World Cup co-host Canada gets its campaign underway in Toronto when it takes on Bosnia and Herzegovina.Meanwhile Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey will miss his side's opener after being denied entry to Canada.Check out the full World Cup schedule here in Australian timesLater, the third of the tournament's hosts, the USA, will take on Paraguay in Los Angeles.Follow all the action in our live blog.Collapse all postsFilter PostsAll10Key Events2Canada vs Bosnia and Herzegovina5Sat 13 Jun 2026 at 4:54amSat 13 Jun 2026 at 4:54amRed card worries but Canada ready- Reuters(Getty Images)Yesterday's World Cup opener between Mexico and South Africa saw three red cards shown for just the sixth time at a World Cup.That means his side's discipline will be foremost on Canada coach Jesse Marsch's mind.Canada have collected a handful of red cards in their last 11 games, and with the adrenaline of a home opener in the air, Marsch was clear-eyed about the risk."Certainly one of the best ways to derail a tournament for any team is red cards," he said."We do need to be aggressive and play our way with speed and power, but we also need to make sure that we keep our heads and don't have any reckless tackles, extracurricular situations, or emotional reactions that get us in any kind of trouble with cards."Canada have made significant strides since Marsch took over in 2024, notably reaching the Copa America semi-finals that year.This is also the first time Canada have appeared at back-to-back World Cups, and they are still searching for their maiden point after six defeats across the 1986 and 2022 tournaments.Marsch declared his team ready."We are ready to play some big games," said Marsch."We are ready to make our country proud, make our fans proud. We are ready to go after this."Sat 13 Jun 2026 at 4:51amSat 13 Jun 2026 at 4:51amBeware of underdog Bosnia's biteBy Simon Smale- Reuters(Getty Images)Bosnia and Herzegovina know they are underdogs heading into their World Cup Group B opener against co-hosts Canada, coach Sergej Barbarez said yesterday.But he added that the Balkan nation will play with pride as they return to the tournament for the first time in 12 years.Bosnia will look to advance past the group stage this time around after managing one win during their 2014 debut in Brazil."We are a small country," Barbarez said."This is our second ever World Cup and for sure we are sort of an underdog in many of the matches ahead."But despite his side being ranked 64th, the coach is confident in his side's ability to perform on the world's biggest stage."If you know our results, I think you have to just admire what we've managed to achieve."Bosnia claimed one of the six final spots in the World Cup after defeating three-times champions Italy in a penalty shootout.They are heartbreakers who play with heart and will look to carry that same mentality into the tournament."[I once said] I love this game between David and Goliath," Barbarez said."We play with our hearts and that has been our advantage."Just an aside, Barbarez was all set to pursue his dream of becoming a professional poker player before he was approached to be Bosnia-Herzegovina coach.A pro gambler? Cue quips about rolling the dice, etc.Sat 13 Jun 2026 at 4:46amSat 13 Jun 2026 at 4:46amCanadians march to the stadiumBy Simon SmaleSat 13 Jun 2026 at 4:45amSat 13 Jun 2026 at 4:45amHeroes or 'villains'? Bosnia and Herzegovina make World CupBy Simon SmaleFor some absurd reason, SBS are painting Bosnia and Herzegovina as "villains" ahead of this game. Their crime?Well, they prevailed through the UEFA knock out phase of qualifying by beating Cymru (Wales) and then Italy in a penalty shoot out to deny the four-time champions their spot.I don't really know how that makes them villains, unless you're Italian or Welsh, I suppose.Anyway, if you want to relive how they got here, check out this piece.Sat 13 Jun 2026 at 4:39amSat 13 Jun 2026 at 4:39amBosnia and Herzegovenia looking to 'earn respect'By Simon Smale(Getty Images)Bosnia coach Sergej Barbarez is expecting a tough game against Canada, who are also aiming to reach the knockout stage for the first time.However, the Canadians face the added pressures of chasing their first ever World Cup win, while also playing on home soil."I am maybe exaggerating a bit but I'm sure [the game] is going to be quite intense, which is characteristic of both the teams," Barbarez said.While Canada will have the local crowd behind them, Bosnia will not be without strong support.The Dragons have enjoyed a warm welcome since arriving in Toronto, with fans flocking to the team's training sessions this week."We really want to show our best to the whole world," Barbarez said."We really want to be the team that earns respect and we can only do that by showing what we know on the pitch."Sat 13 Jun 2026 at 4:29amSat 13 Jun 2026 at 4:29amCanada shrugs off injury woesBy Simon Smale- Reuters(Getty Images)Jesse Marsch has a simple message for anyone wondering whether his Canada side are ready for the weight of a home World Cup: they are not just ready for it, they want it.Canada arrived at Toronto Stadium today for their first World Cup game on home soil carrying the weight of a nation after a build-up that has been defined as much by the treatment room as the training pitch, but Marsch is undaunted."If you do this for a living, this is where you want to be," Marsch said yesterday."I came to Canada to be the coach because I liked these guys and I believed they could fit the way I wanted to play, but I came here to lead them in the World Cup — in the home World Cup. I wanted this responsibility."The biggest injury concern remains captain Alphonso Davies, who will miss Friday's match with a hamstring injury suffered during Bayern Munich's Champions League semi-final last month.