Italy's Francesco Pio Esposito reacts during the World Cup qualifying playoff final soccer match between Bosnia and Italy in Zenica, Bosnia, Tuesday, March 31, 2026. (AP Photo/Armin Durgut)

By The Canadian Press

Canada to meet Bosnia and Herzegovina in FIFA World Cup opener

Mar 31, 2026 | 3:00 AM

Canada’s opponent for its World Cup opener in Toronto is now set.

Host Bosnia and Herzegovina defeated Italy 1-1 (4-1) in penalties in their playoff qualifier final in Zenica on Tuesday to book its ticket to the big stage. Four-time champion Italy failed to qualify for a third straight World Cup.

It was the first time Bosnia had defeated Italy in five games since 1996. Italy had defeated Bosnia four times and drew once since then entering Tuesday.

The Bosnians are ranked No. 69, while Italy is No. 12. Canada is ranked No. 30.

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Bosnia’s only other World Cup appearance was in 2014, when it was eliminated in the group stage of the event held in Brazil.

Canada did not make it out of the group stage at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Canada’s only other appearance was in 1986. Canada and Bosnia have never met at the senior level.

“Seems like Canada’s pool just got a lot easier but clearly Bosnia must have a decent squad,” Burnsivxx wrote on X.

“Easy. We’re so lucky. Italy is a joke in soccer now, 3 straight missed World Cups, their leadership is a mess. Bosnia and Herzegovina (easy), Qatar (easy), Switzerland might be a challenge but they’re beatable. We’ve got a good group,” wrote Vladdy Time on X.

The match will be held on the afternoon of June 12, the first of six games held at Toronto Stadium — the name of BMO Field during the World Cup.

Canada is the second-highest ranked team in its group, with Switzerland being No. 19. Qatar is No. 55.

Canada has met Switzerland once, a 3-1 win in a friendly in May 2002 in St. Gallen, Switzerland. The Canadians have also only met Qatar once, a 2-0 win in a friendly in Vienna in Sept. 2022.

The top two teams from each group, along with the eight best third-place finishers, progress to the round of 32 at the World Cup.

Canada, which played to a 0-0 draw against Tunisia in a friendly Tuesday night, hasn’t lost in its last five friendlies. The Canadians drew 2-2 against Iceland on March 28, beat Venezuela 2-0 and tied Ecuador 0-0 — with both those matches taking place in November and a 0-0 draw against Colombia in October.

The questions primarily swirling around Canada are its injury problems, specifically star defender Alphonso Davies.

Davies was said to have a torn muscle in his right thigh on March 11, according to his club team, Bayern Munich. However, he returned to full training on Monday.

The 25-year-old had only played 13 games for the German champions before his injury, having returned from a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury that he suffered in March 2025.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 31, 2026.

The Canadian Press