Canada vies to make more history in FIFA World Cup knockout match vs. South Africa

“And certainly when you get to the knockout phase, the ability to have full concentration on the task at hand, to understand the opponent and to try to tilt things in our favour is really important. And then also the discipline to make sure that you don’t get yourself in trouble with cards, with bad fouls, with penalties, with things like this.”

Canada came into the tournament sitting 30th in FIFA’s rankings and has since achieved a host of firsts.

The co-host nation began its run by earning its first-ever point in the tournament with a 1-1 draw against Bosnia-Herzegovina in Toronto on June 12. It went a step further on June 18, securing its first win with a 6-0 thumping of Qatar in Vancouver. Canada closed out group play with a 2-1 loss to Switzerland in Vancouver on June 24, but finished second in Group B and advanced to the knockout round for the first time.

South Africa is also making its debut in the knockout round.

“This is important but that doesn’t mean that now we are happy and we just play the game tomorrow and go home,” head coach Hugo Broos said Saturday. “Once you are there you want more. We want to win the game tomorrow also.”

Bafana Bafana, ranked No. 60 to start the World Cup, opened with a tough 2-0 loss to Mexico, then rebounded with a 1-1 draw against Czechia before upsetting South Korea 1-0 to finish as the runner-up in Group A.

The Canadians know they’re in for a battle, said striker Tani Oluwaseyi.

“That game against Korea, I don’t think anyone expects them to come out like that,” he said. “From the first minute they attacked Korea, and they were able to get the win and put them in this position. I know for sure we’re not underestimating them. I hope no one is either.”

South Africa is known for being a physical, athletic team and could limit Canada’s scoring opportunities.

For Canada, creating chances will be about focusing on their own game, said winger Tajon Buchanan.

“It’s about being aggressive, playing our style of play,” he said. “The most important thing is being aggressive and going out there and being confident on the ball and trying to do what we know best.”

The Canadians could get a boost Sunday from captain Alphonso Davies.

The Bayern Munich standout missed all three of the country’s group-stage games as he recovered from a hamstring injury, but Marsch has said the 25-year-old left back is healthy and ready to play against South Africa.

Coming into the 2026 tournament, Davies was the only Canadian to score at a men’s World Cup, having put away the country’s first-ever goal at the 2022 iteration in Qatar.

He has not played for the national team since March 2025 when he tore his anterior cruciate ligament while playing a Nations League game in L.A., but has continued to star for Bayern, and was playing in a Champions League semifinal for the club in early May when he suffered his latest hamstring injury.

“We know Alphonso Davies is a good, very experienced player,” said South Africa’s Ime Okon. “But I just think we have our own plan and we focus on ourselves. And if we just do our jobs, we can come out with the result that we want.”

Gayton McKenzie, South Africa’s minister of sport, publicly predicted Bafana Bafana will take a 3-0 victory over Canada.

He’s entitled to the guess, Buchanan said.

“I’m sure he wants his country to go out there, put on a good performance, and win the game, just like us,” he said.

“It’s just about doing the little details right now, recovering well, training well when we have the opportunity, and then when time, when the game comes time, going out there and putting on a good performance, and hopefully that’s enough to keep moving on in this tournament.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 27, 2026.

Gemma Karstens-Smith, The Canadian Press

by The Canadian Press

Canada vies to make more history in FIFA World Cup knockout match vs. South Africa

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