Sports posted Jun 12, 2026 @ 02:15pm by Josh Duncan

Larin’s goal off the bench earns Canada historic point at World Cup

For the first time in three tries at the FIFA World Cup, Canada has earned a point.

Canada opened the 2026 World Cup with a 1-1 draw against Bosnia and Herzegovina in Toronto this afternoon.

Cyle Larin scores a late equalizer as Canada finish deadlocked with Bosnia and Herzegovina 🇨🇦🇧🇦#FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/c8GndP4inK

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) June 12, 2026

After exiting the 1986 and 2022 World Cups with three losses and no points, it was a historic single point for the Canadian men’s national team on Friday.

You could say that Canada deserved all three points against Bosnia and Herzegovina, but escaping the clutches of defeat does feel like a victory in its own right after how this one played out.

Canada spent most of the game trailing after Jovo Lukić scored his first international goal in the 21st minute to give Bosnia and Herzegovina the 1-0 lead.

Jovo Lukic opens the scoring against Canada! pic.twitter.com/F2C60UnNvx
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) June 12, 2026

Although Canada looked tentative in the opening half, and not very sharp, they cleaned things up in the second 45 minutes and pressed hard for an equalizer.

Head coach Jesse Marsch seemed to press all the right buttons with his substitutions, starting with the entry of Promise David, Ali Ahmed and Jacob Shaffelburg in the 60th minute.

The biggest substitution came 15 minutes later, however, as Cyle Larin entered the game for Tani Oluwaseyi. Moments later, he made an impact.

The all-time leading scorer for the Canadian men’s national team added to his tally with a goal in the 78th minute, tying the game and sending the Toronto Stadium crowd and watch parties across the country into a frenzy.

CYLE LARIN TIES THE GAME FOR CANADA! pic.twitter.com/56YfnmtMQT
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) June 12, 2026

Momentum was certainly with the home side and Canada had several chances to go ahead after Larin’s goal, but Bosnia and Herzegovina held on to secure the 1-1 draw.

While it may feel like a missed opportunity to secure three points, it was an important result to set up Canada for the final two games of group play.

Canada will be favoured heavily against Qatar in Vancouver next week and a win in that game would almost certainly guarantee the country’s spot in the round of 32.

For now, Canada is off and running after a historic Friday, with the first World Cup game played on Canadian soil and the country’s first ever point on soccer’s biggest stage.

The next action for Canada is against Qatar on Thursday, June 18, at BC Place in Vancouver.