This Sunday marks a historic moment for both nations as Canada and South Africa face off in Los Angeles for their first-ever World Cup knockout stage appearance. The match takes place at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California on June 28 at 3 p.m. ET in a Round of 32 showdown, with the winner advancing to the final 16. Neither country has ever reached this stage in men’s World Cup history before, making this a unique milestone for both teams.
Canada’s journey to this point was filled with dramatic highs and painful lows. After a 1-1 draw against Bosnia and Herzegovina and a spectacular 6-0 victory over Qatar featuring Jonathan David’s first-ever World Cup hat trick, the team fell 2-1 to Switzerland in their final group match. Despite finishing second in Group B with four points, key midfielder Ismaël Koné suffered a broken leg during the Qatar win and will be unavailable for the remainder of the tournament.
- Canada started with their first World Cup point against Bosnia and Herzegovina
- They secured their first World Cup win with a 6-0 rout of Qatar
- Jonathan David scored the nation’s first hat trick in that historic victory
- The team finished as Group B runner-up with four points
- They advanced to their first-ever knockout round despite losing to Switzerland
- Now they face South Africa in their debut knockout match
Coach Jesse Marsch later admitted he missed an opportunity to top the group after the Switzerland defeat, acknowledging that tactical changes at halftime were needed. Still, the Canadians have advanced to the knockout stage for the first time, which remains the most important outcome.
The biggest news heading into Sunday is that Alphonso Davies will be fit to play for the first time at this World Cup. The Bayern Munich left-back recovered from a hamstring injury sustained during a Champions League semifinal in early May. Marsch revealed he had used Davies as a decoy against Switzerland, dressing him and letting opponents worry about him while never intending to play him. His return transforms Canada’s attacking threat as he pushes high on the left while David leads the line, allowing Canada to press from the front and exploit weaknesses in South Africa’s build-up play.
South Africa’s path was equally dramatic, beginning with a 2-0 opening loss to Mexico where two players received red cards, nearly guaranteeing an early exit. However, the team regrouped, drew against Czechia, and then delivered when it mattered most. Thapelo Maseko’s 63rd-minute strike against South Korea propelled them above their opponents into the knockout stage for the first time ever.
In FIFA rankings, Canada sits at 30th while South Africa is 60th. On paper, the advantage seems clear, but knockout soccer rarely respects rankings. The stakes for Canadian soccer fans go far beyond a single result. Canada has appeared in only two World Cups in their history (1986 and 2022), never winning a knockout match. A victory on Sunday would be the most significant result in Canadian men’s soccer history.
Captain Stephen Eustáquio captured the team’s mood after the Switzerland loss, stating that their sadness and frustration about the result proves they are ready for whatever comes next. Now, that next challenge is South Africa. The match kicks off Sunday at 3 p.m. ET on TSN and CTV, and fans should not miss this historic first knockout clash.
