mrakovic, who owns the west-end deli with his brother, Amir, says he’s hoping to show his neighbours the Bosnian spirit and any travellers some Canadian hospitality.

Bosnians “know how to party” and “how to cherish each other,” he says as a beat-heavy number from a DJ booth plays.

In Mrakovic’s opinion, cevapi – grilled minced meat – is the most delicious item fuelling fans ahead of the match.

06/12/26 13:46

Canadian men are checking out the pitch ahead of game time

– Paul Attfield

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The Canadian players have arrived on the pitch to check out the playing surface about 90 minutes before the 3 p.m. ET kickoff.

Despite losing the battle to be Canada’s starting goalkeeper, Dayne St. Clair, wearing headphones, took his place in the Canadian goal – counting out the distance between the posts, and perhaps imagining what it would have been like to be the starter as Canada kicks off its home World Cup.

Instead, Maxime Crépeau will be the man in the line of fire against Bosnia-Herzegovina.

06/12/26 13:43

Canada’s team got a warm sendoff at their hotel

– Moira Wyton

As they departed their hotel for BMO Field, a.k.a. Toronto Stadium, the Canadian men’s team was greeted by dozens of cheering supporters in the lobby.

A video posted by the team shows the players getting the warm sendoff as they made their way out to a bus that would bring them to the team’s first match on Canadian soil.

06/12/26 13:40

Cheering for Canada calls for ‘comfy shoes’

– Matthew Frank

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Amanda Cafarelli travelled from Whitby, Ont., to watch today’s match with her son, Nicholas. Wrapped in a Canadian flag, she was moved to tears thinking about watching Canada play on home soil.

“The march here with The Voyageurs and Team Canada – this already has been a lifelong dream, and we haven’t even gotten inside yet,” she said outside BMO Field’s front gates, referring to a huge crowd of fans that walked together to the stadium.

She hadn’t been expecting to attend the game, but her son surprised her with tickets on Wednesday.

Cafarelli donned her “comfy shoes” because she said she’ll standing and jumping throughout the match rather than sitting in the stands.

06/12/26 13:30

Tickets disappear from reseller websites

– Sarah Wallace

This is unusual: tickets to today’s Canada match that were listed for resale have disappeared from Ticketmaster, SeatGeek and StubHub. The pages either do not exist anymore, or display an error message.

According to a StubHub spokesperson, FIFA cuts off ticket transfers before the match.

“StubHub does not set transfer windows or cutoff times – FIFA does,” the spokesperson said in an email to The Globe. “Overall, FIFA’s ticketing infrastructure has created a complex process for fans. None of this complexity originates with StubHub or any resale platform. This is FIFA’s system.”

StubHub added that FIFA made the progress of reselling tickets “unnecessarily complicated.”

06/12/26 13:27

Priced out of World Cup matches, many fans choose free watch parties instead

– Om Shanbhag

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Fans are trickling into Toronto’s Nathan Phillips Square.

Miniature soccer pitches set up here are a hotbed of activity as Canadian pop singer Carina and Aruban indie alt-rock band activemirror perform.

Draped in a red-and-white scarf and waving a Canadian flag, Hetanshu Pandya is ready to cheer Canada to victory.

“I’m absolutely excited. Couldn’t afford the tickets to go in, but I’m going to watch parties,” he says.

06/12/26 13:21

A boisterous Bosnian fan group reaches BMO Field

– Matthew Frank

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Bosnia-Herzegovina has arrived at BMO Field.

Police ushered passersby to the sidewalk as a sea of fans from BH Fanaticos, the team’s largest supporter group, flooded Stratchan Avenue.

Thousands of fans chanted to the cadence of drums, at the direction of three leaders with megaphones. The group clapped in unison as it marched toward the stadium gates.

At one point, a Bosnia-Herzegovina fan ripped a Canadian flag from the hands of a person who was walking by.

06/12/26 13:17

A World Cup crossword puzzle to pass the time

– Sarah Wallace

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While you wait for the opening ceremony and/or game to start, get in the spirit with our 2026 FIFA World Cup bonus crossword puzzle.

06/12/26 13:14

European teams are the ones to beat

– Neil Davidson

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Teams from the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football have not fared well against European opposition recently at the men’s World Cup.

