Canada 1-1 Bosnia and Herzegovina: Larin's late strike earns Canada a historic first World Cup point

On the first day a men's World Cup match was ever played on Canadian soil, the co-hosts marked the occasion with a piece of history. Trailing to an early Bosnia header at a sold-out Toronto Stadium (BMO Field), Canada needed a late substitute to dig out a 1-1 draw — and with it, the country's first-ever point at a FIFA World Cup.

Lukić heads Bosnia in front

Bosnia and Herzegovina struck first in the 21st minute. From a corner, Sead Kolašinac flicked the ball on and Jovo Lukić rose to head it home, silencing the home crowd and handing the visitors the lead. Bosnia largely held that advantage through the second half, with Nikola Vasilj's goal intact and a yellow card apiece accumulating on both sides.

Larin levels it late off the bench

The equaliser came from the bench, and it came fast. Cyle Larin had been on the pitch barely two minutes — roughly 121 seconds — when he struck in the 78th minute, beating Vasilj to level the match. Fellow substitute Promise David provided the assist, the two replacements combining to rescue the point Canada had chased all night. Argentine referee Facundo Tello, who had cautioned Canada's Alistair Johnston (11') and Luc de Fougerolles (53') along with Bosnia's Ermedin Demirović, Lukić (45+1') and Nikola Katić (90+3'), saw the game out with no red cards and no penalties.

What it means for Group B

For Canada the point carries weight far beyond the table: after losing all three games in 1986 and all three in 2022, this is the nation's first-ever World Cup point — earned at home, in the first men's World Cup match ever staged in the country. Both sides leave Group B with a point apiece and plenty still to play for, with Qatar and Switzerland completing the group. Canada will take real belief from fighting back, while Bosnia and Herzegovina will rue not seeing out a lead they held for nearly an hour. Revisit the game on the match page or see the full schedule at matches.