Canada to battle South Africa in FIFA World Cup knockout game

Canada head coach Jesse Marsch reacts on the sideline during the World Cup Group B soccer match between Switzerland and Canada in Vancouver, British Columbia, Wednesday, June 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Kaleb Tatum)

LOS ANGELES — Canada will play its first-ever knockout game in a men’s FIFA World Cup today, taking on South Africa in a round-of-32 matchup in Los Angeles.

The Canadians finished second in Group B following a 1-1 draw with Bosnia-Herzegovina, a 6-0 victory over Qatar and a 2-1 loss to Switzerland.

South Africa earned its first-ever spot in the knockout round by taking second place in Group A with a 2-0 loss to Mexico, a 1-1 draw with Czechia and a 1-0 upset of South Korea.

Canada head coach Jesse Marsch says captain Alphonso Davies is back to full health and will play in the game after missing all three group-stage matches as he recovered from a hamstring injury.

Les Rouges came into the tournament sitting No. 30 in FIFA’s rankings while Bafana Bafana were No. 60.

The winner of the round-of-32 game will advance to a round-of-16 tilt in Houston on July 4 against the winner of a bout between Morocco and the Netherlands.

Gemma Karstens-Smith, The Canadian Press