The last team from the confederation to beat a European opponent was Mexico, which upset Germany 1-0 in 2018.

Since then, teams from the continental governing body have lost eight games and drawn four against European opposition in World Cup play.

The reason is simple: Europe is filled with quality sides.

Currently, seven of the top 10 teams in the world are from Europe, according to the FIFA rankings. Mexico (No. 13) and the U.S. (No. 17) are the only teams from Canada’s group in the top 20. The Canadians stand third in the group, and No. 30 overall.

06/12/26 13:11

Some Bosnian Canadian fans are wearing blue and yellow – but cheering for both teams to score

– Olivia Grandy

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The chatter (and the DJ set) is starting to heat up at Mrakovic Fine Foods’s watch party as fans enjoy traditional Balkan eats at outdoor tables.

Mirela and Majda Mulic are in the running for best-dressed, sporting Bosnia-Herzegovina flag dresses and bucket hats that they ordered online for the occasion.

The mother-daughter duo came to Canada in 1993 during the Bosnian War.

“FIFA’s playing with our emotions right now,” Mirela, who is also sporting a blue-and-yellow manicure, said. She added that they will be rooting for both teams to score.

06/12/26 12:59

In Toronto’s Little Italy, the World Cup is colliding with a street festival

– Sophia Bertuzzi

Hi, I’m Sophia and I’m a reporter for the Report on Business.

I’m currently in the heart of Little Italy at Cafe Diplomatico – supposedly Toronto’s favourite soccer bar.

The cafe has closed off a portion of Clinton Street for its extended patio. A few fans are already here, but the place is expected to be packed by kickoff.

College Street is also closed from Bathurst to Shaw Streets as today marks the start of Toronto’s annual Taste of Little Italy street festival. Between the festival and the World Cup, the neighbourhood is set for a bustling weekend.

I’ll be here for a while, and plan to hit more spots in Little Italy, on Ossington Avenue and in Liberty Village. Stay tuned!

06/12/26 12:49

We’ve got you covered for today’s game and beyond

– Jamie Ross

I’m Jamie Ross, the sports editor at The Globe, coming to you from the BMO Field press room with coverage of the first of 13 World Cup matches that will take place in Vancouver and Toronto throughout the tournament.

The Globe has two reporters, a columnist and a photographer in place today to report on Canada’s opening match.

Beyond that, we’ll have coverage of every game on Canadian soil, with journalists from across the country chipping in to tell the stories of the biggest tournament in global sport.

06/12/26 12:46

Bosnian fans make their presence known on the route to BMO Field

– Cathal Kelly

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I took the 504 King streetcar on my way to the stadium today. In the stretch that runs between Bathurst Street and Spadina Avenue, about three or four hundred flag-waving Bosnian fans had taken over the thoroughfare.

The streetcar stopped. I went up to the front to take a picture. The driver turned and said, “Where are they going?”

I told him they weren’t going anywhere. The point is to stand on opposite sides of the road – and in the road – chanting calls and responses to each other.

So we sat there for another five minutes, until a Bosnian good Samaritan took it upon himself to lead the streetcar through the crowd. After a lot of cajoling, and a little shoving, he managed to part the blue sea.

And on we went.

06/12/26 12:44

Here’s a look at how Canada and Bosnia-Herzegovina fared in past World Cups

– Neil Davidson

The Canadian men are looking for their first win in their third trip to the World Cup, having lost all three outings in both 1986 and 2022, in Mexico and Qatar respectively.

Today’s game marks the sixth time that the Canadian men have faced European opposition at the tournament. The only non-European team Canada has faced was Morocco, which dealt a 2-1 defeat four years ago.

Canada lost to France, Hungary and the Soviet Union in 1986 and to Belgium and Croatia before meeting Morocco in Qatar.

The Bosnians went 1-2-0 in their only other trip to the tournament, losing to Argentina and Nigeria and beating Iran in 2014 in Brazil.

Canada and Bosnia-Herzegovina have never met before.

06/12/26 12:42

Guess how much a salad costs for reporters covering the World Cup?

– Paul Attfield

Hi, I’m Paul Attfield, a sports reporter at The Globe and Mail. I’ll be in the media tribune at BMO Field – a.k.a. Toronto Stadium under FIFA rules – for the game, but am currently in the press centre looking to stay out of the heat and humidity before kickoff.

