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There’s a whack of Toronto police officers up in the Bosnian fan zone. I can't tell from here what's happening, but it's not stopping the fun. The fans are dancing as one as their unofficial anthem by Dubioza Kolektiv hits the PA. 

If you haven’t heard this song, give it a watch immediately.

Everyone's singing along with: "I am from Bosnia / Take me to America / I really want to see / Statue of Liberty."

Our colleague Mouhamad turned to me and said: "Those fans are really going to test the structural integrity of the upper deck today."

Bosnia World Cup fans explain why it's more than just a game

A former goalkeeper for Canada's men's team predicts they'll be in for a tough game against Bosnia-Herzegovina. 

"That's gotta give them a lot of motivation."

Looking past the opener, Forrest said he has high hopes for Canada and thinks they stand a chance of making it to the Round of 16, especially after their stellar performance at Copa America in 2024, where they reached the semifinals. 

"That's going to be their goal. But I'm tempering my excitement around that right now."

If anything, they'll get to have the unique opportunity of playing a World Cup game on home turf, he said. 

"Nobody really knows what it is like to play a World Cup at home. There are very few footballers that have ever experienced it."

Bosnia-Herzegovina is also shaping up in a 4-4-2 formation, but it's Sead Kolašinac who captains the squad in today's opener instead of Bosnian legend Edin Dzeko.

The 40-year-old Dzeko starts on the bench. He scored in Bosnia's 3-1 win over Iran in the 2014 FIFA World Cup, their only victory in the competition to date. 

Ermedin Demirović and Jovo Lukić lead the line for the European side, with the midfield four comprised of Benjamin Tahirović and Ivan Bašić in the middle and Amar Memić and Esmir Bajraktarević on the wings.

Kolašinac, Tarik Muharemović, Amar Dedić and Nikola Katić make up Bosnia's defensive line, in front of goalkeeper Nikola Vasilj.

Marsch named Quebecer Maxime Crépeau as the country's starting goalkeeper last week, settling a years-long competition with Ontario's Dayne St. Clair for the top job. 

Marsch said it was the "hardest decision I've had to make in my coaching career", according to The Canadian Press. 

Crépeau watched the last men's World Cup from his couch with a cast around his leg after suffering a fracture just days before he was set to fly to the tournament in Qatar. 

"There's some moments that can push you to difficult places mentally, physically," Crépeau said after getting the top goalie spot. "But what I'm proud of is that I was always able to come back from moments, whether good or bad. I was able to see what's next, what's in front of me."

Crépeau also heaped praise on St. Clair, saying the two are very close.

"I cannot say [enough] amazing words about Dayne and his personality."

Crépeau helped justify Marsch's decision by making a crucial save in Canada's friendly draw with Ireland last Friday.

Canada's run-up to the tournament has been less than ideal, with a string of injuries meaning Marsch wasn't be able to select his preferred starting lineup against Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Most notably, captain Alphonso Davies won't play today as he continues to recover from a hamstring injury. Davies hasn't seen a great deal of action for his club Bayern Munich this past season due to a series of injuries that have blighted him since he tore an ACL in March 2025.

High school coach Greg Spagnoli jokes that there must be something in the water in Brampton, Ont., where he's coached three players who've ended up on the Canadian men's national team — two of whom are in that starting lineup: Buchanan, Larin and Jonathan Osorio.

"Soccer's a global game," said Spagnoli, a teacher at St. Edmund Campion Secondary School. "And when you get a lot of immigrant families and cultures with a diversity such as we have in Brampton … I think it just breeds opportunity for success."

Spagnoli could see promise in all three players early in high school, from the decisions they'd make on the pitch to "a maturity in understanding the game."

He said his job was to give them the space to experiment and flourish.

Chrys Chrysanthou, a youth coach for Buchanan says he saw that confidence grow first hand.

"He believed in what he was capable of. He did the work, he put in the effort," Chrysanthou said, adding that belief can make all the difference in a young athlete's career.

"It's not about the skill set, it's not about the hours — they all do that. It's about the mindset, it's about that unconditional belief in yourself that no one can say 'no' to you."

Marsch is only sending 11 players onto the field today, but he told Canadian soccer fans to be the 12th man.

"We need you guys in the streets, in the stadiums, to show up, to wear red, to show Canadian pride," the Canadian coach said. 

One fan launched a similar appeal on Reddit (note: I've cleared up the punctuation and capitalization here).

"If you're going on Friday, genuinely give everything in the stands. If we as fans can make our players one per cent better, why wouldn't we do everything we can to make that happen?"

Canada's first starting 11 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup is out, and it's Tani Oluwaseyi — not Cyle Larin — who gets the start alongside Jonathan David up front. 

Larin started both of Canada's World Cup preparation matches, but wasn't able to make much of an impact. On the other hand, Oluwaseyi bagged two assists in the 2-0 win over Uzbekistan.

Behind them, Stephen Eustáquio captains a midfield that also includes Tajon Buchanan, Liam Millar and Ismaël Koné.

The defensive four comprises Alistair Johnston on the right and Richie Laryea on the left, with Luc de Fougerolles and Derek Cornelius the two centre-backs.

Maxime Crépeau gets the nod as goalkeeper. He was spectacular in Canada's 1-1 draw with Ireland in Montreal. 

Max Crépeau is blowing kisses to the fans as he jogs onto the field while Born to be Wild plays.  

And now it's a standing ovation as the rest of the Canadian team hits the field. 

That was a great opening ceremony complete with some spectacular pyrotechnics.

But there are still plenty of empty seats in the lower level across from the press box. 

One hour to go until kickoff.

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