This Sunday, June 28 at 3 p.m. ET, history unfolds at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. Canada and South Africa meet in the FIFA World Cup Round of 32, marking the first time both nations have advanced past the group stage in men’s World Cup history. The match is a historic moment for both squads, as neither has ever reached the knockout stage before.
Canada’s Rollercoaster Group Stage
Canada’s path to the knockouts was unpredictable. Their journey included:
- A 1-1 draw against Bosnia and Herzegovina in Toronto
- A massive 6-0 victory over Qatar in Vancouver, featuring Jonathan David’s hat-trick
- A 2-1 loss to Switzerland in Vancouver, finishing second in Group B
Despite the loss to Switzerland, Canada advanced for the first time ever. However, the Qatar win came with a cost: midfielder Ismaël Koné suffered a broken leg and will miss the rest of the tournament. Coach Jesse Marsch acknowledged after the Switzerland game that he missed a chance to top the group and should have made tactical changes at halftime. Still, the team is in the knockouts, which is the ultimate goal.
Davies Returns to Action
The biggest breaking news is Alphonso Davies’ return. Marsch confirmed Davies will be fit to play his first World Cup match. The Bayern Munich left-back recovered from a hamstring injury sustained in a Champions League semifinal in early May. Marsch even admitted he used Davies as a decoy against Switzerland, dressing him and letting the opposition worry, while never planning to play him.
Davies’ return transforms Canada’s attack. With Davies pushing high on the left and David leading the line, Canada will press from the front to exploit weaknesses in South Africa’s build-up.
South Africa’s Miracle Run
South Africa’s journey was equally dramatic. After a 2-0 opening loss to Mexico with two red cards, an early exit seemed certain. They regrouped, drew with Czechia, and delivered when it mattered. Thapelo Maseko’s 63rd-minute goal against South Korea propelled them into the knockout stage for the first time in their history.
Canada is ranked 30th by FIFA, while South Africa sits at 60th. On paper, Canada holds the advantage, but knockout soccer rarely respects rankings.
What This Match Means
For Canadian fans, this is more than a single game. Canada has only appeared in two World Cups (1986 and 2022) and has never won a knockout match. A victory Sunday would be the most significant result in Canadian men’s soccer history.
Captain Stephen Eustáquio captured the team’s mood after the Switzerland loss: “That’s a good sign, that fact that we are sad and mad about this result. We’re ready for whatever’s next.”
Whatever is next is South Africa. The match kicks off Sunday at 3 p.m. ET on TSN and CTV. Don’t miss it.
