Canada head coach Jesse Marsch says he urged his players to seize their first-ever win at the World Cup during an animated team talk in their opening 1-1 draw with Bosnia and Herzegovina at the 2026 finals in Toronto.On his debut at the finals, Marsch saw his side fall behind to Jovo Lukics 21st-minute header and waste a succession of chances until Cyle Larin on after the former Leeds United boss had used the final water break to tell his players to beat a fading Bosnia and Herzegovina team earned them a point with a superb 78th-minute strike.We felt like we had them, Marsch told BBC Sport of his address to his team midway through the second period.I told them weve got them now its time to put your foot on the jugular and go for the goal.'Table of ContentsJesse Marsch analysis: Canada tentative in first halfWorld Cup 2026: Canada have to learn quickWorld Cup 2026: Canada team vs Bosnia and HerzegovinaWorld Cup 2026: Canada fixtures, schedule vs QatarWorld Cup 2026: Canada vs Bosnia and Herzegovina statsJesse Marsch analysis: Canada tentative in first halfLes Rouges, who had lost all six of their previous matches at the finals, enjoyed more than 61% of possession in their attempt to change that track record in the first game in Group B, finishing on an expected goals total from open play of 0.99 to the play-off winners 0.02.Promise David had been on the pitch for 17 minutes when the Union SG forward set up Larin, who had come on two minutes earlier, to level.The subs came on and made a big difference, observed Marsch. We were starting to push the game. The tempo got higher and we could see [our opponents] were fading.Im disappointed with the first half. I just felt we were tentative. We didnt play as aggressively as I would have liked.Weve got to find a way that when we say we want to be aggressive and play intensive and be hard to play against, that we actually do it.We talked about it afterwards and in the second half, from the first second we stepped on the pitch, it was different.World Cup 2026: Canada have to learn quickCanada would have scored sooner in the second half but for Sead Kolasinacs outstanding intervention to hook Richie Laryeas shot against the crossbar and away with goalkeeper Nikola Vasilj beaten.They are next in action in Vancouver on Thursday (23:00 BST) against a Qatar side who lost all three of their matches on their only previous appearance at the finals in 2022.I told them weve got to learn these lessons and weve got to learn them quick, Marsch said of Canadas profligacy.We still have everything in hand. Thats a really big point for us, to keep ourselves in the group and make sure were not losing any ground.But we have to make sure that the next performance is a reflection and a learning point from what we did today.The citys [Toronto] been alive this week, so weve really enjoyed being here. I expect Vancouver to be the same.All the red jerseys were outstanding. We need the same in Vancouver. Keep pushing this team, keep rooting on the goals.Weve got to give these guys confidence and make them believe they can really be winners. World Cup 2026: Canada team vs Bosnia and HerzegovinaMarsch made one change in attack from Canadas 1-1 draw with Ireland in Montreal on June 6, Tani Oluwaseyi supplanting Larin.Captain Alphonso Davies was out with a hamstring strain and centre-back Moise Bombito was not ready to start following a broken leg but midfielder Ismael Kone recovered after missing training with a fever on Wednesday.Forward Jayden Nelson replaced Marcelo Flores in the squad after the winger suffered a serious knee injury.Canada starting XI: Maxime Crepeau, Alistair Johnston, Luc De Fougerolles, Derek Cornelius, Richie Laryea, Tajon Buchanan, Ismael Kone, Stephen Eustaquio, Liam Millar, Jonathan David, Tani OluwaseyiCanada substitutes: Dayne St. Clair, Alfie Jones, Joel Waterman, Mathieu Choiniere, Cyle Larin, Jacob Shaffelburg, Moise Bombito, Owen Goodman, Alphonso Davies, Ali Ahmed, Jonathan Osorio, Niko Sigur, Promise David, Nathan Saliba, Jayden NelsonWorld Cup 2026: Canada fixtures, schedule vs QatarHeres when the action starts in different territories and the UK broadcaster.DateMatchTime (BST)ETPTChannelJune 18Canada vs Qatar23:0018:0015:00ITVWorld Cup 2026: Canada vs Bosnia and Herzegovina statsCanada are unbeaten in their last nine games (W5 D4) since a 1-0 home defeat to Australia in October 2025They have lost one of their last 29 games in Toronto (W18 D10)Defender Joel Waterman was also part of Canadas squad at the finals in 2022 but did not make an appearance and did not come on in this matchWith 39 goals in 78 appearances, Juventus forward David is Canadas record scorerLarin is their second-top all-time marksman of all time with 31 goals in 91 matches, although he had not added to that tally since netting in a friendly against Panama in Toronto in October 2024Bosnia and Herzegovina scored in all 10 of their qualifiers and are also unbeaten in nine matches (W2 D7, including friendlies) since a 2-1 home defeat to Austria in September 2025This was Bosnia and Herzegovinas first competitive match against CONCACAF opposition and they had drawn each of their last five games against all opposition (including friendlies)Dzeko could become the second-oldest outfield player ever to feature at the World Cup, behind Cameroons Roger Milla, who was 42 years and 39 days of age at the 1994 finals in the USAThe former Manchester City targetman is his countrys 143-cap all-time leading appearance-maker and 73-goal record scorer, netting six times during qualifyingBarbaraz did not win any of his first eight matches in charge but guided his side through their first successful play-off campaign for a major tournament at the sixth attempt Topics 2026 FIFA World Cup Bosnia and Herzegovina national football team Canada men's national soccer team FIFA World Cup World Cup World Cup 2026 Add us as a preferred source on Google If you enjoy reading this article, you can help support our independent football journalism by adding 101 Great Goals as a preferred source You Should Also Read World Cup 2026: Full list of confirmed teams, fixtures, groups and results Ben Miller 12th June, 2026 World Cup 2026: Full fixtures, dates, games, schedule and results from FIFA football finals Ben Miller 12th June, 2026 World Cup 2026: Canada 1-1 Bosnia and Herzegovina report, result, goals and why Cyle Larins goal was beautiful to make history for co-hosts Ben Miller 12th June, 2026 Canada v Bosnia-Herzegovina as it happened live: Commentary, updates, goals and stats from World Cup 2026 as Larin earns co-hosts historic result Jon Fisher 12th June, 2026 World Cup 2026 live: Jovo Lukic goal punishes co-hosts in Canada vs Bosnia and Herzegovina as Jesse Marsch is urged to get more belief Ben Miller 12th June, 2026 World Cup 2026 live: Canada vs Bosnia and Herzegovina confirmed teams and full line ups, TV channel, live online stream and stats Ben Miller 12th June, 2026
