Canada’s first – Stephen Eustáquio’s stoppage-time winner lifts Canada to a 1-0 win over South Africa on June 28, giving the men’s team its first World Cup knockout triumph on the first try in the round of 32.
In the hours after Canada’s goal hit the net, the celebrations didn’t sound like a distant dream. They sounded immediate—like a door had finally opened.
Canada had already been making history at this World Cup before a ball was even kicked against South Africa on Sunday. June 28. Entering the tournament with six defeats in six matches across two previous World Cups. Canada earned its first point at the competition in its opener on home soil against Bosnia and Herzegovina. Then came more milestones. including the country’s first World Cup win—a 6-0 triumph over Qatar that clinched its first appearance in a World Cup knockout stage.
Sunday’s game against South Africa changed the picture again. Canada defeated South Africa 1-0 in the round of 32, clinching its first World Cup knockout win at the first time of asking. Stephen Eustáquio scored a dramatic winner in second-half stoppage time, putting the Canadians into dreamland.
Richie Laryea, a defender for Canada, summed up what the victory could mean beyond one match. “We want to turn this country into a footballing country,” he said after the game. “This needs to now start to become the bar whenever we get into tournaments like the World Cup. to be in and around this level.”.
The context matters. Canadian soccer history—especially on the men’s side—has rarely been built around trophies. The team’s last major trophy was the 2000 Gold Cup. When Canada reached the World Cup in 2022, it was only the second time it had ever done so, and first since 1986.
Now, the people on the pitch credit a new generation for shifting perceptions. Alphonso Davies and Jonathan David are among the stars helping reshape the national conversation. and Laryea pointed to how different the setup feels compared with the early years of his career. “This national team’s come a very long way from even when I started,” he said. “It was in a place where guys were coming in and trying to fight to get respect from other nations. So now to see where we’re at now. and to win a game like this in a World Cup. and to be moving on. it’s special.”.
The questions now turn toward what comes next. Canada is headed into the round of 16 with momentum—and a chance to prove it isn’t only capable of pulling off surprises. While beating Qatar and South Africa has already made this a successful tournament for one of the three host countries. the idea of facing a team like Morocco or the Netherlands in the round of 16 would carry a different weight.
Canada’s coach, Jesse Marsch, framed the moment in a way that suggested they were already protecting their confidence. After the win over South Africa, he called the round of 16 game a “free hit.”
For Alistair Johnston, the prospect was almost surreal. “You get a chance at one of the two best teams in the world,” he said. “That’s unbelievable. It’s a pinch-me moment, honestly.”
Still, the emotion after Sunday’s win didn’t erase the reality of the next opponent. Eustáquio. the man who scored the stoppage-time winner. made that clear when he spoke about what the team must do in the days ahead. “We know that in six days we’re going to have a very tough team,” he said. “But at the same time. I think today we have to enjoy the fact that we made everybody back home proud.”.
The story now runs on two tracks at once: a country proving it can reach—and win—at the World Cup’s toughest stages, and a team preparing to find out just how far that progress can go when the competition gets even sharper.
Canada South Africa World Cup Stephen Eustáquio Richie Laryea Jesse Marsch Alphonso Davies Jonathan David Alistair Johnston World Cup round of 32 knockout stage
Stoppage time winner?? Canada really pulled a Canada move lol
I’m glad they won but why does it say Canada had six defeats in six matches? Like did they just show up and forget how to play then randomly remembered at the end? Either way Eustáquio, nice.
Wait so Canada beat South Africa 1-0 and that’s their first knockout ever? That seems crazy, I thought Canada always had good soccer. Also Richie Laryea talking about turning the country into a footballing country like it’s gonna happen overnight.
Canada’s been struggling forever and then they score in stoppage time and now it’s “history” again. I feel like FIFA is gonna change something next match because that’s how it goes. And South Africa only got beat 1-0, so was it really that shocking or did the goalie just have a bad moment? Either way happy for them I guess.