The final two international teams to play group stage matches in Toronto during the World Cup have been confirmed, as Italy lost out on a potentially mouthwatering opening game against Canada.
Sixty-ninth-ranked Bosnia and Herzegovina upset 12th-ranked Italy 4-1 in penalties on home soil in a playoff qualifier final — the teams were tied 1-1 after full time — to advance and become Canada’s first opponent in Toronto.
Later in the month, Iraq will face Senegal in Ontario’s capital — after the team beat Bolivia in the final World Cup qualifier on Tuesday evening.
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Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow lamented Italy’s failure to qualify, which would have seen their match in the city coincide with the start of the Taste of Little Italy festival.
“It’s heartbreaking,” she said. “We were so looking forward to the Italian fans being here in Toronto. We have a huge Italian community here, ready to welcome them.”
Canada will now kick off its World Cup campaign in Toronto at 3 p.m. on June 12 against Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Canada is in Group B, with 19th-ranked Switzerland and 55th-ranked Qatar rounding out the group. The top two teams from all 12 groups and the eight best third-place finishers advance to the knockout stage.
The next match in Toronto will be on June 17, when Ghana plays Panama, before Germany takes on Cote d’Ivoire on June 20. Three days later, Croatia plays Panama.
Then, on June 26, Senegal will face Iraq. Toronto’s final match will be an as-yet-undecided Round of 32 knockout match on July 2 at 7 p.m.
— with files from The Canadian Press
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