MATCH PREVIEW:
Two days into the 2026 World Cup and empty seats have already become a talking point.
There appeared to be plenty of empty seats in Guadalajara during South Korea’s 2-1 victory against Czech Republic last night, but Fifa say that the near-capacity 44,985 attendance announced was accurate.
Fifa say the attendance was based on “verified operational data” and included all those present within the “stadium footprint”.
A Fifa spokesperson said: “Official attendance figures reflect the number of tickets scanned and spectators present within the stadium footprint, rather than visual assessments of seating occupancy at any given moment during the match.
“Fifa works closely with stadium authorities and ticketing teams to ensure all published figures are based on verified operational data.
“Please note that, during [Thursday’s] match in Guadalajara, several ticketed fans could be seen standing in concourses rather than staying in their assigned seats throughout the match.”
ANALYSIS:
Co-hosts Canada welcome Bosnia and Herzegovina to the Toronto Stadium for their opening World Cup fixture, as they look to get off to a dream start in Group B.
It will mark the first men’s FIFA World Cup match hosted on Canadian soil, with the country also staging its own opening ceremony, headlined by Michael Bublé.
Alongside co-hosts the United States and Mexico, Canada automatically qualified for the World Cup, while opponents Bosnia secured their place after upsetting Italy on penalties to reach their second World Cup.
Canada will make their third appearance at the World Cup, having previously qualified for Mexico 1986 and Qatar in 2022.
It will be the first time that Canada have qualified for back-to-back World Cup tournaments, following their last appearance four years ago.
Canada have ever only scored twice at a World Cup, once through an own goal against Morocco and one against Croatia at Qatar 2022.
The hosts have lost their last six World Cup matches, but head into the 2026 tournament unbeaten in their last eight games, having built a strong defensive record that includes six clean sheets.
Jesse Marsch’s men will go into the match against Bosnia hoping to secure a victory on home turf in front of their home supporters.
Alphonso Davies will be a doubt for Canada due to a hamstring injury, while Jayden Nelson has been called up as a replacement for Marcelo Flores, who has been ruled out after suffering an ACL injury.
Meanwhile, Bosnia and Herzegovina head into the match unbeaten in their last six games in all competitions.
But they will be searching for their first win against CONCACAF side since a 1-0 friendly win over Mexico in Chicago in 2014.
Bosnia came close to progressing past the group stage at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil but missed out by a single point to Nigeria.
In that campaign they won one match and lost twice in the Group stage.
In recent matches Sergej Barbarez’s men ended their recent friendlies 0-0 and 1-1 against North Macedonia and Panama.
It will be the first ever time that Bosnia and Herzegovina have faced Canada at a FIFA World Cup, although the two sides have met twice previously in other competitions.
Those meetings ended with one win for Bosnia and one draw, with their most recent encounter taking place seven years ago.
The match will kick off at 3pm local time in Toronto, people viewing in the UK can watch the match at 8pm and will be shown on the BBC in the UK, Fox/Fox one in the US and TSN/CTV/Crave in Canada.
When Bosnia made their World Cup debut in 2014, few thought they would have to wait 12 years to return to the world’s biggest stage.
Bosnia’s golden generation – including Edin Dzeko, Miralem Pjanic, Asmir Begovic and Emir Spahic – narrowly missed out on a place in the knockouts in Brazil after winning once and losing twice.
Dzeko and defender Sead Kolasinac are the only survivors of that generation – Dzeko scored six goals as Bosnia lost just one of their 10 qualifying matches before beating Wales and Italy on penalties in the play-offs.
PREDICTIONS:
Sadiq’s Prediction: Canada may be under pressure as co-hosts, but they possess enough quality and attacking depth to edge a closely contested encounter. Even if Alphonso Davies is not fully fit, the Canucks still have dangerous attacking options in Jonathan David, Cyle Larin and Nigerian-born forward Oluwaseyi, who can trouble Bosnia’s compact defence.
