Larin scores in 78th minute to
rally Canada to 1-1 draw with Bosnia-Herzegovina in World Cup opener
[June 13, 2026]
By JOHN WAWROW
TORONTO (AP) — Canada earned its first World Cup point in seven
matches on soccer's biggest stage, and coach Jesse Marsch noted the
sea of red-clad, maple leaf-waving fans who continuously belted out
chants of “Go Ca-na-da!” helped get it.
A slow start and an early deficit turned into a rousing celebration
once late substitute Cyle Larin scored in the 78th minute for a 1-1
draw against Bosnia-Herzegovina on Friday in Canada’s tournament
debut on home soil.
Playing in the shadow of Toronto’s iconic CN Tower, and with hockey
star Connor McDavid and actors Ryan Reynolds and Mike Myers in the
stands, Larin converted Promise David’s pass a mere two minutes
after entering the game.
“The crowd, I think, willed us into the game as (the players) could
feel that energy in the second half tilting more and more,” said
Marsch, who took particular delight upon learning Myers, who
portrayed international man of mystery Austin Powers in the movies,
was on among those on hand.
“Oh, sweet,” Marsch said.
It was an even better feeling for Larin, who normally starts but had
to bide his time watching on the bench until late in the second
half.
“It was amazing feeling, just to score a goal on home soil, where
I’m from, and just to celebrate with the fans, amazing atmosphere,”
said Larin, who plays for second-division English club Southampton
and is from Toronto’s suburb of Brampton.
The goal was only the second in World Cup play scored by Canada
after the team lost all three of its games at the 1986 World Cup in
Mexico and again four years ago at Qatar.
Injury fill-in Jovo Lukic headed in a corner kick in the 21st minute
for Bosnia-Herzegovina, which is making its second World Cup
appearance. The team previous played at the 2014 tournament in
Brazil but failed to advance out of group play.
Starting in place of Edin Dzeko (shoulder) and Haris Tabakovic
(undisclosed), Lukic was in an ideal position to cap a set piece
with captain Sead Kolasinac flicking along a header off Ivan Basic’s
corner kick. The goal was Lukic’s first in international play and
coming in the 27-year-old attacker’s fourth international
appearance.
Despite giving up the lead, the small Balkan nation of about 3
million people keeps coming up big on the international stage —
including eliminating four-time champion Italy in the European
playoffs.
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Canada's Cyle Larin (9) celebrates after scoring his sides first
goal of the game with Promise David (24) during the second half of
the World Cup Group B soccer match between Canada and Bosnia,
Friday, June 12, 2026, in Toronto. ( (AP Photo/Sam Balkansky)
Bosnia coach Sergej Barbarez couldn’t help but feel
relief in how his team persevered amid such a tough environment.
“This is huge pressure and it’s a huge compliment
for my team to have not succumbed to that pressure and I’m very
satisfied with that aspect of the game, too,” Barbarez said through
a translator.
Though a large majority of the 43,000 fans filling the temporarily
expanded Toronto Stadium along the shores of Lake Ontario were
Canadians, a small but vibrant group of Bosnian fans in blue also
stood out in the upper deck of the stands.
The Bosnians now head west, with games against Switzerland on June
18 in Los Angeles and Qatar on June 24 in Seattle.
Canada also heads west, to Vancouver, for its final two group games,
against Qatar on June 18 and Switzerland on June 24.
Marsch’s challenge is to get his team off to a better start.
“I told them after the match that if we play like that second half
the whole match, we win, right?” he said.
“We’ve got to find a way to have a bit more confidence and a bit
self-belief,” he added. “The good part was is in a difficult moment
we responded.”
Before Larin’s goal, Canada’s best scoring chance came in the 54th
minute when captain Stephen Eustaquio fed the ball to Richie Laryea
in front of a wide-open net. The ball deflected off Kolasinac’s foot
and hit the crossbar.
Canada was playing without Alphonso Davies (hamstring), who scored
the nation’s first World Cup goal four years ago in Qatar.
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