(Getty Images)But Marsch said an MRI on Wednesday brought encouraging signs."We're getting ready to ramp things up," the American said."He will not be available for tomorrow, but he's showing, like he always has, a real good ability to recover from muscle injuries. We're really hopeful that over the next days and weeks we can accelerate things and give him a chance to contribute here soon."Midfielder Ismael Kone sent a scare through the camp when he left training early on Wednesday before it had even properly begun, but Marsch was quick to put those fears to rest — with a touch of exasperation."He just felt a little sick, so we sent him home because we were doing nothing on the day, and it was like a five-star red alert," Marsch said."Ismael trained today, he's totally fine, he's ready to go."Even defender Moise Bombito, whose recovery from a broken leg appeared to stall after lasting just 30 minutes in a warm-up match against Uzbekistan, will be ready if called upon."He's not fully at 100 per cent, but he's reached his top speed," Marsch said."I don't see any reason that a week from now he's not ready to even be considered as a starter."Key EventSat 13 Jun 2026 at 4:24amSat 13 Jun 2026 at 4:24amStarting line ups: Canada vs Bosnia and HerzegovinaBy Simon SmaleHere's how the two teams line up for today's opener.Canada(X)The big news is that Alphonso Davies has not managed to recover his fitness in time - as was suspected in truth, so Stephen Eustáquio will captain Canada in his absence.Jonathan David, Canada's all-time leading scorer, and Tani Oluwaseyi will lead the attack for the hosts.A lovely story for Maxime Crépeau. He missed the last World Cup with a broken leg but now, on home soil, the Orlando City stopper will net-mind for the hosts.Bosnia and Herzegovina(X)For Bosnia Herzegovina, Edin Džeko, the nation's all-time leading goal scorer, will start on the bench.Džeko is 40, but was struggling with a shoulder injury which has limited his minutes in the lead up so I imagine he is being wrapped in cotton wool a bit.Džeko is Bosnia's all-time leading scorer with 73 goals.Atalanta defender Sead Kolašinac will start and captain the side.Sat 13 Jun 2026 at 4:14amSat 13 Jun 2026 at 4:14am'I prefer Canada over the United States right now'By Simon Smale- Reuters(Getty Images)Tickets remained unsold, an opening night fan festival was rained out and the top-ranking teams are playing in the US and Mexico but visitors arriving in Toronto are determined to enjoy the first-ever men's World Cup match played in Canada.They have come to watch the co-hosts kick off their campaign versus Bosnia and Herzegovina in Group B.Some travelled simply because Canada is not the US. Others are just stopping over for a pint, eyeing Canada's lower drinking age compared to the US."We are here in Toronto because of cheap flights, and we cannot drink in America because we are 20-year-olds," said Bryden from Scotland.Bryden and his other six friends, all dressed in the classic Scottish tartan, were roaming around the city's iconic CN Tower in search of a local bar on Thursday.(Getty Images)They planned to get their share of pints before driving down to Boston on Saturday, where Scotland play their first Group C game against Haiti, and the minimum drinking age limit is 21 compared with 19 in Toronto.Canada is also home to a large immigrant population from all over the world turning out to watch some of the visiting teams.Irfan, 41, a Canadian citizen originally from Bosnia and Herzegovina, travelled with his two children from Ottawa to cheer for his homeland on what he said was going to be a historic day for his country.The World Cup has faced criticism in Toronto for high ticket prices, congested traffic and a stadium expansion involving temporary seating.(Getty Images)On Thursday, city officials abruptly shut down a fan fest during the opening Mexico-South Africa match in Mexico City due to storm warnings.But that did not dampen the mood of fans who dispersed across the city's bars and public arenas to continue watching the game.Patrick Cicvak, 42, bought his tickets months ago in the hope of watching Canada play Italy. Cicvak paid C$1,300 ($1,315) for his ticket and is disappointed that Italy did not qualify."But that means we won't have the Italian crowd fighting against [fans from] the opposite team and more support for Canada," Cicvak said.Canada is also benefitting from a reputation for being nicer than its southern neighbour."I prefer Canada over the United States right now," said Maximilian Rott, who traveled from Munich, Germany, to watch the games in Toronto.Germany play the Ivory Coast in the Toronto Stadium on June 20. "But if Germany advances, I got to visit the States… " Rott, 26, said.Key EventSat 13 Jun 2026 at 4:02amSat 13 Jun 2026 at 4:02amGhana star Thomas Partey to miss openerBy Simon Smale(Getty Images)Breaking news first up and Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey will not take part in his team's World Cup game against Panama on Wednesday after his visa application to Canada was refused, FIFA said on Friday."FIFA can confirm that player Thomas Partey will be unable to travel from Ghana's Team Base Camp in Boston, USA, to Canada for their first match against Panama on Wednesday, 17 June, as his visa application has been refused by the Canadian government," FIFA said in a statement to Reuters.FIFA immediately washed its hands of the issue, saying it is "not involved in the immigration processes of host countries, including the adjudication of visas."Former Arsenal player Partey, who now plays in Spain with Villarreal, has pleaded not guilty to seven charges of rape and one count of sexual assault relating to allegations by four different women between 2020 and 2022.He is due to stand trial next year.Sat 13 Jun 2026 at 4:01amSat 13 Jun 2026 at 4:01amMorning allBy Simon SmaleHello everyone and welcome to day two of the FIFA World Cup!My name is Simon Smale and I am once again your host at this early stage of the morning to bring you all the action as the other two co-hosts of this tournament get their campaigns up and running in two delicious looking matches.First up we're in Canada where the hosts will look for their first ever World Cup win when they take on Bosnia and Herzegovina.Then we shift to the USA where Paraguay will look to disrupt the party in Los Angeles.We're all set for a big morning of football, so thank you for being with us.Email address