Regardless of the outcome, the knockout stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup officially kicks off Sunday, marking a historic moment. Co-host Canada will take on South Africa at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles in the tournament’s first-ever Round of 32 fixture, and both nations are playing in a World Cup knockout match for the first time ever.
The winner will celebrate their country’s first ever World Cup knockout victory and secure a place in the Round of 16.
The game kicks off at 3 PM ET. Canada vs South Africa World Cup 2026
Canada Co-Hosts Look To Redeem Themselves Far From Home
After a disappointing 2-1 defeat to Switzerland in their last group play, Canada arrived in Los Angeles, having lost their home advantage. That outcome, however, should not take away from what was otherwise a superb campaign during the group stage for Jesse Marsch’s side.
The highlight was a spectacular 6-0 thrashing of Qatar, the biggest margin of victory by a CONCACAF team in World Cup history. Jonathan David became the first host nation player to score a hat trick since Geoff Hurst for England in 1966, signaling that he will be one of the tournament’s most dangerous attackers in the knockouts.
The main narrative for Canada is the projected comeback of captain Alphonso Davies. The Bayern Munich star sat out the entire group stage with a hamstring injury, though Marsch later said Davies had been partly deployed as a deliberate decoy. Sunday’s potential involvement would be a giant boost to Canada’s attacking threat down the left.
South Africa is Already Making History
South Africa had already achieved something spectacular just by reaching this stage. Broos’ men advanced to the knockout stages of the World Cup for the first time ever, a feat that seemed unlikely after their disastrous 2-0 opening defeat to Mexico, during which they were reduced to nine men due to two red cards.
Bafana Bafana showed wonderful grit to draw 1-1 with Czechia before securing a critical 1-0 victory against South Korea to take second spot in Group A. That win over South Korea made 74-year-old Hugo Broos the oldest manager to win a match at a World Cup.
Teboho Mokoena returns from suspension to help hold South Africa’s midfield, but Themba Zwane is missing due to the final game of a three-match ban he received after a red card against Mexico.
Formations
Canada (4-4-2):
Crepeau Johnston, De Fougerolles, Cornelius, Laryea
Buchanan Eustaquio Saliba Davies David Larin
South Africa (4-2-3-1):
Williams Mudau, Okon, Mbokazi, Modiba Mokoena, Sithole Maseko, Mofokeng, Appollis Makgopa
KEY BATTLES TO WATCH OUT FOR
The individual clash to watch will be Jonathan David vs. South Africa’s defense. David is Canada’s leading scorer in the tournament and has demonstrated the calmness to score against a variety of defensive formations in the group stage.
South Africa’s muscular, athletic style and never-say-die attitude will challenge Canada’s ability to break down a compact, well-organized defensive block. Marsch himself lauded South Africa’s performance against South Korea, citing their physicality and belief in open spaces. Canada vs South Africa World Cup 2026
What we predict for South Africa 1-2 Canada
Canada’s greater attacking quality and squad depth, especially with a potentially healthy Alphonso Davies in the mix, should ultimately be the difference in what is likely to be a tight, low-scoring match.
South Africa will fight with the same determination that saw them through the group stage, but Canada’s superiority in individual quality up front should be enough to deliver their nation’s first-ever World Cup knockout triumph.
The winner will go on to play either the Netherlands or Morocco in the Round of 16, both of which also finished second in their respective groups. Canada vs South Africa World Cup 2026
Details of the match:
Date: Sunday, 28 June 2026
Time: 3 p.m. ET
Venue: SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, in Los Angeles
Stage: The winner of the Round of 32 advances to the Round of 16.
The World Cup knockout stage begins today! Follow live score updates and full match recaps on USANewsPoint.blog.
(FAQs)
Who does Canada play if they beat South Africa?
If Canada beats South Africa they will face the winner of the Netherlands versus Morocco Round of 32 match in the Round of 16.
Is Round of 32 a knockout?
Yes. The Round of 32 is a single-elimination tournament. That means the losing team is eliminated while the winner continues to the Round of 16.
Has Korea been eliminated from the World Cup?
South Korea are out of the 2026 FIFA World Cup after failing to move from the group stage.
What is the knockout round in the World Cup?
Knockout round The knockout round is the elimination portion of the competition, where teams play win-or-go-home matches until a champion is crowned.
How many teams make the knockout stage in the 2026 World Cup?
The expanded 2026 FIFA World Cup will feature a total of 32 teams qualifying for the elimination stage.
What happens if it’s 1:1 on aggregate?
FIFA World Cup matches are not decided on aggregate. Any knockout match that is level after 90 minutes will go into extra time and, if necessary, a penalty shoot-out.
How many games does a team need to win to qualify for the World Cup?
There is no fixed number of wins needed to qualify. It depends on the format of each confederation. Teams need to score enough points to qualify.
What teams are out of the World Cup 2026?
The teams eliminated include those knocked out in the group stage like South Korea, as well as those that didn’t make it to the Round of 32.
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Sarah Williams is a sports news reporter covering all major American sports including NBA, NFL, MLB, and NHL. With 4 years of experience in sports journalism, Sarah specializes in breaking news, trending stories, and exclusive sports updates. Her fast-paced reporting style keeps sports fans informed and engaged. Sarah is a core member of the USA News Point editorial team.
