Canada takes to the pitch today for FIFA World Cup opener
Canada kicks off its 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign today in Toronto against Bosnia and Herzegovina, marking its first time hosting or co-hosting the tournament. The team, which previously appeared in 1986 and 2022, will play all three group-stage matches on home soil, including games against Qatar and Switzerland, as part of the expanded 48-team event.
Canada begins its 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign today in Toronto with a match against Bosnia and Herzegovina. As one of the tournament’s three co-hosts, Canada will stage all three of its group-stage games domestically, including fixtures against Qatar on June 18 in Vancouver and Switzerland on June 24. The 2026 World Cup, the 23rd edition of the men’s championship, runs from June 11 to July 19 and features 48 teams for the first time. Canada, Mexico, and the United States automatically qualified as hosts, with matches spread across 16 cities—11 in the U.S., three in Mexico, and two in Canada. Canada’s national team has participated in two prior World Cups, in 1986 and 2022. In 1986, they went winless in three group games, finishing 24th overall without scoring. In 2022, they again exited at the group stage after scoring twice but earning no points, with Alphonso Davies netting Canada’s first official World Cup goal. This tournament marks Canada’s debut as a host nation, expanding the event’s scale and geographic reach. The team’s opening match today sets the stage for their first home World Cup campaign.
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