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Major League Soccer

· 11 June 2026

By Ben Steiner

TORONTO – Alistair Johnston has always been comfortable in front of a microphone. The former CF Montréal and Nashville SC defender, now with Celtic FC, has even taken up reporter duties for TSN’s SportCentre in the build-up to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, lending his voice to various highlight segments.

Yet, despite his eloquence and wide-ranging experience across Canada, the United States and Scotland, Johnston admits that words fall short when it comes to describing what it feels like to play in a World Cup. As one of the leaders within the Canadian men’s national team, he acknowledges that the emotions surrounding the tournament are almost impossible to capture fully.

That feeling will turn into reality on Friday when the CanMNT board their team bus, escorted by a large police motorcade, en route to Toronto Stadium. Just before 3 pm ET (TSN, FOX), the national anthems will ring out ahead of their historic opening clash against Bosnia and Herzegovina, marking a milestone for the co-hosts.

“With the younger players, you try to guide them through it, but it's something you can’t really understand until you’re actually out there,” Johnston said this week, reflecting on the 13 players in Canada’s squad who will be making their World Cup debut. Johnston, who featured in Qatar 2022, knows the challenge firsthand.

“It’s special to have this home World Cup. You can already feel the energy from the fans and the excitement building up. The guys can sense that this is something different. Even the police escorts we had to get to training this week felt different,” he added.

Despite the growing anticipation, the team has maintained a calm demeanour through their third consecutive week together in preparation for the tournament.

Austin FC winger Jayden Nelson, who was added to the roster on Tuesday as an injury replacement for Marcelo Flores, captured that atmosphere perfectly.

“It doesn’t really feel like it yet,” Nelson laughed when asked about World Cup jitters. “I’m sure it’ll sink in once the anthems start before the Bosnia match on Friday.”

Thursday’s training session was relatively light by head coach Jesse Marsch’s usual intense standards, focusing mainly on set-piece routines and tactical plans to counter Bosnia and Herzegovina’s strengths.

But come Friday, the mood will change. World Cup fever is about to sweep across Canada.

“We can definitely use our home advantage — playing in Canada, on a familiar pitch, and in surroundings we know so well,” said defender Luc de Fougerolles, expected to start in place of Moïse Bombito, who is still recovering from a broken leg sustained last October.

“We’ve had a strong record at this ground, and with our fans behind us, that could make a huge difference,” he added.

After last week's 1–1 draw against Ireland in their final pre-World Cup friendly, Marsch avoided questions about injuries. Instead, he chose to emphasize the team’s depth and confidence, even with key players like Alphonso Davies, Bombito, and others likely to miss the first game.

“I’m going to stay positive,” Marsch told reporters, a message that has echoed throughout the squad during their final week of preparations. “I’m not here to dwell on negatives. This group is strong, committed, fit, and ready to compete. I love this team — yes, we need to score goals, but we will.”

Since taking charge in 2024, Marsch has overseen clear progress in Canada’s footballing quality and mentality.

For Canada, the goal remains simple yet historic: to earn their first-ever World Cup point. The national team exited at the group stage in both the 1986 and 2022 editions without a single point.

Now, as they prepare to face Bosnia and Herzegovina, the opportunity to make history lies ahead. For goalkeeper Maxime Crépeau of Orlando City and his teammates, this could be a defining moment.

“I wish I could be one of those kids in the stands again,” Crépeau said as the team trained in front of local supporters and youth players earlier this week.

“This World Cup means so much — not just for us, but for our communities and our country as a whole. Whether in Toronto, Vancouver, or anywhere across the nation, we’re proud and ready to represent.”