Live updates: Canada to face South Africa in 1st knockout match of FIFA World Cup 2026

team up Canada prepares to human face due south Africa in domain Cup knockout game Sunday

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Canada advances to knockout round despite 2-1 loss to Switzerland

Canadians finish second in Group B at the FIFA World Cup 2026 after falling 2-1 to Switzerland in their final group game at BC Place. Soccer North hosts Anastasia Bucsis and Amy Walsh break down all the actions with Inter Toronto coach Mauro Eustáquio.

Hello! I'll be handling play-by-play duties again for today's matchup between Canada and South Africa.

It's another historic 2026 FIFA World Cup matchday for Les Rouges. After falling to Switzerland in their final Group B game, Canada will open the Round of 32 against Group A runner-up South Africa.

The game is being played at the Los Angeles Stadium in the U.S., marking the first time a host doesn't play a World Cup game at home (Boooo!). Kickoff is at noon PT.

This match is also the first time a Round of 32 game will ever be played at a World Cup. Prior to the expansion to 48 teams, the knockout rounds got going with a Round of 16. But more teams means another round of games for qualified countries to play in.

This is also Canada's first time playing in the knockout rounds of the men's World Cup. Canada was eliminated from the group stage of its previous two appearances in 1986 and 2022. It's the newest in a long list of "firsts" for Canada at this World Cup — let's hope it's not the last one.

South Africa is in a similar boat. They were eliminated in all three of their previous World Cup appearances. This includes the 2010 tournament, where they became the first host nation to be eliminated at the group stage, despite beating France and accumulating four points. 

The matchup is today's only World Cup game, so millions — maybe even billions — of eyes will be on Los Angeles Stadium this afternoon, as the Canadians hope to secure a place in the Round of 16.

Team Canada prepares to face South Africa in World Cup knockout game Sunday

Canada finished second in its 2026 FIFA World Cup group following a 2-1 loss to Switzerland. Players were back on the pitch Thursday as they prepare to face South Africa in the Canadian men’s first-ever World Cup knockout match.

Canadian soccer fans, welcome to uncharted territory. For the first time in their history, the men's national team has made it to the knockout stage of the World Cup.

This historic moment in a World Cup full of historic moments for Canada should be cause for celebration. Yet there's been an air of disappointment since Wednesday's 2-1 defeat to Switzerland, which meant Canada lost out on playing its Round of 32 (and possibly Round of 16) match in front of a home crowd in Vancouver. 

But let's keep some perspective here. The fact that the Canadians ran a talented, organized Swiss team so close should be cause for encouragement. The team is playing with drive and moments of flair and is finding goals from different sources. And, with all respect to South Africa, Canada's opponents today could have been a lot tougher. 

So while it's goodbye Vancouver, it's hello opportunity: there's reason to be optimistic that Canada can make it to the Round of 16 — where they would play either Morocco or the Netherlands.

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