Jovo Lukic scored on a header from a set piece after Canada committed a foul on a counter attack on the right wing. Sead Kolasinac delivered the cross into the six-yard box, where Lukic flicked it into the left side of the net.
Canada and Bosnia kicked off at BMO Field in Toronto for the third game of the World Cup hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States. Social posts suggest Canada's national anthem was played in Toronto for the first time at a FIFA World Cup.
Weather Risks for the 38-Day Tournament
A few hours after Lionel Messi and the Argentine World Cup team checked into their training base in Kansas City, a series of thunderstorms pounded the area, knocking out power, felling trees, and bringing flood and tornado warnings.
Those conditions landed as the opening salvo of a disruptive weather system that could affect the 38-day competition, which kicks off next week with games in Mexico, Canada, and the U.S. The report framed the question of whether this could become the most dangerous World Cup ever, with climate change posing growing risks for players.
Norway Ends a Long World Cup Wait
From Norway to Jordan, World Cup newcomers are positioned to try to surprise on soccer's biggest stage. Julian Ryerson had not learned to walk the last time Norway played in the World Cup. He was just 7 months old then, and Norway went 0 for the 21st century when it came to World Cup qualifying.
That drought will finally end next week when Norway plays in the World Cup for the first time in nearly three decades.
It's been a long wait, especially for the Norwegian people. They've been waiting as long as I am old. So yeah, I think everybody's ready.
Bosnia-Herzegovina Embraces Underdog Role
Bosnia-Herzegovina made it to the World Cup on the last day of European qualifying. Now it faces one of the three co-hosts, Canada, in its opener. Forward Ermedin Demirovic said before practice Thursday that the underdog label does not bother the Balkan side.
Even if we are underrated or underdogs, we did something that everyone knows who we are. It's not a problem to be the underdog, to be honest,
Bosnia kicks off its second World Cup appearance Friday against Canada, a team that sits more than 30 places above it in the FIFA rankings. Bosnia is 64th, the lowest-ranked team in Group B.
Group B FIFA rankings from the source material:
- Switzerland: 19
- Bosnia-Herzegovina: 64
Coach Sergej Barbarez said Bosnia is a small country making its second ever World Cup and is sort of an underdog in many of the matches ahead.
But if you look at the previous 20 or so games there were only two teams that were ranked lower than us, and if you know our results, I think that you have to just admire what we've managed to achieve.
The Bosnians qualified for the World Cup via the European playoffs, defeating Wales in the semifinals and upsetting Italy in the finals. They advanced on penalties each time.
Midfielder Amar Memic said Bosnia's difficult qualifying road has prepared the team for the global stage.
I think that it shows how much quality we have that we can play these big games and that we are prepared.
Bosnia's only previous World Cup appearance was in 2014 in Brazil. The team lost to Argentina and Nigeria, then beat Iran and finished third in Group F.
Two players return from that squad: defender Sead Kolasinac and forward Edin Dzeko.
This time the team has brought along a viral song to the World Cup, "I Am from Bosnia - Take Me To America." On Friday, the Bosnians will at least be playing in North America, and blue jerseys were spotted on Toronto streets Thursday ahead of the opener.
