The World Cup has finally arrived, with the tournament kicking off Thursday at the iconic Azteca Stadium in Mexico City. Mexico faced South Africa, while South Korea took on Czechia in Guadalajara. However, all of Canada's attention is on Toronto, where the national team prepares for its opening match Friday night against Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Bombito Makes the Cut
Good news broke Thursday morning: Moïse Bombito has been included on Canada's final roster. This indicates coach Jesse Marsch's confidence that the lingering pain from Bombito's healing broken leg will be manageable enough for him to compete. Bombito hobbled off after 30 minutes during last week's friendly against Uzbekistan.
However, whether he will start or even play against Bosnia at BMO Field remains a question. If not, 20-year-old Luc de Fougerolles will likely partner Derek Cornelius at centreback.
Critical Match for Canada
Friday's game is crucial for Canada's hopes of advancing from the group stage. Bosnia-Herzegovina, known as the Zmajevi, poses the greatest threat on paper for one of the top two spots. Former captain Atiba Hutchinson expressed confidence in the team's ability to compete with the best, recalling that only a single goal separated Canada from then-No. 2 Belgium in 2022.
"If everyone is feeling really good and we've got our full squad, then we're a dangerous team," Hutchinson said. "I still think there's another level the team can reach, as we saw in the Copa America. The sky's the limit for these guys."
Hutchinson cautioned that injuries, including Alphonso Davies's absence, make it essential for stars to emerge early. "You need one or two players playing at a very high level to hit good form early. A big result in the first game would be a huge relief."
Offensive Concerns
While Bombito bolsters the defense, questions remain up front. Canada has yet to win a World Cup match and has scored only one goal in the tournament's history, despite having striker Jonathan David, who plays in a top-five league.
FIFA Rankings Shake-Up
The latest FIFA rankings saw Argentina surge back to No. 1 for the first time since July 2025, knocking France down to third. Spain stays at No. 2, followed by France, England, Portugal, and Brazil. Morocco reached a historic high of No. 7. Canada remains unchanged at No. 33. Rankings serve as the third tiebreaker after goal differential and goals scored in group stage.
