FIFA World Cup 2026: Day 2 Recap

Logo courtesy of FIFA, Used with permission.

By Robert H Kelly

Copyright 2026 All Rights Reserved

HOUSTON, TEXAS (June 13, 2026) Day 2 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, on Friday, June 12, saw two exciting matches as co-hosts Canada and the United States opened their tournament campaigns.

The day began in Toronto, where Canada battled Bosnia and Herzegovina to a 1-1 draw in Group B action. Bosnia and Herzegovina struck first when Jovo Lukic scored to give the visitors an early advantage. Canada pushed forward throughout the second half and finally found the equalizer through veteran striker Cyle Larin. The goal earned Canada its first point of the tournament and kept the hosts in the race for a spot in the knockout stage. Both teams finished the day with one point in Group B.

Later in Los Angeles, the United States delivered one of the strongest performances of the tournament so far with a convincing 4-1 victory over Paraguay in Group D. Forward Folarin Balogun led the attack with two goals, while the Americans controlled the match from the opening whistle. Paraguay managed a second-half goal, but the United States quickly regained control and added another late score to seal the win. The result puts the Americans at the top of Group D after the opening round of matches.

After two days of competition, North America's host nations have enjoyed a strong start, with Mexico and the United States earning victories and Canada collecting a valuable point.

Haiti edges Canada 3-2 to advance to semifinals of CONCACAF Gold Cup

Photo by Darla S Tamulitis
La Vita Loca Photography
Copyrightr 2019 All Rights Reserved

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2019 All Rights Reserved

HOUSTON, TEXAS (June 29, 2019) Coming back from a 2-0 deficit at halftime, No. 101 Haiti (shown right) scored three unanswered goals in the second half to down No. 78 Canada by the score of 3-2 in the first of two quarterfinal matches of the CONCACAF Gold Cup at Houston's NRG Stadium. This win was the first in the quarterfinals for Los Catrachos, having dropped three previous quarterfinal matches in Gold Cup history.

The first goal for The Canuaks came in the 18th minute on a nice shot, off a free kick, by Jonathan David. The fleet-footed forward, who plays professionally for KAA Gant, took his shot from the top right corner of the penalty box; drilling it past Haitian goalkeeper Jhonu Placide. The goal gave David his sixth goal in four games in the 2019 Gold Cup. Ten minutes later, forward Lucas Cavallini tapped in the second Canadian goal, for his fifth goal in four games in the tournament.

Five minutes into the second half, Haiti forward Duckens Nazon found himself in the "right place at the right time" when Palcide tried to "finesse" the ball out of the penalty

Photo by Darla S Tamulitis
La Vita Loca Photography
Copyrightr 2019 All Rights Reserved

area. A misstep left the ball unprotected; allowing Nazon to gently tap it into goal to cut Canada's lead to one. They evened the score twenty minutes later when forward Herve Bazile converted at penalty kick. Haiti took the lead, and secured the win, in the 76th minute on a phenomenal pass from Nazon to midfielder Wilde-Donald Guerrier (No. 10, shown above) for the final goal of the match

The match was the third time the two teams met in Gold Cup history. Canada won the previous two meetings by the score of 2-0. The first meeting was on January 18, 2002, with Kevin McKenna score twice secure the win at Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, California.came on June 11, 2017. Dwayne DeRosario scored twice in their win, which occurred at the Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida.

Canada & Costa Rica battle to one-all draw in CONCACAF Gold Cup Group A action

Alphonso Davies (12) scores the first goal of the match for Canada.
Photo by Darla S Tamulitis, Las Vita Loca Photography,
Copyright 2017, All Rights Reserved

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2017 TexSport Publications

HOUSTON, TEXAS (July 11, 2017) Canada and Costa Rica battled to a one-all draw at BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston in the second match for both teams in Group A action of the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup.

Canada struck first in the 26th minute when midfielder Alphonso Davies drilled the ball past Costa Rica goalkeeper Patrick Pemberton to put The Canucks up 1-0. The Ticos came back and scored the equalizer in the 42nd minute when defender Francisco Calvo headed a shot into the net off a corner kick.

Canada won the Gold Cup title in 2000 in 12 appearances, dating back to 1991. When The Canucks beat French Guiana 4-0 on Friday, July 7, 2017, it was the first match they had won in their previous eight Gold Cup games. Prior to that, they last tasted victory on June 11, 2011 as Dwayne DeRosario netted the lone goal from the penalty spot in a 1-0 win over Guadeloupe. The next opponent for Canada will be Honduras. They will face their final Group A opponent on Friday, July 14 at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas.

Costa Rica downed Honduras 1-0 on July 7 at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, New Jersey. Their best finish in previous Gold Cups was runner-up in the 2002 final against the United States at the Rose Bowl. Their overall record is 16 wins, 15 draws, and 19 loses in Gold Cup action prior to 2017.