Canada opens Group B against Bosnia with Davies on the bench

Canada begins its Group B campaign at BMO Field in Toronto against Bosnia, hoping to avoid becoming the only national team in history to lose seven World Cup matches in seven attempts. The Canadians have lost six of their previous World Cup games, matching El Salvador, and they are leaning on a strong home record in Toronto, where they have one defeat, 18 wins and nine draws.

Captain Alphonso Davies was included in the squad but is still unavailable after the injury he sustained with Bayern Munich in the Champions League semifinal. Maxime Crepeau, who missed the previous World Cup after breaking a leg 15 days before kickoff, starts in goal. Jonathan David leads the attack as he chases his 40th goal for Canada.

Bosnia, coached by Sergej Barbarez, leaves 40-year-old Edin Dzeko on the bench after he recovered from a shoulder injury that had sidelined him for the past month. Ivan Lukic starts up front alongside Stuttgart striker Armin Dedic, while defender Nidal Celik is out injured and has been replaced in the squad by Arjan Malic.

The match is officiated by Argentina’s Facundo Tello. Earlier on the opening day, Mexico beat South Africa 2-0, and the other Group B fixtures continue later in the group stage, including Canada against Qatar in Vancouver and Canada against Switzerland in Vancouver.