Bosnia-Herzegovina open World Cup against co-hosts Canada Friday

World Cup opens Friday – here's what to expect

Your opener is set. Bosnia-Herzegovina faces Canada on Friday, June 12, at 21:00 in their first Group B match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup (1) (2) (3). Canada are co-hosts, and the atmosphere will be electric. Group B also includes Qatar and Switzerland. This is the tournament's second matchday, with two games scheduled on Friday (3).

Why this match matters

Group B is wide open. Switzerland enter as the seeded side, but Canada, buoyed by home support, and a Qatar team with recent tournament experience make this a group where every point counts. A result against the hosts on opening night would give you a serious foothold heading into the Switzerland and Qatar fixtures.

What to expect from Canada

Canada qualified automatically as co-hosts but proved in 2022 they belong on this stage, when they pushed Belgium and Croatia hard despite exiting in the group stage. They'll press high and lean on the home crowd. This is not a comfortable opener for anyone.

Bosnia's road here

You earned this. A dramatic playoff run ended with 21-year-old Esmir Bajraktarević, the Wisconsin-born winger, burying the decisive penalty against Italy – one of the shocks of the qualifying cycle. The squad blends experience and fearless youth, and they arrive in North America with nothing to lose.

Fan reactions

The Reddit preview series summed it up bluntly: "Chaos, Poker, and One Last Dance." Fans see this as a generation's final shot at something memorable, with Bajraktarević's penalty heroics already etched into folklore. There's nervous excitement about the Canada opener – the host factor is real, but so is the belief that this Bosnia side can surprise. Full preview thread on r/soccer