World Cup co-hosts Canada were held to a frustrating 1-1 draw with Ireland on Friday despite dominating their final warm-up friendly before the tournament kicks off next week.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Canada have never won a World Cup game but have shot up the FIFA rankings in recent years and, with home advantage and stars like Alphonso Davies, will be looking to make a real impact this year.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
But despite controlling the game in Montreal, and the gift of a first-half Ireland own goal, the Canadians could not secure the win.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
They conceded an equalizer on the hour mark to Chiedozie Ogbene, who pounced on the rebound from Troy Parrott's well-saved penalty.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Playing against an Irish team that will not feature at the World Cup, it was a disappointing result for Canada, especially after a promising 2-0 win over Uzbekistan earlier this week.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"Obviously, we wish we could have gotten more goals and gotten the win, but I think the energy from the start, the way to go after the game, the ideas in the game, (were) really good," said Canada coach Jesse Marsch.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"We let one counter really get away from us in the second half but, look, overall it is a good performance.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"Goals make a difference, and so do mistakes, so we've just got to clean some things up."<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Canada had utterly dominated the first half, creating a flurry of chances before Stephen Eustaquio's corner deflected off two Ireland players -- Parrott and then Jake O'Brien -- and into the net.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Liam Millar had a shot well-blocked by O'Brien, Ismael Kone's effort was deflected wide, and Juventus striker Jonathan David had a penalty claim ignored.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
But Ireland's goal against the run of play, along with a string of substitutions, took the wind out of Canada's sails.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Ireland's Tottenham Hotspur teenager Mason Melia was barely denied an unlikely winner off the bench late on.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Canada has been drawn in Group B alongside Bosnia-Herzegovina, Qatar and Switzerland. Though the Swiss are favored to top the group, it has been seen as a kind draw for Canada, who automatically qualified as co-hosts.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Canada's campaign begins against Bosnia in Toronto on June 12, before shifting to Vancouver for clashes with Qatar and Switzerland.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
In two previous appearances at the World Cup -- the 1986 finals in Mexico and the 2022 tournament in Qatar -- Canada have a perfect record of six defeats in six matches.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
But the Canadians surprised many by reaching the semi-finals of the Copa America in 2024, where they only narrowly lost on penalties to Uruguay in the third-place playoff.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Marsch has described his roster as "our best group of 26 players that this country has ever assembled at any one time."<\/p>\r\n\r\n
But Bayern Munich defender and Canada talisman Davies has a hamstring injury and did not feature on Friday.<\/p>\r\n\r\n