A hometown hero from Brampton has given Canada its first point at a men's World Cup in 40 years, as Cyle Larin came off the bench to score a dramatic equalizer against Bosnia-Herzegovina in a 1-1 draw on Friday. The goal, scored in the 78th minute, sent the sold-out crowd of 43,000 in Toronto into a frenzy.
Playing on home soil in a World Cup for the first time, Canada fell behind early and struggled to find its rhythm. But the introduction of Larin in the 76th minute proved to be a masterstroke from coach Jesse Marsch. Just two minutes after entering the match, the forward, who plays his professional soccer for English club Southampton, latched onto a pass from Promise David and coolly finished to salvage a crucial point for the home side.
The goal is only the second ever scored by the Canadian men's national team at a World Cup. The first came four years ago in Qatar from Alphonso Davies, who was unfortunately sidelined for Friday's opener with a hamstring injury. Before that, Canada had been shut out in all three of its matches during its inaugural World Cup appearance in 1986 in Mexico.
A game of two halves
The celebratory scenes at Toronto Stadium, temporarily expanded for the tournament along the shores of Lake Ontario, were a stark contrast to the mood in the first half. Bosnia-Herzegovina, making their second appearance at a World Cup, took the lead in the 21st minute through Jovo Lukic.
It was amazing feeling, just to score a goal on home soil, where I’m from, and just to celebrate with the fans, amazing atmosphere.
Starting in place of the injured Edin Dzeko, Lukic found himself perfectly positioned to head in a flick-on from a corner kick, silencing the partisan home crowd. Despite being a small nation of three million, Bosnia-Herzegovina has a history of punching above its weight, having notably eliminated four-time champion Italy during the European playoffs to qualify for the tournament.
Their coach, Sergej Barbarez, expressed pride in how his team handled the immense pressure of an opening match away from home. "This is huge pressure and it’s a huge compliment for my team to have not succumbed to that pressure and I’m very satisfied with that aspect of the game, too," Barbarez said through a translator.
While the stadium was a sea of red, a small but vibrant contingent of Bosnian supporters made their presence felt. The event also drew Canadian celebrities, including hockey superstar Connor McDavid and actors Ryan Reynolds and Mike Myers, all there to cheer on the national team.
Finding confidence on the big stage
Canadian coach Jesse Marsch acknowledged his team’s slow start but praised their second-half resurgence, which he attributed in part to the incredible support from the fans. "The crowd, I think, willed us into the game as (the players) could feel that energy in the second half tilting more and more," Marsch said.
Before Larin’s decisive strike, Canada’s best chance to equalize came in the 54th minute. Captain Stephen Eustaquio set up Richie Laryea in front of a wide-open net, but a deflection off a defender sent the ball onto the crossbar and out of play. It was a moment of frustration that seemed to encapsulate Canada's struggle to find a breakthrough.
Marsch told his players post-match that their performance in the final 45 minutes is the standard they must maintain. "I told them after the match that if we play like that second half the whole match, we win, right?" he said. "We’ve got to find a way to have a bit more confidence and a bit self-belief. The good part was is in a difficult moment we responded." The renewed energy and local celebrations are reminiscent of other major sporting events in the city, including the local Brampton celebrations planned for the FIFA World Cup.
Looking ahead
The 2026 FIFA World Cup, co-hosted by Canada, the United States, and Mexico, is the largest in the tournament's history. This historic draw provides a vital point for Canada as they aim to advance out of the group stage for the first time ever. The team will now travel to Vancouver for its remaining two group games.
They are set to face Qatar on June 18 and Switzerland on June 24 at BC Place. Bosnia-Herzegovina will also head west for matches against Switzerland in Los Angeles and Qatar in Seattle. According to FIFA, the tournament features numerous matches across all three host nations, bringing the global sport to North American shores.
For Brampton, Larin's goal is a moment of immense local pride, highlighting the city's contribution to Canada's growing presence on the world soccer stage. As the national team continues its campaign, all eyes will be on whether they can build on the momentum from this hard-fought draw. The city continues to invest in its own sporting future, with projects like the Victoria Park Arena rebuild aiming to foster the next generation of athletes. For now, a draw feels like a victory and a promising start to a historic tournament.
