A Historic Moment for Both Nations
History is being made this Sunday as Canada and South Africa clash at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. The match takes place at 3 p.m. ET on June 28 in a World Cup Round of 32 battle. This is the inaugural knockout match for both teams in men’s World Cup history.
- Canada secured their first point and first-ever win in this tournament
- South Africa reached their deepest run after beating South Korea
- Both sides will play their first-ever knockout game outside qualification
Canada’s Rollercoaster Path to the Knockouts
Canada’s group stage journey was intense. They drew 1-1 with Bosnia and Herzegovina and demolished Qatar 6-0, featuring a hat-trick by Jonathan David. However, a 2-1 loss to Switzerland in their final group match left them as Group B runners-up.
The victory against Qatar came with a painful cost: midfielder Ismaël Koné suffered a broken leg and will miss the rest of the tournament. Coach Jesse Marsch admitted he missed the chance to top the group, acknowledging tactical adjustments were needed at halftime.
Davies Returns to Boost Canada’s Attack
The biggest update for Canada is that Alphonso Davies is now fit to play. Marsch confirmed Davies, the Bayern Munich left-back, has recovered from a hamstring injury sustained in a Champions League semifinal in May.
Marsch even admitted he used Davies as a decoy against Switzerland, dressing him to make the opposition worry, though he never intended to play him. His return transforms Canada’s attacking power. With Davies pushing high on the left and David leading the line, Canada will press aggressively and exploit weaknesses in South Africa’s build-up.
Who Are Bafana Bafana?
South Africa’s journey was far from smooth. They lost 2-0 to Mexico in their opener, with two players receiving red cards. An early exit seemed likely, but they regrouped, drew with Czechia, and delivered when it mattered most.
Thapelo Maseko’s 63rd-minute goal against South Korea propelled them into the knockout stage for the first time ever. Canada ranks 30th globally by FIFA, while South Africa sits at 60th. On paper, Canada holds the advantage, but knockout matches rarely respect rankings.
What Victory Could Mean for Canadian Soccer
For Canadian fans, this match transcends a single result. Canada has appeared in only two World Cups (1986 and 2022) and has never won a knockout match. A win on Sunday would be the most significant achievement 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 comes next is South Africa. The match kicks off Sunday at 3 p.m. ET on TSN and CTV. Don’t miss this historic showdown.
