The knockout fixtures of the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicked off with the high voltage clash between South Africa and Canada in the LA Stadium, Inglewood. This Round of 32 clash was a solid display of football between both the sides as there was very little to separate the two teams. However a late goal from Stephen Eustáquio sealed the victory for Canada and sent the co-hosts into the Round of 16. Canada were the favourites to win the game but South Africa made the co-hosts sweat throughout the 90 minutes of the game for the match-winning goal.

Canada were looking good early on in the game as they were able to create some key moments in the game with some clinical passing and playmaking. They had a couple of attempts cleared off the goal line and South Africa was surviving by the barest of margins. Canada took 14 attempts at goal and their play in the final third was truly commendable. This would give the co-hosts a massive boost ahead of their Round of 16 clash as they managed to hold their nerve in the last minute of the game to find the back of the net.

 

Canada breaks through to blockbuster Round of 16 clash

The Round of 32 clash between South Africa and Canada was highly rated by the fans as both teams wouldn’t go down without a fight. Even though the African side was eliminated from the tournament, their defensive masterclass wouldn’t go unnoticed. They knew the kind of threat that Canada posed in the attacking third with their quick passing and immaculate pace and they knew the right way to mitigate the threat. Canada kept on taking chances at goal but they just couldn’t get the ball over the line even after beating the goalkeeper. South Africa would have been heartbroken at the full time whistle as they fought hard throughout the game but lost it all in just one moment in the dying minutes of the final half.

Canada were expected to win the game by a fine margin and the fans expected them to score a couple more goals in the encounter. The co-hosts were in dominant form in the group stage and it was quite inevitable that they would get through to the Round of 16. Jonathan David had a couple of fine attempts at goal but he couldn’t just get it past the keeper. Canada were clinical with the set-pieces as they created some handy chances but they couldn’t just find the finish. In the stoppage time of the second half, Stephen Eustáquio fired a wonderful strike into the back of the net to send Canada into the Round of 16.

The co-hosts would face their most competitive game of the tournament yet in their Round of 16 clash as they would take on the winner of the Round of 32 clash between Morocco and Netherlands. Canada would be delighted of how far they have come in the tournament but it would be an uphill task for them to make it to the Quarter-Finals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.