Co-hosts Canada opened in Toronto with a share of the spoils against Bosnia & Herzegovina. A 1–1 draw that, in hindsight, only set the stage for the demolition Canada would unleash on Qatar six days later.

Canada controlled the game on the numbers — 61% possession, a 13-8 shot edge, 9 corners to 4, and 37 touches in the Bosnian box to just 15 — yet their 1.23 xG converted to only a single goal, an 78th-minute Cyle Larin equalizer, underlining how toothless the hosts were in the final third for long stretches. Bosnia, defending deep and fouling heavily (20 to Canada's 10), made their limited threat count: Jovo Lukic's 21st-minute header off a Sead Kolasinac set-piece was a clinical return on just 0.96 xG. With no red cards, the lopsided shot and corner counts simply reflect Canada's territorial dominance rather than any numerical advantage, and Bosnia's defensive resilience — anchored by man-of-the-match Nikola Katic — held the co-hosts to a draw they ultimately rescued late.