Canada vs – Canada and South Africa meet in the 2026 World Cup Round of 32 at Los Angeles Stadium on Sunday, June 28 (3 p.m. ET), with both nations playing knockout football at the men’s World Cup for the first time. Canada arrive after finishing second in Group B and wil
Sunday’s World Cup drama begins with a sight that hasn’t happened before for either team: Canada and South Africa both walk into the knockout stage of the men’s tournament for the first time in their histories. The Round of 32 match is set for Sunday, June 28, at Los Angeles Stadium, with kickoff scheduled for 3 p.m. ET.
Canada enter the day after finishing second in Group B. They missed topping the group—and home-field advantage in Vancouver—after a tight 2-1 loss to Switzerland in their group finale on Wednesday. The result was brutal in the margins: Canada conceded their place at the top with the same group stage that showed they can still cause constant problems. They yielded eight goals in total during the group stage, with six of them coming against Qatar.
That’s the football Canada will lean on again—swarming opponents. generating pressure. and trying to turn momentum into a breakthrough. But they’ll have to do it with a major adjustment to the midfield. Midfielder Ismaël Koné has been ruled out for the remainder of the tournament with a broken leg. forcing Jesse Marsch’s side to reshape how they transition from defense to attack.
Up front, Marsch’s plan is likely to stay aggressive. Jonathan David, the Juventus forward, and Cyle Larin, the Southampton striker, are expected to be central to Canada’s effort to puncture a South African defense that has been disciplined all tournament.
South Africa’s path has been just as different from the script. Hugo Broos’ Bafana Bafana advanced as Group A runner-up with one of the tournament’s biggest surprises: a 1-0 upset victory over South Korea that secured their knockout spot. They did it with patience and stubbornness. keeping their shape even when possession stayed low—managing just over 30% against South Korea—and relying on resilience rather than dominance.
They’ll face a Canada team that enters the match as betting favorites. Still. South Africa’s ability to “bend but not break” is exactly what makes the Round of 32 feel dangerous for Canada. If Broos’ side can frustrate Canada’s frontline and force a mistake. there is room for another night where the result tilts away from expectation.
South Africa also get a key boost in the middle. Teboho Mokoena returns from suspension, giving Broos a chance to anchor the engine room. But the squad has its own missing piece: veteran attacker Themba Zwane remains sidelined by a ban for his red card against Mexico.
There’s another storyline layered into this one, and it sits right on the edge of a single name. Canada’s star, Alphonso Davies, has yet to make his debut at this year’s World Cup. He was expected to play and was available on the bench during Canada’s 2-1 loss to Switzerland—but he mysteriously didn’t come on. After that defeat. Marsch said. “I think Alphonso Davies will be ready to go next game.” If his availability holds. Davies could finally change the feel of Canada’s attack in a knockout setting where one swing of momentum can decide everything.
For South Africa, the name to watch is Thapelo Maseko. He was the hero against South Korea. scoring the winning goal that sent Bafana Bafana into the knockout stage for the first time. At 22 years old, he became South Africa’s youngest goalscorer at the World Cup. The same kind of moment may be required again if South Africa are going to advance to the Round of 16.
It all sets up a match defined by timing and restraint: Canada will need to find space and sustain pressure long enough to overcome a defense that has already proven it can survive under pressure. even while controlling just over 30% of the ball. South Africa. meanwhile. know how to wait for openings. and they’ll try to make Canada’s first-ever knockout run feel like the end of a road instead of the beginning of a new story.
Kickoff is Sunday, June 28, at 3 p.m. ET at Los Angeles Stadium. The match will air on FOX, and viewers can stream with Watch three days free on FOX One.
Canada vs South Africa 2026 FIFA World Cup Round of 32 Jesse Marsch Hugo Broos Ismaël Koné Alphonso Davies Thapelo Maseko Teboho Mokoena