The 2026 FIFA World Cup has officially kicked off, and the excitement is already palpable across North America. On June 13, 2026, Canada hosted Bosnia and Herzegovina at Toronto’s BMO Field in what was billed as one of the most unpredictable and intriguing matchups of the tournament’s early stages. Yet, as the teams lined up for the opening whistle, two notable absentees—Edin Dzeko and Alphonso Davies—cast a shadow over the proceedings, and the stands themselves told a story of their own.
Edin Dzeko, Bosnia and Herzegovina’s 40-year-old talisman and striking icon, was left out of the starting lineup due to a tactical decision by the coaching staff. The move was not without reason. Dzeko has faced several injury setbacks in recent months, most notably a nagging shoulder injury sustained during the dramatic March international window when Bosnia and Herzegovina clinched their World Cup berth with a heart-stopping playoff victory over Italy. Since then, Dzeko has been on a careful rehabilitation plan, with the medical staff and coaching team opting to manage his minutes to ensure he remains a potent weapon off the bench as the tournament unfolds. According to the squad list, Dzeko successfully made the final 26-man roster, a clear sign that he is expected to play a major role in the coming matches.
He’s not the only superstar on the sidelines. Canada’s own Alphonso Davies, widely regarded as the face of Canadian soccer, was also absent from the match. While the reasons for Davies’ absence have not been detailed, his omission was a significant blow to the home side, who were looking to leverage their home-field advantage in front of an expectant crowd.
But what about that crowd? Despite the anticipation, hundreds of empty seats dotted the 44,315-capacity BMO Field. Tickets for the match were priced between $1,645 and $2,240 for Category 1 and Category 2 tiers—staggering figures that left many fans priced out. In the hours before kickoff, tickets were still available, and the sight of empty red seats—hard to distinguish from the sea of Canadian shirts, but unmistakable when the cameras zoomed in—sparked a fresh wave of criticism over FIFA’s ticketing practices. The issue wasn’t isolated to Toronto; earlier in the tournament, thousands of empty seats were reported in Guadalajara during the South Korea vs. Czech Republic match.
FIFA, for its part, defended the attendance figures, claiming that some fans chose to stand in the concourses rather than sit in their assigned seats. Still, with only 29 matches sold out before the tournament began and tickets available for 75 matches, the optics were hard to ignore. The pricing controversy has caught the attention of US attorneys general from New York and New Jersey, who are now investigating FIFA for allegedly inflating ticket prices and misleading fans about seat locations. Allegations include the creation of more expensive 'front' category tickets after initial sales and variable pricing that raised costs for about 90 out of 104 fixtures by an average of 34 percent. FIFA has also been accused of holding back seats to create artificial scarcity and drive up prices. President Gianni Infantino defended the high costs, comparing them to the steep prices for major US sports events like the NBA Finals, and pointed out that the World Cup is, in his words, "a bigger event."
The ticketing saga has been a recurring theme since the first sales in November, when fans balked at £3,000 tickets for the final and the prospect of a £5,000 bill to follow their team through the tournament. By some estimates, this World Cup is up to five times more expensive than the last edition in Qatar, with FIFA targeting unprecedented revenues of $13 billion.
For Bosnia and Herzegovina, the match against Canada marked their arrival as one of Europe’s biggest feel-good stories of the tournament. After eliminating Italy on penalties in the UEFA playoffs, the so-called “golden generation” of Bosnian footballers has been labeled a genuine wildcard. Group B, which also features Qatar and Switzerland, is considered wide open. Neither Canada nor Qatar has ever won a World Cup match, so Switzerland is widely seen as Bosnia’s main rival for the top spot. For Canadian fans, the home-field advantage was supposed to provide an emotional boost, but the absence of Davies and the subdued atmosphere may have tempered expectations.
Despite the missing stars, the match itself was expected to be electric. Both teams have plenty to prove—Bosnia looking to solidify their place among the tournament’s dark horses, and Canada eager to make a statement in front of their home fans. The tactical gamble to keep Dzeko on the bench was a calculated risk, one that could pay dividends as the group stage progresses. According to tournament insiders, "Dzeko is fully expected to play a major role on the pitch during this World Cup tournament. While the veteran forward is still undergoing routine rehabilitation for his nagging shoulder injury, he successfully made the final 26-man squad cut, indicating the medical staff is highly confident he can contribute as an elite weapon off the bench."
For fans unable to attend in person—whether due to ticket prices or logistics—the broadcast and streaming options are more abundant than ever. In the US, all 104 World Cup matches air on FOX and FS1, with streaming available via FOX One, DirecTV, Fubo, and Sling TV. Spanish-language coverage is provided by Telemundo and Peacock. In the UK, every match is free to stream on BBC iPlayer and ITVX. Australia enjoys comprehensive coverage on SBS On Demand, while fans in Spain, Italy, France, and Germany have their own free and paid options, with select matches available on national broadcasters like RTVE, RaiPlay, M6, ARD, and ZDF. For those abroad, VPNs such as NordVPN offer a workaround to access region-locked streams, though users should be aware of local laws and service terms.
This year’s World Cup is the first to be hosted across three countries—Canada, Mexico, and the United States—with games taking place in cities from Toronto and Vancouver to Guadalajara, Mexico City, Atlanta, and New York/New Jersey. The expanded format and global reach have only added to the sense of occasion, even as controversies around ticketing and attendance linger.
As the tournament gathers pace, the spotlight will remain on both the action on the pitch and the drama off it. Will Bosnia and Herzegovina’s golden generation live up to their billing as dark horses? Can Canada capitalize on home advantage despite missing their star man? And will FIFA address the growing discontent over ticket prices and fan access?
For now, the world watches as Group B’s story unfolds, with plenty of twists and turns still to come. The absence of big names and the sight of empty seats may have dominated the headlines, but the passion and unpredictability of World Cup football are as alive as ever.