Tactically, Canada are likely to dominate possession and use their pace on the flanks to stretch Bosnia’s backline. Bosnia have built a reputation as a stubborn defensive unit, highlighted by their shock World Cup qualifying victory over Italy, but sustaining defensive concentration for 90 minutes against a host nation backed by a passionate crowd may prove difficult.
With the home crowd pushing them forward, Canada’s attacking quality could make the difference.
My prediction: Canada 2-1 Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Peter’s Prediction: This could be one of the tournament’s first major upsets. Bosnia have embraced the underdog role throughout their recent rise and have repeatedly shown they can compete with higher-ranked opponents.
The pressure will be entirely on Canada. Playing in front of a home crowd can inspire a team, but it can also create anxiety if things do not go according to plan. Bosnia’s strategy will likely be to absorb pressure, frustrate the hosts and strike on the counter-attack.
Canada’s possible loss of Alphonso Davies is significant. His explosive runs and ability to drive transitions are central to Canada’s attacking identity. Without him, Bosnia may find it easier to contain the hosts and exploit spaces left behind when Canada push forward.
Having remained unbeaten in their preparatory matches and already demonstrated resilience against elite opposition, Bosnia have the tactical discipline and defensive organisation to spring a surprise.
My prediction: Canada 1-2 Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Gbenga’s Prediction: A draw may represent the smartest prediction given the circumstances surrounding both teams. Canada enter the tournament carrying the burden of expectation as co-hosts, while Bosnia arrive with confidence and nothing to lose.
Bosnia’s recent record against stronger opponents, including their famous qualification triumph over Italy, shows they are comfortable frustrating technically superior teams. Their defensive structure and counter-attacking approach could limit Canada’s opportunities.
Canada, meanwhile, drew two of their three warm-up matches against Ireland and Tunisia, suggesting they can struggle when facing well-organised opponents. If Bosnia remain compact and disciplined, they could leave with a valuable point.
My prediction: Canada 1-1 Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Gloria’s Prediction: This could be one of the tightest matches of the opening round. Bosnia are organised, disciplined and difficult to break down, but Canada’s superior ranking and individual talent may ultimately prove decisive.
The likely absence of Alphonso Davies could reduce Canada’s attacking threat from the left flank, forcing them to rely more on quick combinations through midfield and the finishing ability of Jonathan David. Canadian-born Nigerian stars Ahmed Ibrahim and Tani Oluwaseyi also provide additional energy and direct running in attack.
Bosnia’s unbeaten run in their warm-up games suggests they will not be easy opponents, but their tendency to sit deep could invite sustained Canadian pressure.
One goal may be enough to separate the teams.
My prediction: Canada 1-0 Bosnia and Herzegovina.
PREVIOUS MATCHES RECAP
Match Recap: Mexico 2–0 South Africa
Three players were sent off as World Cup co-hosts Mexico defeated South Africa in a dramatic opening match at a packed Azteca Stadium, in a contest that swung from early control to disciplinary chaos before ending in a composed home victory.
South Africa finished with nine men, while Mexico were reduced to 10 in the closing moments, as Brazilian referee Wilton Sampaio produced a flurry of red cards that defined the tone of the evening. He dismissed South Africa’s Yaya Sithole for denying a goalscoring opportunity and Themba Zwane for a slap, before also sending off Mexico’s César Montes for a late foul.
Only four red cards were shown in the entire Qatar 2022 World Cup, making the three dismissals in this opening fixture—an unprecedented occurrence in a tournament opener—all the more remarkable.
Yet long before the match descended into disciplinary drama, Mexico had already ignited the home crowd.
The hosts delighted their fans with the first goal of the finals after only nine minutes. South Africa midfielder Sithole was tackled by Erik Lira, and the loose ball fell kindly to Julián Quiñones, whose powerful strike slipped through the legs of goalkeeper Ronwen Williams to give Mexico an early lead.
Quiñones came close to doubling the advantage just before half-time, but his first-time effort from 12 yards struck the outside of the right post, keeping South Africa within reach going into the break.
