Mixed Fortunes For World Cup Joint Hosts

Canada and the USA opened their 2026 World Cup accounts on Friday night, with mixed fortunes for both, despite an entertaining pair of group matches.

First up, Jesse Marsch’s Canada were held to a 1-1 draw by Bosnia in Toronto. The Maple Leaves came flying out the starting blocks, showing plenty of intent as they began on the front foot.

But it was the visitors who opened the scoring against the run of play, as Jovo Lukuc nodded home from a corner midway through the first half.

That came following a spell of early Canada pressure and they should’ve been 1-0 up before then, with Jonathan David guilty of missing his side’s clearest opening.

But that didn’t deter them. Despite the absence of star player Alphonso Davies, the Canadians looked the more energetic and most likely side to score next, creating a host of chances.

And their efforts were rewarded 12 minutes from time.

Cyle Larin, on as a second-half substitute, spun brilliantly on the edge of the box and fired home a volley to secure his country’s first ever point in a World Cup finals.

But it was their neighbours, the USA, who would provide the spark on their opening night.

An unfortunate Damian Bobadilla own goal put the USMNT on their way early doors against Paraguay, before Folarin Balogun stole the show with two superb finishes to put his side 3-0 up by half-time and on their way to the top of Group D.

Paraguay substitute Mauricio pulled a goal back in the 73rd minute, but a brilliant trivela goal from Gio Reyna in stoppage time added extra gloss to the scoreline for the Americans, who can secure their place in the knockouts if they beat Australia next Friday.

There’s more work to do for Canada, but a win over Qatar on Thursday will give them one foot in the next round.