The 2026 FIFA World Cup arrives in Toronto on Friday as Canada prepare to play their first-ever home match at a men's World Cup, welcoming Bosnia and Herzegovina in the opening fixture of Group B.

Kick-off is scheduled for 3pm local time, and Canada will be looking to follow co-hosts Mexico — who earned a victory on the opening day — in getting their campaign off to a positive start.

Injury concerns cloud Canada's preparations

The mood in Canada's camp has been tempered by a series of availability concerns heading into the match. Alphonso Davies arrived at the tournament carrying an injury and is expected to miss this game, while Marcelo Flores has already been ruled out of the squad entirely.

Midfielder Ismael Kone added to those worries after missing a training session on Wednesday with reports of a high fever, leaving manager Jesse Marsch uncertain over his central midfield options ahead of such a crucial opener.

Canada's World Cup record makes the stakes clear: their only previous appearances at men's tournaments came in 1986 and 2022, and they failed to win a single group stage match at either. Friday represents a genuine opportunity to claim a first-ever point — or more — on home soil.

Canada did arrive at the tournament with some positive momentum, recording a 2-0 victory over Uzbekistan and a 1-1 draw against the Republic of Ireland in their pre-tournament warm-up fixtures.

Bosnia and Herzegovina riding high after Italy upset

Bosnia and Herzegovina come into their second-ever World Cup — after a debut appearance in 2014 — in strong spirits following a remarkable run through the UEFA play-offs. The 40-year-old Edin Dzeko scored a late equaliser against Wales in the semi-finals, helping his side reach the final, where Haris Tabakovic's goal against Italy forced the decisive penalty shootout that sent Bosnia and Herzegovina to North America.

Despite that impressive qualification, Bosnia and Herzegovina enter the tie as underdogs. Canada sit 30th in the current FIFA World Rankings while Bosnia and Herzegovina are placed 64th, and with home advantage firmly on Canada's side, the bookmakers have installed the co-hosts as favourites.

The two nations have never met before, meaning Friday's encounter will be a first chapter in what could become a meaningful rivalry. FourFourTwo predicts this one ends level: Canada 1-1 Bosnia and Herzegovina.