Canada draws 1-1 with Bosnia in historic World Cup opener
Cyle Larin scores first-ever men's World Cup point for Canada on home soil in Toronto.
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Canada earned the country's first-ever point at a men's FIFA World Cup on Friday, June 12, drawing 1-1 with Bosnia and Herzegovina in Toronto.
Cyle Larin, the 31-year-old from Brampton, Ontario, scored the equalizer in the 78th minute after Bosnia and Herzegovina took an early lead. Jovo Lukić opened the scoring off a corner kick in the 21st minute.
Canada, which had lost every match at previous World Cup appearances in Mexico 1986 and Qatar 2022, came agonizingly close to victory. Tani Oluwaseyi sailed a first-half chance over the net, and Richie Laryea's second-half shot deflected off a Bosnian player and off the crossbar.
The Canadian men's national team played the match without captain Alphonso Davies, who is injured, and central defender Moïse Bombito, who was unavailable due to an ailment.
Canada will head west to Vancouver for its second match against Qatar on June 18 at BC Place. The World Cup, the largest in FIFA history, is jointly hosted by Canada, the United States, and Mexico through July 19.
The draw marks a significant milestone for the program after decades of winless World Cup competition.