Liverpool fans were surprised to see a familiar face as Canada took on Bosnia and Herzegovina in its opening World Cup game, with a former Red in action for the co-hosts
22:08, 12 Jun 2026
Bosnia-Herzegovina's forward #15 Amar Memic (L) fights for the ball with Canada's midfielder #11 Liam Millar during the 2026 World Cup Group B football match between Canada and Bosnia and Herzegovina at the Toronto Stadium in Toronto on June 12, 2026. (Photo by Cole Burston / AFP via Getty Images)
Former Liverpool youngster Liam Millar started Canada's opener against Bosnia and Herzegovina at the World Cup(Image: Getty Images)
Liverpool fans were taken aback after realizing one of the club’s former youngsters was playing for one of the hosts of this year’s World Cup.
The 2026 tournament started with a bang as Mexico kicked things off with a 2-0 win over South Africa on Thursday, before fellow co-host Canada got its chance to take to the stage against Bosnia and Herzegovina on Friday.
Although Jesse Marsch’s side was without its biggest name and its captain, with Alphonso Davies ruled out through injury, there was plenty of excitement surrounding the opening Group B game in Toronto - and there was even a familiar face for Liverpool fans on show.
Liam Millar, who spent five years with the Reds, was handed a start against Bosnia, with a lot of Liverpool fans only just discovering that the winger was at this year’s World Cup.
Millar joined Liverpool’s academy back in 2016 from Fulham, and made an immediate impact on Merseyside with a hat-trick on his U18 Premier League debut for the Reds.
He was rewarded with a first professional contract a month later, and after a lengthy spell out injured, he would play a big role under Steven Gerrard during the former Liverpool captain’s time coaching at the club’s academy.
Liam Millar of Liverpool and Neco Williams celebrate
Liam Millar celebrates with Neco Williams during his time at Liverpool
Millar made his senior debut for the Reds in an FA Cup fourth round replay against Shrewsbury in 2020, in what proved to be his only appearance for the first-team.
Having taken in loan spells at Kilmarnock and Charlton, Millar left Liverpool permanently in 2021, joining Basel in Switzerland. He returned to England in 2023 as he joined Preston on loan, before making the permanent move to Hull City in 2024, where he will be back in the Premier League next season following the Tigers’ victory in the Championship play-offs.
Millar, a Toronto native, already had 41 caps to his name for Canada before starting against Bosnia, leading to some Liverpool fans to be left amazed.
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“Wait, Canada’s Millar, is the same Liverpool youngster Liam Millar from a few years ago?” one fan wrote on social media.
“Liam Millar former Liverpool player here go ed lad,” another posted.
Millar played just over an hour against Bosnia as Canada managed to rescue a point, with Cyle Larin securing a 1-1 draw after Jovo Lukic’s opener.
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Speaking to Hull Live ahead of the tournament, Millar said: "Thinking about where football was in Canada when I was a kid to where it is now, it's unbelievable the difference in how seriously the sport's taken in Canada. When I was a kid, growing up and playing football, guys were calling me crazy.
"They're like, 'why do you want to play football, like why are you not playing hockey, blah blah blah, all this stuff, and I really just see a shift change. It's changing so much now, and it's such a cool thing to see.
"From growing up, where it wasn't big to now, where it's becoming massive, it's such a cool thing to see, and I cannot wait to see what this country will do after it. Honestly, it's one of the biggest events, if not the biggest event, in the world when it comes to sporting events."