The turning point arrived early in the second half when Sithole was shown a straight red card five minutes after the restart for bringing down Brian Gutiérrez when he was through on goal. From that moment, Mexico’s control of the game became even more pronounced.
Striker Raúl Jiménez, 35, later sealed the victory with his first World Cup goal, rising to powerfully head in Roberto Alvarado’s cross for Mexico’s second. The moment appeared to move the veteran forward to tears as he celebrated a landmark goal on football’s biggest stage.
South Africa, returning to the World Cup for the first time since hosting the tournament in 2010, saw their challenge collapse further when substitute Themba Zwane was sent off for slapping Alvarado in the face, leaving them with nine men.
Seventeen-year-old Mexico midfielder Gilberto Mora, the youngest player in this tournament, was introduced in the second half, adding a symbolic moment for the hosts amid the chaos and celebration.
Mexico’s own disciplinary setback came late on when César Montes was sent off for a foul on Khuliso Mudau, but by then the outcome had already been effectively sealed, with the hosts maintaining their two-goal advantage until the final whistle.
In the end, it was a match defined as much by emotion and indiscipline as by football, with Mexico’s early strike and composed finishing proving decisive in a World Cup opener that rarely settled into rhythm.
Match Recap: South Korea 2–1 Czech Republic
South Korea produced a dramatic comeback victory, and the match was ultimately defined by bold managerial decisions, tactical resilience, and a decisive late impact from the bench.
“I didn’t think it was the right decision at the time [to take off captain Son Heung-Min for Oh Hyeon-Gyu] but it was the right decision because he brings him on and he is the match winner,” summed up the turning point that shaped the contest. The substitution, initially questioned, proved decisive as the replacement played a key role in sealing the result.
“That’s why you get paid the big money to be the manager at these major tournaments,” came the verdict, underlining how elite-level coaching decisions can shift the course of a World Cup match.
For South Korea, this was more than just three points. South Korea know how much of a big win and big three points this is, it gives them confidence moving forward now for the rest of the tournament. Once they fell behind, they responded with character, showing quality in the final third and composure under pressure.
There is also a strong belief in their progression. “I think they will make it through to the knockout stages,” was the assessment, highlighting how this result could shape their campaign. Once you get that three points, you give yourself a great chance of qualifying through to the next stages.
South Korea’s attacking quality was also reflected in the statistics of their winning goal. The move leading to Hwang In-Beom’s excellent strike came after a 25-pass build-up, which equalled the fifth-longest passing sequence leading to a goal in the FIFA World Cup since 1966, a clear demonstration of their technical control and patience in possession.
In contrast, Czech Republic improved after the break. Czech Republic were a much better team in the second half. However, despite their improved intensity, South Korea remained more threatening in key moments. South Korea were probably the better team, they edged it with the quality they had going forward and they could bring on players off who could turn a game for them.
The tactical setup of the Czechs was also evident. Czech Republic set up to contain South Korea, but it wasn’t enough, and now they are left needing to respond in their next fixture. The assessment was blunt: It wasn’t good enough and now they have to come again against South Africa. The tournament is not over for them, they have to think whether they can respond in the next game.
From a historical perspective, the win further strengthens South Korea’s World Cup record. This is South Korea’s eighth all-time win at the FIFA World Cup and the fourth by a 2-1 scoreline, with a recurring pattern of resilience as they conceded the opening goal in all four of those victories.
Their consistency in tournament openers was also highlighted. South Korea have lost only one of their last seven opening matches at the FIFA World Cup dating back to 2002 (W4 D2), a 1-0 defeat to Sweden in 2018.
There was also a landmark note for their captain. Son Heung-Min is now the second player to appear in four different FIFA World Cups for South Korea (2014–2026), joining current manager Hong Myung-Bo (1990–2002), further cementing his place in national football history.
Looking ahead, both teams now shift focus quickly. Czech Republic will face South Africa on Thursday, 18 June (17:00 BST), while South Korea take on World Cup co-hosts Mexico on Friday, 19 June (02:00), in what promises to be another defining test for both sides in their group campaign.