Canada and Bosnia-Herzegovina fans streaming into stadium before opening ceremony and 3 p.m. kick-off
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Canada’s Voyageurs parade toward BMO Field ahead of Canada’s World Cup match against Bosnia and Herzegovina in Toronto on Friday.Jon Blacker/The Canadian Press
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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Mirela Mulic, left, and her mother Majda Mulic wait for the start of a FIFA World Cup watch party at Mrakovic Fine Foods in Etobicoke, Ont. on June 12, 2026. “I’m excited for both teams, we are all Canadian right? Half half,” said Majda. The family immigrated to Canada in 1993.Keito Newman/The Globe and Mail
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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Cathal Kelly’s view from the 504 King streetcar on his way to the BMO Field.Cathal Kelly/The Globe and Mail
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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For anyone wondering if the high prices for seemingly everything at this World Cup has carried over to those working the games, a quick glance at the menu here in the media café will provide a conclusive answer.Paul Attfield/The Globe and Mail
06/12/26 12:40
Who is the referee for Canada’s first match?
– Neil Davidson
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Argentine referee Facundo Tello speaks with Palmeiras’ goalkeeper Carlos Miguel during the Copa Libertadores group stage football match in Cartagena on April 8.LUIS ACOSTA/AFP/Getty Images
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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Soccer fans converge on downtown Toronto to watch Canada’s national men’s team play their first World Cup game on home soil.Greg Mercer/The Globe and Mail
06/12/26 12:22
Hundreds of soccer fans, sporting red and white, march to BMO Field
– Matthew Frank
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Canada’s Voyageurs parade toward BMO Field ahead of Canada’s World Cup match against Bosnia and Herzegovina in Toronto.Jon Blacker/The Canadian Press
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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Bosnia-Herzegovina fans with flags outside the stadium before the match.Claudia Greco/Reuters
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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Sergino Dest of the U.S in action with England’s Raheem Sterling at 2022 World Cup in Al Khor, Qatar.KAI PFAFFENBACH/Reuters
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.
If you watch a FIFA World Cup game, look out for the turf beneath the players’ feet. The Globe’s Andrea Woo unpacks the science behind producing a pitch-perfect field.
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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Bosnian Canadian friends Delila Bikic, left, and Mirna Eljazovic at the University of Toronto on Thursday.Laura Proctor/The Globe and Mail
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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United States’ Christian Pulisic attends a training session ahead of his FIFA World Cup match against Paraguay at its soccer tournament training base in Irvine, Calif. on Thursday.Andre Penner/The Associated Press
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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Bosnia-Herzegovina’s forward Edin Dzeko (L) fights for the ball with Italy’s defender Riccardo Calafiori during the World Cup European qualification match between Bosnia-Herzegovina and Italy on March 31.ELVIS BARUKCIC/AFP/Getty Images
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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Sergio Esparza stands outside of Baja Racing Sports Bar in Vancouver, B.C., on Thursday.Jennifer Gauthier/The Globe and Mail
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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An aerial view of Mexico City Stadium on March 16.Hector Vivas/Getty Images
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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Children cheer in the old part of Sarajevo ahead of the soccer match of the FIFA World Cup between Canada and Bosnia in Sarajevo, Bosnia, Friday.Armin Durgut/The Associated Press
06/12/26 08:30
Canada set for World Cup opener on home soil without captain Alphonso Davies
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Canada’s Alphonso Davies and head coach Jesse Marsch shake before International Friendly soccer action against Republic of Ireland in Montreal on June 5.Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press
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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Science World, which has been transformed into a FIFA World Cup Trionda soccer ball, is seen near BC Place stadium, in Vancouver, on June 10.DARRYL DYCK/The Canadian Press
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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Toronto Stadium sits ready for FIFA World Cup 2026 in Toronto on Thursday.Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press
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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A Mexico fan displays a giant replica of the World Cup trophy outside the stadium before the match on Thursday.Kai Pfaffenbach/Reuters
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.
