Canada enters World Cup opener as favourites - Odds point towards a winning start

Canada will open against Bosinia and Herzegovina for their first World Cup match on June 12 in Toronto. 

The match is the first of three Groub B games that will determine whether Canada advances to the knockout stage. A win in the opener would put Canada in a strong early position as they look to move beyond the group stage.

Sportsbooks, such as Betway, currently list Canada as the favourite to win the match. Betway has Canada priced at -125, which gives them an implied probability of 55.6%.

Although Canada is expected to perform well in their first game, the outcome isn't fully secure. 

Bosnia has enough experience and structure to make the game uncomfortable, especially if Canada struggles to control possession. Edin Dzeko remains the obvious threat, and Bosnia's physicality and ability to slow the game down could test Canada's center backs. 

There's also uncertainty surrounding whether or not Alphonso Davies will be able to play in the opener, due to a hamstring injury while playing in the Champion's League semi-final. Without Davies, Canada will be playing without one of their most dangerous transition threats.

Despite these concerns, Canada also has a lot going for them. They are playing at home in Toronto, they have the more explosive transition pieces, and Bosnia and Herzegovina are a more manageable team to face against than some of the higher ranked European teams they could have faced. 

From a group stage perspective, Canada most likely views this match as the clearest path to three points before later games, especially with Switzerland waiting for them in their third match. A win here would immediately put Canada in a strong position to reach the knockout rounds.

Canada's group stage schedule is now set for the 2026 World Cup. Their first three matches will be against other teams in Group B: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Qatar, and Switzerland.

• Canada vs. Bosinia and Herzegovina: June 12th 3:00pm EDT
• Canada vs Qatar: June 18th 7:00pm EDT
• Canada vs Switzerland: June 24th 3:00pm EDT

Up to three countries from each group can advance to the knockout stage. Teams will earn points based on their results in each match, with three points awarded for a win, one point for a draw, and zero points for a loss. 

The top two teams from each group automatically move on to the knockout stage, while the eight best third-place teams across all twelve groups will also qualify.