History is unfolding this Sunday as Canada and South Africa meet at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California for their very first World Cup knockout match. The game kicks off at 3 p.m. ET on June 28 in a Round of 32 showdown that marks a monumental milestone for both nations. This is the inaugural time either team has advanced past the group stage in men’s World Cup history, making the encounter a landmark event in global soccer.
Canada’s journey to this point was filled with highs and lows. After a 1-1 draw with Bosnia and Herzegovina and a stunning 6-0 victory over Qatar featuring Jonathan David’s hat-trick, the team fell 2-1 to Switzerland in their final group match. This loss placed them second in Group B, forcing them to travel to Los Angeles instead of staying in Vancouver for home advantage. The win against Qatar came at a painful cost, however, as midfielder Ismaël Koné suffered a broken leg and was ruled out for the rest of the tournament.
Coach Jesse Marsch later admitted that Canada missed an opportunity to top the group and should have implemented tactical changes at halftime. Despite this setback, the Canadians have secured their place in the knockout stage, which remains the most important outcome of their group campaign.
The biggest development for Canada heading into Sunday is the confirmed return of Alphonso Davies. Marsch announced that the Bayern Munich left-back is now fit to play at this World Cup after recovering from a hamstring injury sustained during a Champions League semifinal in early May. Davies had been used as a decoy against Switzerland, with the team dressing him to make opponents worry while never intending to play him. His return dramatically boosts Canada’s attacking threat, allowing the team to press aggressively from the front and exploit weaknesses in South Africa’s build-up play.
South Africa’s path to the knockout stage was equally dramatic. After a 2-0 opening loss to Mexico that included two red cards for their players, an early exit seemed inevitable. However, the team regrouped, drew against Czechia, and delivered their most crucial performance against South Korea. Thapelo Maseko’s 63rd-minute strike propelled Bafana Bafana above their opponents and into the knockout rounds for the first time in their history.
Canada currently ranks 30th globally according to FIFA, while South Africa sits at 60th. On paper, the advantage appears clear, but knockout soccer rarely respects rankings. For Canadian soccer fans, the stakes extend far beyond a single match result. Canada has appeared in only two World Cups in their history—1986 and 2022—without ever winning a knockout match. A victory on Sunday would represent the most significant achievement in Canadian men’s soccer history.
Captain Stephen Eustáquio captured the team’s determination after the Switzerland loss, stating that their sadness and anger about the result prove they are ready for whatever comes next. That next challenge is South Africa, with kickoff set for Sunday at 3 p.m. ET on TSN and CTV. This historic match promises to be a defining moment for both nations as they compete for their first-ever World Cup knockout victory.