For anyone wondering if the high prices for seemingly everything at this World Cup have carried over to those covering the games, a quick glance at the menu here in the media cafe will provide a conclusive answer: $23.69 for a mixed green salad? I think I’ll pass, and stick with the free coffee.

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06/12/26 12:40

Who is the referee for Canada’s first match?

– Neil Davidson

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Hello, my name is Neil Davidson and I’m a sportswriter at The Globe, looking forward to covering my seventh World Cup (four for the men and three for the women).

The referee for today’s game between Canada and Bosnia-Herzegovina is Argentina’s Facundo Tello. He made headlines in November, 2022, when he handed out 10 red cards in Argentina’s Champions Trophy final.

The game became chaotic after Racing Club midfielder Carlos Alcaraz’s game-winning goal celebration in the final minute of extra time sparked a melee in front of Boca Juniors fans. Tello eventually sent off Alcaraz and five Boca players. In all, seven Boca players and three from Racing were sent off during the game.

Here’s hoping he has a quieter afternoon today.

06/12/26 12:37

Canada fans are descending on downtown Toronto

– Greg Mercer

Hi, I’m Greg Mercer, an investigative reporter with The Globe and Mail. Today, I’m following soccer fans who are converging on downtown Toronto to watch Canada’s national men’s team play their first World Cup game on home soil.

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06/12/26 12:22

Hundreds of soccer fans, sporting red and white, march to BMO Field

– Matthew Frank

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Members of The Voyageurs, a Canadian soccer fan group, marched down Strachan Avenue to BMO Field just after 11 a.m. ET.

Hundreds of supporters danced to the beat of pounding drums, climbed statues and sang songs about Canadian star player Alphonso Davies. At one point, the group began singing O Canada.

Fans set off red-and-white smoke grenades and unfurled banners in front of the stadium’s front gates.

A Canadian fan jokingly showed a red card to a passing group of Bosnia-Herzegovina fans walking to the gates, sparking laughs from both sets of fans.

06/12/26 12:12

Fans gather for match broadcast outside Toronto City Hall

– Om Shanbhag

Hello, my name is Om and I’m a national reporter for the Globe. Today, I’ll be out at Nathan Phillips Square, watching Canada’s first game with fans, reporting on what the atmosphere is like and telling you how the crowd feels.

06/12/26 11:58

Ticket holders already lining up for Canada’s first World Cup match

–Matthew Frank

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Hi, I’m Matthew Frank. I’m a national reporter. Today, I’ll be reporting from outside of BMO Field as fans line up to get into the stadium before kickoff.

06/12/26 11:51

Bosnia-Herzegovina fans get ready for a watch party in Toronto’s west end

– Olivia Grandy

Hi, I’m Olivia Grandy and I’m a business reporter at The Globe. Today, I will be taking in Canada’s first World Cup match the Balkan way at Mrakovic Fine Foods in Etobicoke.

Brothers Adis and Amir Mrakovic are heading up the deli’s watch party, which will feature a 26-foot LED screen to display the game, roasted lamb and face painting for kids.

06/12/26 11:45

Why do we say soccer, not football?

– Sarah Wallace

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Soccer? Football? What do we call it, exactly? You might be inclined to blame the U.S. for the linguistic confusion, but the origin of the word soccer stems from the British.

According to the Encyclopedia Britannica, in 1863, England’s Football Association shortened the names of rugby football and association football to “rugger” and “assoccer,” respectively, to differentiate them. Assoccer was later shortened to soccer.

In the U.S., soccer was adopted and used by the sport’s federation in 1945 to differentiate it from “gridiron football” – what North Americans now just know as football.

Today, while people in English-speaking countries such as Ireland, Australia and Canada have embraced the word soccer, much of the rest of the world, including Britain, still refers to the sport as football.

06/12/26 11:30

Viral video of soccer grass with no bounce misleads World Cup fans

– Andrea Woo

In a video that has since gone viral, members of Senegal’s national soccer team loft soccer balls high into the air and watch as they land on the pitch with a deadened bounce, the rebounds barely reaching waist level.

Only it wasn’t a World Cup pitch at all.

