Canada begins their 2026 World Cup tournament as one of the host nations against Bosnia and Herzegovina, a UEFA playoff qualifier. Manager Jesse Marsch is expected to make some changes to the best XI due to injury issues for, Canada vs Bosnia, as Canada hopes to begin their tournament with a winning start. We offer predicted lineups and team news for this opening clash of the group stage.
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Canada vs Bosnia & Herzegovina
Date: Friday, June 12th, 2026
Venue: Toronto, Canada (BMO Field)
Kick Off: 15:00 local time in Toronto
Referee: Khalid Al-Turais (Saudi Arabia)
Current Odds: Canada 1.8, Draw 3.5, Bosnia 4.6
Canada Team News
The biggest news around Canada is whether their best XI will be fit. Alphonso Davies, Moise Bombito, and Ismael Kone all trained on Friday, though only Kone is set to feature in the first game. Long term, Canada needs Davies and Bombito to put their best foot forward in the tournament. Bombito, despite recovering from a broken tibia, was kept on the squad. Winger Jayden Nelson was brought into the squad to replace an injured Marcelo Flores.
Replacing Bombito in the starting lineup is likely to be Luc de Fougerolles, per TSN, manager Jesse Marsch stated “Luc with the ball was outstanding and helped set up a lot of our initial movements to get us into the attack,” Marsch said. “He was really good on what we call rest defence and defending some difficult moments, standing players up, not giving away fouls.”
ESPN recently published a comprehensive piece on Canadian manager Jesse Marsch, who is leading Canada during their biggest tournament in the history of the nation’s men’s football program. Canada has never won a World Cup Group Stage match in two world cups, and the pressure will be immense, as they are the favorites for the bookmakers.
Bosnia Team News
This Bosnia team is young overall, but still relies on 40-year-old Edin Dzeko at striker, who didn’t play in either friendly match prior to the tournament. The UEFA playoff qualifiers are led by Sergej Barbarez, who moonlights as a professional poker player. This is the first time these teams have faced off, and there will be plenty of Bosnian fans in the stands despite Canada playing host. Balkan Insight highlighted how Bosnia’s World Cup participation is a moment of collective pride for the nation.
A pair of young wingers, Esmir Bajraktarevic, and Kerim Alajbegovic, one of the teenagers in this year’s World Cup, are expected to be the showcase players for Bosnia in their second ever World Cup. Haris Tabakovic and Ivan Sunjic may miss the opening game with injuries.
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Canada Predicted Lineup (4-4-2)
GK; Maxime Crepeau
Defenders: Alistair Johnston, Derek Cornelius, Luc de Fourgerolles, Richie Laryea
Midfield: Tajon Buchanan, Ismael Kone, Stephen Eustaquio, Liam Millar
Forwards: Jonathan David and Cyle Larin
Crepeau secures the starting goalkeeper spot, while Jonathan David is the star man up front.
Bosnia Predicted Lineup (4-4-2)
GK: Nikola Vasilj
Defenders: Amar Dedic, Stjepan Radeljic, Nikola Katic, Sead Kolasnic
Midfield: Esmir Bajraktarevic, Benjamin Tahirovic, Ivan Sunjic, Nidal Celik
Forwards: Ermedin Demirovic, Edin Dzeko
if Dzeko can’t go, then Jovo Lukic or Samed Bazdar are options, combined they only have one international goal.
Main Photo Credit: Smartframe Images
