A Historic Moment for Both Nations
For the first time in the annals of men’s soccer history, Canada and South Africa will meet in a World Cup knockout match, with both nations reaching the Round of 32 for the very first time. This blockbuster clash will take place at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California on Sunday, June 28 at 3 p.m. ET, marking the opening game of the tournament’s knockout phase. The winner of this encounter will advance to the Round of 16, while the loser faces elimination from the competition. The stakes are monumental, as both teams are chasing their nation’s first-ever victory in a World Cup knockout match.
Canada’s Rollercoaster Path to the Knockouts
Canada’s journey through Group B was a tale of dramatic highs and lows. The team secured their first-ever point at a senior men’s FIFA World Cup with a 1-1 draw against Bosnia and Herzegovina, followed by a historic 6-0 victory over Qatar that delivered the nation’s first-ever World Cup win. Jonathan David starred in the Qatar match with a hat-trick, but the celebration came at a cost: midfielder Ismaël Koné suffered a broken leg and was ruled out for the remainder of the tournament. Despite a 2-1 loss to Switzerland in their final group match, Canada finished second in Group B and advanced to the knockout stage. Coach Jesse Marsch later admitted he missed an opportunity to top the group and should have made tactical adjustments at halftime, yet the team’s advancement to the Round of 32 remains the defining achievement.
Davies Returns to Boost Canada’s Attack
The most significant news heading into Sunday’s match 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 had previously used Davies as a decoy against Switzerland, dressing him to make the opposition worry about his presence while never intending to play him. His return transforms Canada’s attacking threat, with Davies pushing high on the left and David leading the line as the team looks to press from the front and exploit weaknesses in South Africa’s build-up play.
South Africa’s Unlikely Rise
South Africa’s journey to the knockout stage was anything but smooth. After a 2-0 opening loss to Mexico where two players were shown red cards, an early exit seemed almost certain. The team regrouped, drew against Czechia, and delivered when it mattered most. Thapelo Maseko’s 63rd-minute strike against South Korea catapulted them above their opponents and into the knockout stage for the very first time. Canada enters the match ranked 30th in the world by FIFA, compared to South Africa at 60th, giving Canada a clear advantage on paper. However, knockout soccer rarely respects rankings, and the Bafana Bafana have proven they are capable of upsets.
What Winning Means for Canadian Soccer
For Canadian soccer fans, the stakes extend far beyond a single result. Canada has appeared at just two World Cups in their history—1986 and 2022—without ever 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 dressing room mood after the Switzerland loss, stating that the team’s sadness and anger about the result shows they are ready for whatever comes next. What comes next is South Africa, with kickoff at 3 p.m. ET on TSN and CTV. Don’t miss this historic encounter.
