The 2026 FIFA World Cup encounter marked the first tournament match ever played on Canadian soil, with both teams settling for a point in a tense and entertaining contest.
Bosnia and Herzegovina struck first in the 21st minute when defender Sead Kolašinac flicked on a corner kick, allowing striker Jovo Lukić to head home and score the first goal of the World Cup in Canada.
The Europeans, ranked 65th in the world, arrived with confidence after stunning Italy in a penalty shootout during April’s playoff qualifiers and looked poised to claim all three points.
Canada, ranked 30th by FIFA and appearing in its third World Cup, struggled to break through for much of the match before substitute Cyle Larin rescued the hosts.
Just two minutes after entering the game, Larin redirected the ball into the corner of the net in the 79th minute, sending the packed 43,000-capacity Toronto Stadium crowd into celebration.
The equaliser ensured Canada avoided another opening defeat and earned its first World Cup point since the 2022 tournament.
Despite the draw, Canada’s wait for a maiden World Cup victory continues.
The Canadians lost all three matches in their previous appearances in 1986 and 2022, managing only two goals in Qatar. Friday’s result means they have now gone seven World Cup games without a win.
Bosnia and Herzegovina, meanwhile, are making only their second appearance at football’s biggest tournament after debuting in 2014, when they defeated Iran but failed to progress beyond the group stage.
Canadian music icon Alanis Morissette performed the national anthem before kickoff as a sea of red jerseys filled the stadium.
The opening festivities featured Indigenous groups and performances from Canadian stars Alessia Cara, Jessie Reyez, Nora Fatehi and French singer Vegedream, with a giant golden football displayed at the centre of the pitch.
Canada will now head to Vancouver, where they will face Qatar at BC Place on June 18 in a crucial Group B fixture.
Bosnia and Herzegovina, meanwhile, travel to Los Angeles for a showdown with Switzerland on the same day.
With both nations level on one point, the race for qualification from Group B remains wide open.
