Bosnia looked set to walk away from Toronto Stadium with all three points when Jovo Lukic gave them the lead in the 21st minute and Larin fired home.
This edition marks Canada’s third appearance at the World Cup. In the past two World Cups, Canada has never earned a point, making their single point at Toronto Stadium on Friday historic. Canada lost all three matches at the 1986 World Cup in Mexico and four years earlier in Qatar 2022.
Canada has also scored just twice in their last six World Cup group games (one of those goals was an own goal).
As one of the tournament’s three hosts, Canada was playing its first World Cup match on home soil.
“I think the crowd got us into the game because (the players) felt that energy pick up more and more in the second half,” Canada coach Jesse Marsh said.
The US had little history to claim in their big win against Paraguay. Folarin Balogun scored twice in the Americans’ historic three-goal first half, and the US opened its first home World Cup in 32 years with its biggest win of the tournament.
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The co-hosts wowed their Southern California fans with an aggressive attack and took a 3-0 halftime lead – the team’s biggest in any World Cup game. Gio Reina scored another goal in second-half injury time to give the Americans four goals in a World Cup game for the first time.
The party refused the visa
Canada has denied the visa of Ghanaian midfielder Thomas Partey, following a controversy over the US’s denial of entry to Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan.
The former Arsenal player is currently awaiting trial in London on multiple rape charges. He has pleaded not guilty.
An Associated Press report said the party is set to hold hearings in November this year. Rape allegations are in his arsenal from 2020-25. He has since left the club and now plays for Villarreal in Spain.
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“His visa application has been rejected by the Canadian government,” FIFA said. “FIFA is not involved in the host countries’ immigration process, including visa decisions. As with previous FIFA events, the host government ultimately decides who gets a visa and is allowed into the country.”
The Associated Press cited the response from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. Each person seeking to come to Canada is assessed individually “based on the available facts and applicable law,” it said in a statement.
“Canada is proud to be the host nation for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and is working to deliver a successful event while maintaining the safety and security of Canadians,” IRCC said in a statement. “Hosting big events doesn’t change Canada’s immigration laws, it’s still Canada.”
Ghana coach Carlos Queiroz has repeatedly defended his decision to include the party in the squad despite the seriousness of the allegations against him.
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“Let events continue as normal, let the river flow and one day when the river meets the sea we will find the truth,” Queiroz said ahead of the warm-up game in Wales.
“Today, and it’s not just about Thomas, unfortunately with social media and the way the media sometimes behaves with complete and total impunity, we are slandered before we have a chance to defend ourselves,” Queiroz had said.
“If the player is with me, my answer is clear, so I don’t need to comment on my own decisions,” said the coach, who was appointed by Ghana in April.
Palestine official denied US visa
Another visa-related controversy erupted on Friday after the head of the Palestinian Football Federation claimed he had not been granted a US visa for the World Cup. Jibril Rajoub, who attended the FIFA World Cup opener between Mexico and South Africa on Thursday, was still in Mexico City awaiting permission to enter the United States along with other confederation heads attending the World Cup.
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The Associated Press reported that he was cleared to participate in the World Cup.
The Palestinian team did not qualify for the World Cup, but FIFA specifically invites the heads of football associations around the world to the tournament every four years, which it frames as a celebration of global unity.
Palestinian Football Association head Rajoub recently made headlines when he refused to shake hands during a FIFA council meeting or appear in the same frame for a photo with his Israeli counterpart despite FIFA president Gianni Infantino’s best efforts to shake hands.