The video showed the Senegalese players warming up before a May 31 friendly against the U.S. men’s national team at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, N.C., an event hosted by U.S. Soccer.

FIFA had no involvement in the pre-World Cup exhibition, short of supplying the balls.

The Globe and Mail reported in April on the extensive, years-long process that went into developing FIFA’s 2026 World Cup pitches. Each field must meet stringent performance standards – including for ball bounce, surface hardness and shock absorption – while producing consistent playing conditions across all 16 tournament venues, regardless of climate or elevation.

Under FIFA’s World Cup pitch standards, a properly inflated soccer ball dropped from a height of two metres must rebound between 60 centimetres and one metre.

Read the full story here.

06/12/26 11:05

Listen: Breakout stars, dark horses and Canada’s chances

– Globe staff

The Canadian team will be making its third-ever appearance at the World Cup, competing in Group B and playing its first two games in Toronto and Vancouver.

But Canada has never won a World Cup game before. So can this team advance to the knockout rounds?

In a recent episode of The Decibel podcast, Globe sportswriter Neil Davidson (who will be covering his seventh World Cup!) explains Canada’s chances, lays out which young players may become international superstars and explains how a dog named Pickles plays a key role in World Cup history.

06/12/26 10:55

Bosnian Canadians ready to cheer for both teams

– Om Shanbhag

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Twelve years later, Mirna Eljazovic still remembers the play-by-play of Bosnia-Herzegovina’s inaugural World Cup run, including the controversial offside call that knocked out her team.

“When we made it for the first time to the World Cup, that was such a darn big deal,” said Ms. Eljazovic, a Bosnian Canadian living in Toronto. “Out of all the sports, every Bosnian I know is a big footy supporter.”

For Ms. Eljazovic, who came to Canada as a refugee in 1994, the first World Cup game on Canadian soil is stirring feelings of pride in her identity, with the country she now calls home facing off against the country where she was born.

“It brings me a lot of joy because I get to have my two faves there. I don’t have to cheer against anyone. I’m perfectly fine with the outcome of Friday’s game, regardless,” Ms. Eljazovic said.

Many Bosnian Canadians left Bosnia-Herzegovina as refugees during the Bosnian War, which lasted from 1992 to 1995. More than 26,000 people from the former Yugoslavia came to Canada during this period, many of them Bosnian refugees escaping ethnic cleansing and violence.

In Toronto, Bosnian Canadians gearing up to watch the first match say the tournament is fostering a growing sense of unity, both in their community, and in the country where they have rebuilt their lives.

Read the full story here.

06/12/26 10:45

Canada’s opening ceremony to feature performances by Alanis Morissette, Michael Bublé, Alessia Cara and more

Alanis Morissette is set to have soccer fans head over feet as she performs at Canada’s opening ceremony ahead of its first World Cup game on home soil today.

The Ottawa-born alt-rocker will sing the national anthem before Canada faces Bosnia-Herzegovina at BMO Field.

The pre-match ceremony will also feature performances by a diverse lineup of artists including Michael Bublé, Alessia Cara, Jessie Reyez, William Prince, Nora Fatehi, Sanjoy, Vegedream and Elyanna.

Toronto-born comedian Will Arnett will take part as well, with the Arrested Development actor being named an ambassador for this year’s World Cup.

Serbian-born violinist Aleksandar Gajic has been tapped to perform Bosnia-Herzegovina’s anthem.

– The Canadian Press

06/12/26 10:10

Tickets for Canada vs. Bosnia-Herzegovina still available

– Sarah Wallace

Want to get tickets to this afternoon’s match? There’s still some availability – if you want to fork over more than a grand for each ticket.

At the time of writing, the cheapest two tickets seated together on SeatGeek were $1,360 apiece, including fees. You’d be seated in the back of section 201, in the new bleachers installed for the World Cup. On Ticketmaster, the cheapest option was $1455.60 all-in, for a seat in the 30th row of section 111. StubHub’s cheapest was $1,367 all-in, for a seat in the 37th row of section 216.

06/12/26 09:58

U.S. set to face Paraguay in opener game

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The United States opens its World Cup campaign tonight at 9 p.m. ET against Paraguay, looking to build on four knockout-round appearances in its last six tournaments.

