Top five youngsters to watch during Canada vs Bosnia & Herzegovina FIFA World Cup 2026 match

Canada and Bosnia & Herzegovina are placed in Group B of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The FIFA World Cup provides players with the perfect opportunity to announce themselves on the biggest stage and attract interest from top clubs. This is especially true for young players, who often arrive as relatively unknown talents. They can take both fans and opponents by surprise.

Age is just a number and experience merely a statistic when it comes to the FIFA World Cup. Previous editions have seen young stars such as 20-year-old Thomas Muller and 18-year-old Kylian Mbappe light up the tournament with their performances.

Co-hosts Canada will begin their World Cup campaign against Bosnia and Herzegovina at Toronto Stadium, Canada. While established stars such as Alphonso Davies, Edin Dzeko, Jonathan David and several others are expected to grab the headlines, there are also several exciting young players. They could leave a lasting impression.

Let’s take a look at some of the talented youngsters from both sides who could potentially have a major impact on the game.

Youngsters to watch during Canada vs Bosnia & Herzegovina

S.No.	Player Name	Country	Age
1	Luc de Fougerolles	Canada	20 years
2	Esmir Bajraktarevic	Bosnia & Herzegovina	21 years
3	Benjamin Tahirovic	Bosnia & Herzegovina	23 years
4	Ismael Kone	Canada	23 years
5	Amar Dedic	Bosnia & Herzegovina	23 years

5. Luc de Fougerolles

Luc De Fougerolles is one of the most highly rated young centre-backs in Canadian football. He is expected to be a key figure for the nation’s next generation of players. The defender spent last season in the Belgian Pro League on loan from Fulham FC.

He made his senior international debut for Canada at just 18 years of age. He has quickly established himself as an important part of the country’s defence. Having started both the recent friendlies ahead of the tournament, he is expected to play a key role at the back with his composure on the ball and aerial ability.

4. Esmir Bajraktarevic

Esmir Bajraktarevic, the 21-year-old winger who currently plays for PSV Eindhoven in the Eredivisie, is coming off the back of an impressive domestic season. He registered 12 goal contributions in 38 appearances. This is despite largely being used as a substitute, an impressive return for a player of his age.

He has established himself as a regular starter for Bosnia and Herzegovina NT. Bajraktarevic is expected to feature on the right wing. He is no stranger to the United States conditions, having represented the country at the youth level before switching allegiance to Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2024.

He thrives in tight spaces thanks to his dribbling ability and low centre of gravity. He also possesses a big-game temperament. This was demonstrated by the winning penalty he converted against Italy to secure Bosnia’s place at the World Cup.

Also read: Canada vs Bosnia & Herzegovina: All-time head-to-head record ahead of FIFA World Cup 2026

3. Benjamin Tahirovic

At 23 years of age, Benjamin Tahirovic already possesses valuable experience at the highest level of European football. Currently playing for Brondby IF in Denmark, he has previously represented Jose Mourinho’s AS Roma and Francesco Farioli’s AFC Ajax.

Tahirovic excels in a deeper midfield role, combining technical quality on the ball with physicality and relentless work rate. His ability to win tackles, recover possession and compete for second balls makes him an imposing figure in the middle of the park.

He has featured in all of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s last 22 matches, either as a starter or from the bench. Having also started every World Cup qualifier, Tahirovic is expected to play a significant role during the tournament.

2. Ismael Kone

Despite being only 23 years old, Ismael Kone has already earned close to 40 caps for Canada. He made his senior NT debut at the age of 20. The Sassuolo midfielder is a classic box-to-box midfielder who thrives with the ball at his feet.

He excels at carrying the ball forward through midfield. He does so with his long strides and progressive passing, while also making intelligent late runs into the box. Those qualities helped him score an impressive six goals for Sassuolo from midfield during the recently concluded Serie A season.

Canada’s head coach Jesse March will be hoping for a similar return from Kone in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Also read: Bosnia & Herzegovina XI vs Canada – Predicted lineup & team news for FIFA World Cup 2026 clash

1. Amar Dedic

Amar Dedic plays for SL Benfica in Portugal. He is a right-back capable of operating as a wing-back or even a winger thanks to his exciting qualities in the final third. He is widely praised for his work rate, constantly making runs up and down the right flank throughout the game.

Having developed through the Red Bull Salzburg system, Dedic is an aggressive presser who frequently steps forward to win possession high up the pitch. He is also a natural leader. He has captained Bosnia and Herzegovina at various youth levels and recently worn the armband for the senior national team as well.

For more updates, follow Khel Now on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram; download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App and join our community on Telegram.