Canada snatched victory over South Africa in stoppage time and progressed to the round of 16 at the 2026 World Cup
The Canadian national team beat South Africa in the round of 32 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup and became the first team to qualify for the round of 16.
The match at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, ended in a narrow 1–0 victory for Canada.
The match was decided by a single goal scored in second-half stoppage time. In the 90+2nd minute, Stephen Eustacchio was first to the loose ball and, with his second touch, fired it precisely into the far corner.
The South African national team qualified for the play-offs in second place in Group A. They lost 0–2 to Mexico, drew 1–1 with the Czech Republic and beat South Korea 1–0.
Canada finished the group stage in second place in Group B. The Canadians drew 1–1 with Bosnia and Herzegovina, thrashed Qatar 6–0 and lost 1–2 to Switzerland.
For both teams, this was their first-ever knockout match in the history of their World Cup campaigns. Canada’s progression to the round of 16 marked a historic achievement for the team.
In the round of 16, Canada will face the winner of the Netherlands v Morocco tie. This match will take place on 30 June at 04:00 Kyiv time.
The 2026 World Cup runs from 11 June to 19 July in the USA, Mexico and Canada. This is the first World Cup to feature 48 teams, a record number in the tournament’s history.
