Bosnia's Esmir Bajraktarevic, left vies for the ball with Canada's Richie Laryea during the World Cup Group B soccer match between Canada and Bosnia in Toronto, Friday, June 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

TORONTO — Late substitute Cyle Larin scored in the 78th minute and co-host Canada earned its first point in its third World Cup appearance — and first on home soil — by rallying for a 1-1 draw against Bosnia-Herzegovina on Friday.

Playing in the shadow of Toronto’s iconic CN Tower, and in front of a sea of red “Ca-na-da!” chanting fans that included hockey star Connor McDavid and actor Ryan Reynolds, Larin converted Promise David’s pass a mere two minutes after entering the game.

The goal was only the second in World Cup play scored by Canada after the team lost all three of its games at the 1986 World Cup in Mexico and again four years ago at Qatar.

Injury fill-in Jovo Lukic headed in a corner kick in the 21st minute for Bosnia-Herzegovina, which is making its second World Cup appearance after failing to advance out of group play in 2014.

Starting in place of Edin Dzeko (shoulder) and Haris Tabakovic (undisclosed), Lukic was in a ideal position to cap a set piece with captain Sead Kolasinac flicking along a header off Ivan Basic’s corner kick. The goal was Lukic’s first in international play and coming in the 27-year-old attacker’s fourth international appearance.

Despite giving up the lead, the small Balkan nation of about 3 million people keeps coming up big on the international stage — including eliminating four-time champion Italy in the European playoffs.

Before Larin’s goal, Canada’s best scoring chance came in the 54th minute when captain Stephen Eustaquio fed the ball to Richie Laryea in front of a wide-open net. The ball deflected off Kolasinac’s foot and hit the crossbar.

Canada was playing without Alphonso Davies (hamstring), who scored the nation’s first World Cup goal four years ago in Qatar.

Canada now shifts to Vancouver for its final two group games, against Qatar on June 18 and Switzerland on June 24.

Tickets returned

SEATTLE — A youth-soccer nonprofit in Seattle returned 20 free World Cup tickets to protest the U.S. decision to bar Somali referee Omar Artan from entering the country.

The African Youth Sports Academy received the tickets to the round of 16 match next month as part of a program by the mayor’s office and the local FIFA organizing committee to provide 1,400 free tickets to World Cup games in Seattle.

The nonprofit’s executive director, Ali Abdulla, is himself a former professional soccer player and Somali refugee. He says coaches and parents together decided they wanted to show support and solidarity with Artan and the Somali community.

Not just a song

SARAJEVO, Bosnia-Herzegovina — The opening lyrics couldn’t be plainer: “I am from Bosnia; take me to America.” But by rewriting their classic “USA,” the Bosnian band Dubioza Kolektiv has transformed a song about disillusionment with the American Dream into a viral anthem powering Bosnia-Herzegovina’s own World Cup dreams. Bosnia-Herzegovina is making only its second appearance at a World Cup. The goal once seemed improbable, but the song has become a rallying cry that’s unified a divided country as the team qualified. Bosnia’s first match is Friday, against Canada.

Not allowed to play

TORONTO — Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey will not play in his team’s World Cup opener after Canada denied his visa application while he awaits trial in London on multiple charges of rape.

FIFA said Friday in a statement that the 32-year-old Partey won’t be able to travel from his team’s base camp in Smithfield, Rhode Island, for Ghana’s opening match with Panama in Toronto.

“His visa application has been refused by the Canadian government,” the governing body of world soccer said. “FIFA is not involved in the immigration processes of host countries, including the adjudication of visas. As with previous FIFA events, the host government ultimately determines who receives a visa and is admitted into the country.”

The Ghana soccer association did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada said in a statement that every person wanting to come to Canada is assessed individually “based on the facts available and the law that applies.”

Talk about pressure

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Coach Carlo Ancelotti is expected to lead Brazil to a record sixth World Cup title. Goalkeeper Alisson Becker says Ancelotti is under more pressure than the president of the country.

Brazil is unbeaten in 20 World Cup openers since 1934, winning 17 going into Saturday night’s match against African champion Morocco at East Rutherford, New Jersey. But Brazil hasn’t won the title since 2002 and has moved past the quarterfinals just once since.

Antelotti is from Italy. He’s the first non-Brazilian to coach the team at a World Cup. Brazil is ranked sixth in the world and Morocco seventh.

“We’re here to try to change history, try to put Brazil back to where it never should have left, which is at the top,” striker Vinicius Junior said Friday through an interpreter.