On June 12, Group B of the World Cup kicks off. At 22:00, the national teams of Canada and Bosnia and Herzegovina will take to the field. The next match in the group, featuring Qatar and Switzerland, will take place the following day at the same time.

Canada: A Historic Chance at a Home World Cup

For the Canadian national team, this tournament is an event of exceptional importance. It is not only a home World Cup but also only the third time the "Maple Leafs" have participated in the final stage of the tournament. Canada first played in the World Cup in 1986 in Mexico, but their performance was unsuccessful: three defeats, no goals scored, and five goals conceded in a group with France, the USSR, and Hungary.

The next chance came only 36 years later. At the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, the Canadians again finished without points, losing to Morocco, Croatia, and Belgium. However, this time they managed to score two goals—one against Croatia and one against Morocco.

Leaders of the Canadian National Team

Among the key players of the team stand out two footballers with similar surnames—Alphonso Davies and Jonathan David.

  • Alphonso Davies — a 25-year-old left-back who has played for "Bayern" since 2019. During this time, he has won numerous titles: the Champions League, the UEFA Super Cup, the Club World Cup, seven Bundesliga championships, and three German Cups. He is also recognized as the CONCACAF Player of the Year and the Canadian Footballer of the Year.
  • Jonathan David — a 26-year-old forward who shone at "Lille," where he scored 109 goals in 232 matches over five seasons. Last year, he moved to "Juventus," but his adaptation to the Turin club has been difficult so far: only 8 goals in 46 matches.

The head coach of the Canadian national team is 52-year-old American Jesse Marsch. He has extensive experience working within the Red Bull structure: he coached "New York Red Bulls" (2015–2018), "RB Salzburg" (2019–2021), "RB Leipzig," and "Leeds United" (2022–2023). In 2024, Marsch took charge of the Canadian national team, and his work was so impressive to the federation that a new four-year contract was signed with him ahead of the World Cup.

Bosnia and Herzegovina: A Sensation in Qualification

The Bosnia and Herzegovina national team performed a true feat in qualification. Under the leadership of Sergej Barbarez, the team reached the playoffs, where they defeated Wales and Italy in turn. The match against the Italians is particularly memorable, where the Bosnians won on penalties—a result that will likely haunt Italian footballers in their nightmares.

This is the second time Bosnia and Herzegovina has participated in the World Cup. They first competed in 2014 in a group with Argentina, Nigeria, and Iran. At that time, the team lost to Argentina (1:2) and Nigeria (0:1) but defeated Iran (3:1), finishing third in the group with three points.

Stars of the Bosnian Team

The main figure in the Bosnia and Herzegovina national team remains Edin Džeko. Despite being 40 years old, he continues to demonstrate excellent form. He started the last season at "Fiorentina" and moved to "Schalke" in the winter, with whom he returned to the Bundesliga. In the spring, Džeko scored 6 goals in 11 matches in the second Bundesliga. In the national team, he is not only a legend but also the top scorer and the player with the most caps for the national team.

The coach of the national team is Sergej Barbarez—a legendary forward who previously played in the Bundesliga for "Bayer" and "Hamburg." For the national team, he played 17 matches and scored 17 goals. Back in 2009, Barbarez declared his desire to coach the Bosnia and Herzegovina national team. His dream came true 15 years later—in 2024, he became the head coach and led the team to the 2026 World Cup.

Switzerland: An Experienced Player in World Football

The Swiss national team is one of the most experienced participants in World Cups. They competed twice in the 1930s, reaching... (further information is missing from the source).

At the 2026 World Cup, Switzerland will meet Qatar. The team, led by captain Granit Xhaka, is ready to show its class and experience on the international stage.