- When: Sunday, June 28 at 3 p.m. ET
- Where: SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, California
- Significance: First-ever knockout appearance for both nations in men’s World Cup history
This Sunday marks a turning point for Canadian soccer. Canada and South Africa will meet at SoFi Stadium in a Round of 32 World Cup clash. For both teams, this is the first time they have reached the knockout stage of a men’s World Cup, making it a truly historic matchup.
Canada’s Rollercoaster Group Stage
Canada’s path to the knockout round was wild. They started with a 1-1 draw against Bosnia and Herzegovina, then exploded with a 6-0 win over Qatar. That victory included a hat-trick from Jonathan David. However, they fell 2-1 to Switzerland in their final match, finishing second in Group B as the runner-up.
The win over Qatar came with a serious injury. Midfielder Ismaël Koné suffered a broken leg and was ruled out for the rest of the tournament. After losing to Switzerland, coach Jesse Marsch admitted he missed a chance to top the group and should have adjusted tactics at halftime. Still, advancing was the main goal.
- Group B Finish: 2nd place
- Key Win: 6-0 vs. Qatar
- Major Loss: 2-1 vs. Switzerland
- Injury: Ismaël Koné (broken leg)
Davies Returns to Action
The biggest update for Canada is Alphonso Davies. Coach Jesse Marsch confirmed Davies will be fit to play for the first time at this World Cup. The Bayern Munich left-back recovered from a hamstring injury suffered during a Champions League semifinal in early May.
Marsch revealed he used Davies as a decoy against Switzerland, dressing him up to make the opponent worry, even though he never intended to play him initially. Davies’ return boosts Canada’s attacking power. With him pushing high on the left and David leading the line, Canada will press from the front to exploit weaknesses in South Africa’s build-up.
Inside South Africa’s Survival Story
South Africa, known as Bafana Bafana, fought hard to reach this stage. They lost 2-0 to Mexico in their opener, with two players receiving red cards. An early exit seemed likely. But they regrouped, drew with Czechia, and then secured a massive win over South Korea.
Thapelo Maseko’s 63rd-minute goal against South Korea lifted them into the knockout stage for the first time ever. Canada is ranked 30th by FIFA, while South Africa sits at 60th. On paper, Canada holds the advantage, but knockout matches rarely follow rankings.
What This Match Means for Canada
For Canadian fans, this is more than just a game. Canada has played only two World Cups ever: 1986 and 2022. They never won a knockout match before. A win 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: “That’s a good sign, that fact that we are sad and mad about this result. We’re ready for whatever’s next.”
Whatever comes next is South Africa. The match kicks off at 3 p.m. ET on TSN and CTV. Don’t miss this historic moment.
