Canada's Historic World Cup Point Overshadowed by Empty Seats

Canada earned a 1-1 draw against Bosnia and Herzegovina on Friday in Toronto, securing their first-ever World Cup point. Cyle Larin's 78th-minute strike rescued the co-hosts after Jovo Lukic had put Bosnia ahead. The match marked the first World Cup game ever played on Canadian soil. Yet the historic occasion was overshadowed by reports of more than 1,000 empty seats at the 44,315-capacity BMO Field, adding to the ongoing controversy over FIFA's ticket pricing for the 2026 tournament. Canada will face Qatar in Vancouver on June 18.

Larin's Late Goal Secures Historic Draw vs Bosnia

Canada dominated possession but struggled to convert its early chances. Jonathan David's 17th-minute effort was saved by Bosnian goalkeeper Nikola Vasilj, while Ismael Kone's 30th-minute shot went over the bar. Bosnia's veteran defender Sead Kolasinac later denied David with a goal-line clearance off the crossbar. Larin finally broke through in the 78th minute, sparking wild celebrations among fans. Actors Ryan Reynolds and Mike Myers were spotted in the stands. "It was special for me. I was ready to come and help the team," Larin said. "I thought the goals would come. I score when Canada needs me and always have done." Canada had previously lost all six matches across their 1986 and 2022 World Cup appearances, making this draw a historic milestone.

Empty Seats and High Prices Mar BMO Field Atmosphere

Despite the electric atmosphere, more than 1,000 of BMO Field's 44,315 seats went unsold, and attendance was reported at 43,002. Tickets remained available right up to kickoff, with Category 1 and Category 2 seats priced between $1,645 and $2,240. Patches of empty seats were visible opposite the broadcast camera, though Canadian fans in red shirts made the gaps harder to spot. The vacancies came a day after thousands of empty seats were reported during the South Korea versus Czech Republic match in Guadalajara. Only 29 of 104 World Cup matches had sold out before the tournament began, leaving tickets still available for 75 matches.

FIFA Defends Pricing as Investigations Mount

FIFA defended its attendance figures, stating that official numbers reflect scanned tickets and spectators present, not visual seat occupancy.

The organization said some fans stood in concourses rather than in their assigned seats. Ticketing practices are now under investigation by attorneys general in Texas, New York, and New Jersey, who allege FIFA misled fans and artificially inflated prices. Reports claim that variable pricing raised costs on about 90 of 104 matches by an average of 34 percent. FIFA president Gianni Infantino has defended the pricing, comparing costs to NBA Finals tickets and citing the World Cup's scale, all while targeting $13 billion in tournament revenue.