On Friday, June 12th, Group B and D will see their opening salvos as the host nations Canada and the United States open their campaigns. Canada takes on surprise UEFA qualifier Bosnia, while the United States is drawn against Paraguay who return to the 2026 FIFA World Cup after a 16-year absence. Here are predictions for both matches on Friday.
Canada vs Bosnia & Herzegovina (Friday, June 12th, in Toronto)
Canada as the host nation, have a squad that can be considered a golden generation for their national team. Ambitions are high for manager Jesse Marsch that this is the team that can make history. Bosnia were perhaps a surprise to qualify from the UEFA playoff round, but they will have massive fan support for every game they play in this tournament due to a large Bosnia diaspora in North America.
Bosnia are not a high scoring team, in their last five international matches, including both playoff games, and two warm up friendlies against North Macedonia and Panama, they didn’t score more than a lone goal. At 40-years-old Edin Dzeko leads his nation and still carries the burden of trying to score goals. Three of Bosnia’s starting midfielders are in the U-23 bracket with Kerim Alajbegovic (RB Salzburg), Esmir Bajraktarevic (PSV), and Benjamin Tahirovic (Brondby) all set to play key roles for their country.
As for Canada’s lineup, Alphonso Davies (Bayern Munich) is out, while Moise Bombito is also a likely out with a leg injury. Luc De Fougerolles from Dender in the Belgian league will step in to the CB role, while the midfield pair of Tajon Buchanan (Villarreal) and Stephen Eustaquio (LAFC) are key to the attack. Pressure is on Jonathan David (Juventus) to find goals.
Canada also defend well, they are undefeated since a loss to Australia in October last year, they drew with Ireland and beat Uzbekistan in the warm-up matches. This Canadian side isn’t elite, but at home, they may have enough magic to get a late winner and scrape past a Bosnia side that will show caution tactically. Prediction: Canada 2, Bosnia 1
United States vs Paraguay (Friday, June 12th, in Los Angeles)
Paraguay reached the quarterfinals at the 2010 FIFA World Cup before failing to qualify from CONEMBOL for 16 years. Back in the tournament, they believe they have a dark horse team that can upset the apple cart in Group D and exceed expectations.
Playing on home soil under Mauricio Pochettino, The US Men’s National Team is under unprecedented pressure to advance from their group. The results have been mixed this year, consecutive losses to Belgium and Portugal, a surprise 3-2 win over Senegal in late May where they played well, and then a 2-1 defeat to Germany that didn’t come as a shock. Last year, they scored two wins over CONEMBOL back-to-back, a 2-1 win over Paraguay, and a 5-1 win over Uruguay.
Paraguay beat Greece in March, but lost 2-1 to a great Morocco side. Their only warm-up game was a 4-0 thrashing of a poor Nicaragua side at home. In that game, star attacker Julio Enciso (Strasbourg) was injured and is expected to miss at least the first two games with a leg injury.
Enciso represents much of Paraguay’s goal scoring and attacking prowess, without him, the pressure shifts to Miguel Almiron, the veteran leader of this squad, and the likes of Damian Bobadilla and Antonio Sanabria to create chances.
Sunderland’s Omar Alderete is a brick wall in the back. The U.S. team has a plethora of attacking options to challenge him. Christian Pulisic hopes to be fit and firing after struggling late in the season for AC Milan. Monaco’s Flo Balogun has emerged as a dangerous striker, and Bayer Leverkusen’s Malik Tillman completes the trident. Crystal Palace Chris Richards says he’s fit and ready to play as part of a back 3 that features 38-year-old Tim Ream, the club captain. Juventus Weston McKennie and Fulham’s Antonee Robinson will be in the midfield.
The United States isn’t the best at preventing goals, so even without Enciso, expect Paraguay to find a goal, however the stars and stripes should have enough firepower to emerge from this game with 3 points. Prediction: United States 3, Paraguay 2
Main Photo Credit: Smartframe Images
