Co-hosts Canada grabbed a second-half equaliser to draw 1-1 with Bosnia-Herzegovina on Friday in the first World Cup finals game ever played on Canadian soil.

Cyle Larin got Canada’s goal after Jovo Lukic put Bosnia ahead with a header on 21 minutes in Toronto.

The Opening Match had been heralded by pre-match cameos from Michael Buble and Alanis Morisette, yet it was the star quality of the Canadian substitutes that had the Toronto Stadium in raptures by the end of this very watchable Group B contest.

Sergej Barbarez had promised a motivational speech before the game and his Bosnian players responded well. Amar Memic sent an early chance over, and with the Dragons establishing superiority at set pieces, Sead Kolasinac’s flick from a corner enabled Jovo Lukic to head home.

Undeterred, Canada played with energy and endeavour. Yet when the ball ricocheted favourably for Jonathan David, the striker’s low shot made for a comfortable Nikola Vasilj save.

Tani Oluwaseyi had an even more inviting opportunity but blazed over despite time and space in the box.

Oluwaseyi lit up the start of the second half with a Cruyff turn and nearly scored with a header blocked by Nikola Katic.

The Canucks were in full flow when Stephen Eustaguio, deputising as captain for the unused Alphonso Davies, played in Richie Laryea but somehow Kolasinac cleared the goal-bound shot off the line.

At the other end, Maxime Crepeau saved at the feet of Ermedin Demirovic.

Jesse Marsch’s team were staying positive, boosted by a number of substitutions.

It was the 76th-minute introduction of Larin that brought the equaliser and, ultimately, Canada’s first-ever World Cup point.

The striker had only been on the pitch two minutes when he turned sharply to fire in from Promise David’s assist. And he nearly won it in added time but was denied by Tarik Muharemovic.

Image credit : FIFA

FIFA World Cup 2026 opening match ended in favour of the defending champion, Mexico having scored 2 against South Africa nil.

Julian Quinones scored the opening goal of the tournament and veteran striker Raul Jimenez added a second as the co-hosts’ bid for qualification from Group A got off to smooth start.

South Africa meanwhile never looked like spoiling the opening day fiesta, and finished with only nine men after Sphephelo Sithole and Themba Zwane were sent off.

The Mexican-colored red, green and white smoke from pre-game fireworks had barely dissipated before Quinones fired the hosts into the lead on nine minutes, drilling a low shot through the legs of South Africa’s goalkeeper and captain Ronwen Williams.

A deafening roar cascaded down from the stands of the Azteca, the footballing cathedral that became the only stadium to host games at three different World Cups.

South Africa coach Hugo Broos had warned his players to be ready for the intimidating atmosphere created by a capacity 80,824 crowd at the imposing concrete arena.

• Mexico’s forward #16 Julian Quinones celebrates scoring his team’s first goal during the 2026 World Cup Group A football match between Mexico and South Africa at the Mexico City Stadium in Mexico City on June 11, 2026. (Photo by CARL DE SOUZA / AFP)

Mexico forward Julián Quiñones etched his name into World Cup history on Thursday by scoring the first goal of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

AFP reported that Quiñones struck in the ninth minute of the tournament’s opening match between co-hosts Mexico and South Africa at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, sending the home crowd into celebration.

The goal marked the first of the expanded 48-team World Cup, which is being jointly hosted by Mexico, the United States and Canada. It also made Quiñones the first player to find the net at the tournament, earning a place in World Cup folklore.

Playing in front of a packed Azteca Stadium, Quiñones capitalized on Mexico’s early pressure to break the deadlock and give the hosts a dream start to their campaign.

The 2026 World Cup, the largest in FIFA history, features 104 matches and will conclude with the final in New Jersey on July 19.