TORONTO — Canada finally had a World Cup result to celebrate on home soil Friday night.
Substitute Cyle Larin scored a crucial second-half equalizer as Canada rallied for a 1-1 draw against Bosnia-Herzegovina in front of a sold-out crowd at Toronto Stadium, earning the co-host nation its first-ever World Cup point at home and just its second goal in tournament history.
The result marked another milestone for a Canadian men's national team eager to make an impact at FIFA World Cup 2026 after difficult experiences in its previous appearances in 1986 and 2022.
With the iconic CN Tower towering over the stadium and thousands of supporters dressed in red creating a festive atmosphere, Canada found itself trailing before veteran striker Larin rescued a point late in the second half.
Bosnia-Herzegovina struck first in the 21st minute through unlikely scorer Jovo Lukic. Making just his fourth international appearance and starting in place of injured veterans Edin Dzeko and Haris Tabakovic, Lukic capitalized on a well-worked corner kick.
Captain Sead Kolasinac flicked on Ivan Basic's delivery, and Lukic was perfectly positioned at the far post to head home his first international goal and give Bosnia a 1-0 lead.
The goal silenced a Canadian crowd that included several high-profile supporters, among them Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid and actor Ryan Reynolds, but the hosts continued to push forward in search of an equalizer.
Canada entered the tournament without star winger and captain Alphonso Davies, who was unavailable because of a hamstring injury. Davies scored Canada's first-ever World Cup goal during the 2022 tournament in Qatar, and his absence left a significant void in the Canadian attack.
Still, coach Jesse Marsch's side generated opportunities.
Their best chance prior to the equalizer came in the 54th minute when captain Stephen Eustáquio found Richie Laryea in front of an open goal. Laryea's effort appeared destined for the net before deflecting off Kolasinac and crashing against the crossbar.
As the match entered its final stages, Marsch turned to Canada's all-time leading scorer.
Larin entered the match in the 76th minute and made an immediate impact. Just two minutes later, fellow substitute Promise David delivered a pass into the penalty area, where Larin calmly finished past the goalkeeper to send the crowd into celebration.
The goal was Canada's second in World Cup history and Larin's most important strike in a national team jersey, preserving a valuable point in the opening match of Group A.
Bosnia-Herzegovina, appearing in only its second World Cup after debuting in Brazil in 2014, was unable to regain the lead despite another disciplined performance from a nation that has consistently punched above its weight on the international stage. The Balkan side famously eliminated four-time world champion Italy during European qualifying and once again demonstrated its ability to compete with higher-profile opponents.
For Canada, the draw represented progress.
The Canadians lost all three matches in their World Cup debut in 1986 and were eliminated in the group stage in Qatar four years ago despite scoring their first tournament goal. Friday's result ensured they would not begin their home World Cup with a defeat and kept their hopes of advancing alive heading into the remaining group matches.
Canada will now travel west to Vancouver, where it will face Qatar on June 18 before concluding group play against Switzerland on June 24.
Bosnia-Herzegovina also heads west for its remaining matches, taking on Switzerland in Los Angeles on June 18 before facing Qatar in Seattle six days later.
While the night ended in a draw, Larin's late heroics ensured Canadian soccer history was made in Toronto, giving the co-host nation its first home World Cup point and a platform to build on as the tournament continues.