Larin's stunning late equaliser earns Canada their first-ever World Cup point

Cyle Larin rescued Canada’s World Cup campaign with a stunning late half-volley in Toronto on Sunday, earning the host nation a 1-1 draw against Bosnia and Herzegovina and their first-ever point at a World Cup finals.

Larin, 31, arrived as one of three second-half substitutes made by manager Jesse Marsch and immediately changed the game. His instinctive strike across the ball swerved past goalkeeper Nikola Vasilj and into the side-netting to cancel out Bosnia’s first-half opener — a goal fitting of its place in Canadian footballing history.

Canada had gone pointless at Mexico ‘86 and again in Qatar four years ago. That hoodoo is now over, and the timing could hardly matter more. Bosnia are Canada’s primary rivals for second place in a group headed by Switzerland, meaning the draw keeps Canada’s progression hopes very much alive heading into their next match against Qatar, where a win could put them on the brink of advancing.

Larin’s path to this moment of national significance has been far from smooth. He had not reached double figures in a single season since scoring 23 goals for Besiktas in 2020/21, and a loan spell at Feyenoord was cut short midway through last season after failing to make an impact. With a home World Cup on the horizon, Canada’s second all-time top scorer feared he was heading into the tournament in the worst form of his career.

The turnaround came courtesy of Southampton. Larin joined the Championship club on loan in the second half of the 2025/26 season and rediscovered his sharpness in front of goal, scoring eight times in 16 appearances as Saints mounted a play-off charge. That charge ultimately unravelled amid the off-field controversy of the so-called Spygate scandal, but Larin emerged from St Mary’s with his confidence restored.

“It has given me great confidence,” Larin said ahead of Canada’s opener, in comments that now read as something of an understatement. He has since made his move to Southampton permanent.

For a club whose public relations team has spent weeks managing the fallout from internal controversy, the sight of their striker writing himself into Canadian folklore on the World Cup stage is an unexpected and welcome piece of good news from across the Atlantic.