TORONTO/CALIFORNIA, JUN 13 (IANS): The FIFA World Cup 2026 co-hosts Canada and the United States began their campaigns with contrasting outcomes, as Canada secured a historic first point in tournament history with a 1-1 draw against Bosnia and Herzegovina, while the United States delivered a commanding 4-1 victory over Paraguay in California.
Bosnia and Herzegovina hold Canada 1-1
Canada’s long wait for a breakthrough moment at the World Cup finally ended at Toronto Stadium, where substitute Cyle Larin rescued his side with a dramatic equalizer in the 78th minute. The Southampton striker, introduced in the 76th minute, turned sharply inside the penalty area and fired a deflected shot past goalkeeper Nikola Vasilj, sparking wild celebrations among the home crowd. The goal not only salvaged a point but also marked Canada’s first-ever World Cup goal scored on home soil.
Bosnia had earlier taken the lead in the 21st minute through Jovo Lukic, who guided home a flick-on from a corner to register his maiden international strike. Canada responded positively, creating several chances, but struggled to convert. Jonathan David, the nation’s all-time leading scorer, missed a golden opportunity when his effort went straight at Vasilj.
The second half saw Canada intensify their pressure. Richie Laryea nearly equalized in the 53rd minute, only to be denied by a remarkable clearance from Sead Kolasinac, who deflected the ball onto the crossbar. Bosnia almost doubled their advantage moments later, but goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau, making his World Cup debut after recovering from a broken leg, produced a crucial save to deny Ermedin Demirovic.
Canada coach Jesse Marsch credited his substitutes for raising the tempo, noting that the team grew stronger as Bosnia began to fade. Defender Alistair Johnston praised the squad’s resilience, emphasizing their refusal to let heads drop after conceding early. Bosnia’s Tarik Muharemovic, meanwhile, stressed the importance of fighting until the final whistle, acknowledging that Canada’s late equalizer was a harsh lesson.
The result gave Canada their first point in World Cup history, following six consecutive defeats in the 1986 and 2022 editions. While the draw was celebrated as a milestone, the hosts may feel they missed an opportunity to claim all three points after dominating much of the contest. Canada will next face Qatar in Vancouver on June 18, while Bosnia meet Switzerland in Los Angeles the same day.
USA dominate Paraguay 4-1
In California, the United States marked their return to hosting World Cup matches with a resounding 4-1 win over Paraguay at SoFi Stadium. Striker Folarin Balogun was the star of the show, scoring twice in the first half, while Gio Reyna added a stoppage-time strike to complete the rout.
The Americans seized control early, taking the lead in the 7th minute when Paraguay midfielder Damian Bobadilla inadvertently turned Weston McKennie’s dangerous pass into his own net. The early breakthrough allowed the hosts to dominate possession and dictate the tempo, with Christian Pulisic orchestrating much of the attacking play.
Balogun doubled the advantage in the 31st minute, calmly finishing a precise pass from Pulisic. He then produced the goal of the match in first-half stoppage time, cutting inside two defenders before curling a superb shot into the top corner to give the USA a commanding 3-0 lead at halftime.
Coach Mauricio Pochettino substituted Pulisic at the break, and while the Americans created fewer chances in the second half, they remained firmly in control. Paraguay showed greater urgency and pulled one back in the 74th minute when Julio Enciso set up Mauricio, who beat goalkeeper Matt Freese with a low shot.
Any hopes of a comeback were short-lived. Substitute Ricardo Pepi came close to restoring the three-goal cushion but was denied by goalkeeper Orlando Gil. Eventually, Gio Reyna sealed the victory deep into stoppage time, finishing off a swift counterattack with an audacious outside-of-the-boot strike.
The emphatic win temporarily placed the United States at the top of Group D, ahead of Türkiye’s clash with Australia later in the day. The Americans will next face Australia in Seattle on June 19, while Paraguay will look to bounce back against Türkiye on the same date.
For Canada, the draw represented a symbolic step forward in their footballing journey, as they finally broke their streak of defeats and earned recognition on the global stage.
The performance highlighted their growing competitiveness, with Larin’s goal serving as a reminder of the team’s potential to challenge stronger opponents.
For the United States, the victory underscored their ambition to make a deep run in the tournament. Balogun’s brace and Reyna’s late strike showcased the depth of attacking talent available to Pochettino, while the team’s overall dominance reflected their readiness to compete at the highest level.
As the group stages continue, both co-hosts will aim to build on their opening results. Canada will seek to convert resilience into victories, while the USA will look to maintain momentum and secure early qualification from Group D.