Co-hosts Canada will begin their 2026 FIFA World Cup journey on home soil against Bosnia and Herzegovina at Toronto's BMO Field on Friday, June 12, 2026.
The Group B opener also includes Switzerland and Qatar.
The match marks a milestone for Canadian soccer as the country co-hosts for the first time and competes in back-to-back World Cups.
Canada has climbed from 50th to a record 27th in the FIFA rankings over the past two years.
Stadium Upgrades and Ticket Sales
Organizers are adding 17,756 temporary seats to BMO Field, raising capacity to 45,736 for the tournament.
This follows a record crowd of 44,828 for a Toronto FC match against Inter Miami in May.
FIFA has opened last-minute ticket sales on a first-come, first-served basis and an official face-value resale marketplace.
Group stage tickets start at $60 for certain supporter tiers, with top-category seats reaching up to $400.
Emotional Resonance for Bosnian Diaspora
Bosnia and Herzegovina qualified by defeating Italy in a playoff penalty shootout, sparking massive celebrations worldwide.
For the Bosnian diaspora in Canada, many of whom are children of refugees from the 1992–1995 war, the World Cup appearance carries profound meaning.
Ahmed Salihović, a 22-year-old York University student, traveled to Zenica for the final qualifier. “None of us expected them to make it through,” he said.
“So we’re just happy to see our nation at a big tournament.”
Adrian Gašpar, a professional volleyball player born in Ottawa, was in Sarajevo during the decisive match. “That moment when we beat Italy was mental,” he recalled.
“The whole group of us started crying, hugging, dancing, and singing: ‘I am from Bosnia, take me to America’, and throwing chairs across the lawn.”
An estimated 150,000 people took to the streets of Sarajevo to celebrate the country's second World Cup qualification, following their debut in 2014.
Zeljka Malesevic-Skenderija, a former Sarajevo resident who arrived in Canada in 1992, noted that soccer unifies diverse identities in Bosnia.
“Sarajevo is a place of many identities, but football collapses all of them into one,” she said.
“For a few hours, the city was feeling like a single organism breathing in sync.”
Alija Topuz, an Oakville resident, watched the playoff broadcast with his wife. “Bosnians are proud people even though we went through a horrible time,” he said.
Denis Sazdanovic recalled struggling with slow internet to watch games in the late 1990s.
Now, young players like 21-year-old Esmir Bajraktarević, who scored the decisive penalty against Italy, have revitalized older fans.
“When you realize what those [players] have done, you know, it really makes you proud,” he said.
After the opener, Canada will face Qatar in Vancouver on June 18 and Switzerland on June 24.
Bosnia will play Switzerland at SoFi Stadium on June 18 and Qatar at Lumen Field on June 24.