Led by coach Mauricio Pochettino and star forward Christian Pulisic, the 17th-ranked Americans are favoured against Paraguay, which is at No. 40 as of this morning’s live rankings and returning to the World Cup for the first time since 2010.

– The Canadian Press

06/12/26 09:30

Bosnia’s Edin Dzeko available for World Cup opener

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Edin Dzeko is ready to go.

Bosnia-Herzegovina head coach Sergej Barbarez says the 40-year-old striker will be available for the country’s World Cup opener against Canada on Friday.

Dzeko hasn’t played since mid-May due to a right shoulder injury originally suffered when the Bosnians upset Italy in a European playoff over two legs back in March to qualify for the expanded 48-team event.

The former Manchester City man, who now plays for German club Schalke, has scored 73 times across 148 international appearances.

Bosnia, which is in Group B alongside Canada, Switzerland and Qatar, is set to take the field at its second World Cup after also qualifying in 2014. One of two returnees from the squad that finished with a victory and two losses in group play 12 years ago, Dzeko was a full participant at Thursday’s training session for the 64th-ranked Bosnians.

- The Canadian Press

06/12/26 09:18

Mexico fans get the party started in Canadian bars as World Cup kicks off

– Mike Hager and Matthew Frank

Sergio Esparza knew a sort of flu may be coming this week for his construction company’s 50 or so workers, nearly all of whom are Mexicans making a living in and around Vancouver.

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Sure enough, the 43-year-old from the northern Mexican city of Chihuahua said, the calls streamed in Wednesday from more than a dozen Ronos Construction employees stating they weren’t available the following day because of a number of excuses: a stomach bug, a dentist appointment and even getting thrown out of the home by their partner.

Esparza and co-owner Jose Novales didn’t begrudge them for taking Thursday off, knowing full well they, too, needed to watch Mexico compete against South Africa to open the World Cup in their nation’s capital.

“They can enjoy it, right? But tomorrow they’re going to work double [hard],” he said as he and Novales were turned away from the packed Baja Racing Mexican sports bar in central Vancouver because they showed up 10 minutes after kickoff.

Thousands of Mexican fans in Vancouver and Toronto spread out across various bars and FIFA’s fan zones to watch the opening game, but the atmosphere in both cities was subdued as they prepare to host their own matches Friday and Saturday.

Read the full story here.

06/12/26 09:00

What to know about Canada’s Group B opponents

– Paul Attfield

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Canada escaped facing Italy in its opening match when the 12th-ranked Azzurri were upset by Bosnia-Herzegovina in a UEFA playoff. But Bosnia is no pushover with 40-year-old striker Edin Dzeko, part of Bosnia’s squad in 2014 in Brazil, looking to add to his 73 international goals.

Having ended their goal drought four years ago in Qatar, the Canadian men are now looking for their first win in their third trip to the tournament. But coach Jesse Marsch has loftier goals, with getting out of the group a realistic target.

Qatar was underwhelming as World Cup host in 2022, losing to the Netherlands, Senegal and Ecuador. But this marks the first time the Maroons have qualified for the tournament, thanks to topping a fourth-round group, which included the United Arab Emirates and Oman.

Switzerland is the class side of Group B, full of talent plying their trade at top European leagues including captain Granit Xhaka (Sunderland). The Swiss are no strangers to the tournament, reaching the quarter-finals in 1934, 1938 and 1954 among their 12 previous appearances.

Here’s everything you need to know about all of the World Cup groups, A to L.

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06/12/26 08:30

Canada set for World Cup opener on home soil without captain Alphonso Davies

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Canada will play its first-ever FIFA World Cup game on home soil this afternoon when it takes on Bosnia-Herzegovina at BMO Field.

Canada will be in search of its first win in World Cup play, having failed to win in its only other appearances in 1986 and 2022.

Canada has never played Bosnia-Herzegovina in international play.

Captain Alphonso Davies was ruled out for today’s game due to a hamstring injury he is still recovering from. However, coach Jesse Marsch did say the Bayern Munich star is progressing well.

Meanwhile, defender Moïse Bombito will be available.

His status for the tournament was unknown leading up to yesterday afternoon’s roster deadline, as he showed struggles in his recovery from a broken leg.

