Canada and South Africa face off in World Cup round-of-32 opener
Two tournament co-hosts face off at SoFi Stadium in a milestone match as both Canada and South Africa make their World Cup knockout debut.
Canada and South Africa face off in World Cup round-of-32 opener
Tournament co-hosts Canada and South Africa meet at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles on Sunday, June 28, 2026, for the first round-of-32 match in the 96-year history of the World Cup. Both nations enter the knockout phase of the tournament for the first time, marking a historic milestone for both programs.
Canada qualified as the runners-up of Group B. Their campaign included a 1-1 draw against Bosnia and Herzegovina, featuring a goal from Cyle Larin just 121 seconds after he entered the match as a 76th-minute substitute. The Canadians then delivered a 6-0 victory over Qatar, a match in which Juventus forward Jonathan David recorded a hat-trick. However, a 2-1 loss to Switzerland in their final group game cost Canada the top spot and the home advantage that could have carried them into the quarter-finals.
South Africa, the runners-up of Group A, arrived in the knockout stage after a volatile group run. Bafana Bafana opened with a 2-0 defeat to Mexico in Mexico City and followed it with a 1-1 draw against Czechia in Atlanta, secured by a second-half penalty from Thapelo Maseko. Their progress was finalized in Monterrey with a 1-0 win over South Korea, courtesy of a strike by Maseko. This victory was particularly significant as South Africa had been the first World Cup hosts to suffer a group-stage exit during the 2010 tournament.
The win over South Korea was characterized by disciplined tactical play. South Africa coach Hugo Broos expressed pride in the performance, stating:
"We played a very good game tactically. It was very good; everyone did their job. I’m very proud of the performance of my team."
Hugo Broos, coach, via The Athletic
Broos also noted the emotional weight of the achievement, mentioning that the match might be one of the final games of his career.
Personnel changes will play a role in the Los Angeles clash. South Africa welcomes back talismanic midfielder Teboho Mokoena, who missed the match against South Korea due to a yellow-card suspension. However, Themba Zwane remains suspended following a red card in the opening match against Mexico. Canada will be without Ismael Kone, who suffered a fractured tibia during the win over Qatar. Fitness tests are pending for Stephen Eustaquio and Alfie Jones, while Bayern Munich defender Alphonso Davies may return to the squad on the bench after a hamstring injury sidelined him during the group stage.
The two teams bring contrasting recent forms into the match. Canada entered the tournament on a 10-match unbeaten run, which included four wins, before their loss to Switzerland. South Africa, conversely, had gone seven games without a victory—including a loss to Cameroon in January that ended their AFCON campaign—before toppling South Korea.
South Africa also enters the game with a specific historical trend: they have never lost a World Cup match in which they held a lead, with a record of three wins and two draws in such contests.
The stakes extend beyond the immediate match. The winner of the encounter will advance to a round-of-16 match in Houston on Saturday, July 4, where they will face either the Netherlands or Morocco. Should South Africa advance, it could set up an all-African tie against Morocco, the first African nation to reach a World Cup semifinal in 2022.
The match kicks off at 12pm PT in Los Angeles.
