Captain Alphonso Davies was unavailable due to a hamstring issue and is not expected to play until at least Canada's second match. Center back Moïse Bombito, returning from a broken leg was available for manager Jesse Marsch. Bosnia, back at the World Cup for the first time since 2014 after eliminating Italy in the UEFA play-offs, fielded 40-year-old striker Edin Džeko and Kolašinac from that Brazil squad.
Head coach Sergej Barbarez said:
We are a small country, this is our second ever World Cup and for sure we are 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.
Christine Sinclair was in attendance for Canada's first men's World Cup home match. The same Friday schedule also had the USMNT opening group play against Paraguay, with President Trump calling the American side to wish them good luck ahead of that fixture.
Starting lineups
- Canada (4-4-2): Maxime Crépeau, Richie Laryea, Derek Cornelius, Luc De Fougerolles, Alistair Johnston, Liam Millar, Ismaël Koné, Stephen Eustáquio, Tajon Buchanan, Tani Oluwaseyi, Jonathan David.
- Bosnia and Herzegovina (4-4-2): Nikola Vasilj, Sead Kolašinac, Nihad Muharemović, Nikola Katić, Amar Dedić, Amar Memić, Benjamin Tahirović, Ivan Bašić, Esmir Bajraktarević, Ermedin Demirović, Jovo Lukic.