- The Canadian Press

06/12/26 08:30

How to watch the games in Canada

- Moira Wyton

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You can watch all 104 matches on television on TSN, or subscribe to stream them on TSN.ca or the TSN+ app. Check your cable package to see if you have TSN included, and find the full broadcast schedule here.

Thirty matches, including all three Canada group-stage games, will be available to watch on CTV or to stream through the CTV channel via the Crave app.

And The Globe and Mail will have live coverage of all Team Canada matches, as well as news and analysis throughout the tournament, which you can find here.

06/12/26 08:30

Who is on Canada’s World Cup roster?

- Moira Wyton

Canada’s 26-man World Cup roster skews young and puts a lot of faith in injured players, including superstar captain Alphonso Davies, to heal-up before kick-off.

Coach Jesse Marsch selected four forwards, ten midfielders, nine defenders and three goalkeepers, including starting goalie Maxime Crepeau. The side’s average age is 25, with 20-year-old defender Luc de Fougerolles being the youngest and veteran midfielder and Toronto FC captain Jonathan Osorio the oldest at 33.

Here is the full Canada roster for the 2026 FIFA World Cup:

Goalkeepers: Maxime Crepeau, Orlando City SC (MLS); Owen Goodman, Crystal Palace (England); Dayne St. Clair, Inter Miami FC (MLS)

Defenders: Moïse Bombito, OGC Nice (France); Derek Cornelius, Olympique de Marseille (France); Alphonso Davies (capt.), Bayern Munich (Germany); Luc de Fougerolles, Fulham (England); Alistair Johnston, Glasgow Celtic (Scotland); Alfie Jones, Middlesbrough (England); Richie Laryea, Toronto FC (MLS); Niko Sigur, Hajduk Split (Croatia); Joel Waterman, Chicago Fire (MLS)

Midfielders: Ali Ahmed, Norwich City (England); Tajon Buchanan, Villarreal CF (Spain); Mathieu Choiniere, Los Angeles FC (MLS); Stephen Eustaquio, FC Porto (Portugal); Ismaël Koné, U.S. Sassuolo Calcio (Italy); Liam Millar, Hull City (England); Jayden Nelson, Austin FC (MLS); Jonathan Osorio, Toronto FC (MLS); Nathan Saliba, Anderlecht (Belgium); Jacob Shaffelburg, Los Angeles FC (MLS)

Forwards: Jonathan David, Juventus (Italy); Promise David, Royale Union Saint-Gilloise (Belgium); Cyle Larin, RCD Mallorca (Spain); Tani Oluwaseyi, Villarreal CF (Spain)

06/12/26 08:30

When and where does Canada play?

- Globe Staff

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Canada will play three matches in the group stage between June 12 and 24, against Bosnia-Herzegovina, Qatar and Switzerland.

Here is Canada’s group-stage match schedule:

• June 12 at 3 p.m. ET in Toronto: Canada’s opening match will be at BMO Field against against Bosnia-Herzegovina
• June 18 at 6 p.m. ET in Vancouver: Canada will play Qatar at BC Place
• June 24 at 3 p.m. ET in Vancouver: Canada will play Switzerland at BC Place

06/12/26 08:30

World Cup kicks off as football fever hits Canada

– Globe staff

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The biggest FIFA World Cup in history officially kicked off Thursday, but soccer fever is now officially on the ground in Canada as host cities Toronto and Vancouver prepare for an influx of matches, international fans and cultural events.

In Toronto, final logistical preparations take place ahead of Canada’s opening match at 3 p.m. ET, which will mark Canada’s first-ever men’s World Cup match on home soil as the team takes on Bosnia and Herzegovina at BMO Field.

Canada’s official opening ceremony will begin at 1:30 p.m. ET with some of this country’s most beloved musicians and rising global stars taking the stage. Alanis Morrisette and Michael Bublé are both set to perform at BMO Field, with Alessia Cara, Jessi Reyez, Nora Fatehi and William Prince also representing Canada. French singer Vegedream, Bangladeshi-American DJ Sanjoy and Palestinian pop singer Elyanna will round out the show.

The World Cup runs until July 19, including six games in Toronto and seven games in Vancouver.

The tournament is jointly hosted across Canada, the United States and Mexico. Mexico hosted the World Cup’s opening match on Thursday in Mexico City, defeating South Africa 2-0.