Co-hosts Canada will look to make history when they begin their FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign against Bosnia and Herzegovina on Thursday, aiming to secure their first victory at football’s biggest tournament.
Despite qualifying for three World Cups, Canada have yet to win a match on the global stage, losing all six games played at the 1986 and 2022 tournaments. With home support behind them and a squad packed with talent, expectations are higher than ever.
Head coach Jesse Marsch has repeatedly stressed that his team is not attending the tournament simply to make up the numbers.
“We want to win the World Cup,” Marsch said previously, reflecting the growing confidence within a Canadian side that has risen steadily up the FIFA rankings over the past decade.
Canada’s progress under Marsch was highlighted by an impressive run to the semi-finals of the 2024 Copa America, where they narrowly missed out on third place after a penalty shootout defeat to Uruguay.
The hosts will rely heavily on key players including Alphonso Davies of Bayern Munich and striker Jonathan David of Juventus as they seek a breakthrough result in Group B.
While Bosnia-Herzegovina represent the opening challenge, many expect Switzerland to be Canada’s toughest opponent in the group.
The Swiss are appearing at their sixth consecutive World Cup and have built a reputation as one of Europe’s most consistent tournament teams. They reached the knockout stages in each of the last three World Cups and impressed at UEFA Euro 2024, eliminating Italy before losing to England on penalties.
Switzerland’s attack is expected to be led by Breel Embolo, supported by Dan Ndoye and Rubin Vargas. Veteran midfielder Granit Xhaka is set to feature at what could be his fourth and final World Cup.
Bosnia-Herzegovina, meanwhile, return to the tournament for only the second time in their history. Much attention will focus on veteran striker Edin Džeko, who is set to appear at the World Cup 12 years after featuring in the country’s debut tournament in 2014.
The 40-year-old played a crucial role in Bosnia’s qualification campaign, scoring an important playoff goal before helping his side secure a surprise victory over Italy on the road to qualification.
Bosnia will also look to younger talents such as Esmir Bajraktarevic and Kerim Alajbegovic to provide attacking spark.
Like Canada, Qatar are still searching for their first World Cup victory after losing all three matches at the 2022 tournament on home soil.
Now coached by Julen Lopetegui, Qatar hope experience and improved preparation can help them become more competitive. However, expectations remain modest as they face another difficult group-stage challenge.
For Canada, the objective is clear. After years of steady growth and increased investment in football, the hosts have a chance to rewrite their World Cup history and finally record the first tournament victory the nation has been chasing for four decades.
