Bosnia scores from a corner in World Cup opener against Canada

Bosnia and Herzegovina needed only one set piece to puncture the ceremony around Canada’s first home World Cup opener. In Toronto Stadium, BMO Field, a corner brought the ball into the area and Bosnia sent it into the net, seizing control of the emotional tone in the Group B match that began at 19:00 local time on June 12, 2026.

The strike landed with extra weight because of what this match represented. Bosnia and Herzegovina, led by Sergej Barbarez, had returned to the World Cup for only the second time in its history, while Canada was opening its first men’s World Cup campaign on home soil as a co-host. FIFA had billed the fixture as the Group B opener in Toronto, and the early goal instantly turned that stage into a pressure test for the hosts.

The setting amplified the moment. Toronto Stadium, better known as BMO Field, was originally built for the FIFA U-20 World Cup in 2007, and it now hosted one of the most significant nights in Canadian soccer history. Instead of a settled opening for the home side, Bosnia’s dead-ball threat seized the narrative, forcing Canada into an immediate chase and underscoring how dangerous a disciplined set-piece team can be in a tournament opener.

Bosnia’s squad also carried a clear edge in the box. Jovo Lukić was listed by FIFA as a Bosnia and Herzegovina forward for the 2026 World Cup, and recent profiles identified him as a center-forward for FC Universitatea Cluj. Born on November 28, 1998, in Šabac, Lukić was part of a Bosnia attack that arrived in Toronto with a reputation for making the most of limited chances, especially from static situations.

For Canada, the goal changed everything about the night’s rhythm. A debut that began as a celebration of hosting duties became a demand for composure under pressure, with Bosnia’s corner serving as the moment that flipped the emotional balance and made the co-host respond on the fly.