South Africa vs Canada: World Cup 2026 Stats

South Africa and Canada face each other in the 2026 FIFA World Cup Round of 32 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California on Sunday, June 28, with a 3 p.m. ET / noon PT kickoff the first knockout appearance in men's World Cup history for both nations.

Both Teams in the Knockout Stage for the First Time

Neither South Africa nor Canada has ever reached this stage of a men's World Cup. South Africa appeared at the 1998, 2002 and 2010 tournaments as hosts in 2010 without advancing from the group stage. Canada's previous men's World Cup appearances in 1986 and 2022 ended the same way. Both teams earned four points and finished second in their respective groups with identical 1-1-1 records, according to the official FIFA standings.

According to Opta Analyst's pre-match data, this is the first World Cup knockout match in which both sides are making their knockout-stage debut since Japan faced Türkiye in the Round of 16 in 2002.

Group Stage Stats: Canada's Goals vs South Africa's Chance Scarcity

Canada scored eight goals and conceded three across their three group matches, per Canada Soccer's tournament page. South Africa scored two and conceded three, according to the official FIFA match schedule and results.

Canada finished with a goal difference of +5 against South Africa's -1. Opta data shows Canada's 21 shots on target in the group stage exceeded their combined total from the 1986 and 2022 tournaments. South Africa registered just two big chances the fewest of any team in Group A and recorded only 35 opponent-box touches across three matches.

Canada's Jonathan David delivered the standout individual performance of either team's group stage. His hat-trick in the 6-0 win over Qatar on June 18 gave Canada their first men's World Cup victory, as confirmed by the FIFA Canada-Qatar match report.

How They Qualified: Match-by-Match Results

A 2-0 opening loss to Mexico on June 11 a match in which Themba Zwane was sent off left South Africa needing points from their final two group games. They drew 1-1 with Czechia on June 18, Teboho Mokoena converting an 83rd-minute penalty, per the FIFA Czechia-South Africa match report. On June 24, Thapelo Maseko scored a 63rd-minute winner against Korea Republic to send South Africa into the knockout round the first time in the country's history, as SAFA confirmed.

The FIFA South Africa-Korea Republic match report records Maseko as South Africa's second-youngest World Cup scorer at 22 years and 225 days.

Canada opened with a 1-1 draw against Bosnia and Herzegovina on June 12, then produced the 6-0 Qatar result before a 2-1 loss to Switzerland on June 24 confirmed their second-place finish in Group B. Finishing behind Switzerland cost Canada a home knockout fixture this match is in Los Angeles rather than Vancouver.

Team News: Davies Declared Fit, Zwane Still Out

The most significant pre-match update for Canada is Alphonso Davies. Their captain had not appeared in any of the three group matches due to a left hamstring problem. On June 27, coach Jesse Marsch confirmed Davies fit to face South Africa, as Reuters reported, though the official lineup will confirm whether he starts or is used from the bench. Moïse Bombito was also cleared. Ismaël Koné remains unavailable after breaking his leg against Qatar. Stephen Eustáquio faced a late fitness check, having entered as a substitute against Switzerland, with Reuters identifying him as a doubt in their principal match preview.

South Africa regain Teboho Mokoena, whose suspension after accumulating yellow cards forced him out of the Korea Republic match. Themba Zwane continues to serve his three-match ban. FIFA rejected the South African Football Association's appeal against the suspension, SAFA confirmed, following the red card he received against Mexico.

South Africa's goalkeeper Ronwen Williams carries particular weight if the match reaches penalties. At the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations, Williams saved four penalties in a single shootout against Cape Verde the first goalkeeper to do so in AFCON history, according to Reuters' pre-match profile.

The Head-to-Head Record

These two nations have met only once. Opta records a 2-0 South Africa friendly win over Canada in Durban in November 2007. Sunday's Round of 32 fixture in Inglewood is only their second encounter.

South Africa vs Canada opens the entire knockout stage of the 2026 World Cup it is the first elimination game of the Round of 32. The expanded 48-team format means the round contains 32 matches, and this, per the official FIFA schedule, is the first of them.

What Opta's Numbers Say

Pre-match modeling from Opta gave Canada a 55.0% probability of winning in 90 minutes, with a 24.9% chance of a draw and 20.0% for a South Africa win. Canada's probability of advancing overall including extra time and penalties was calculated at 67.8%.

Opta's chance-creation data shows Canada recorded 21 shots on target during the group stage, exceeding the combined output from their 1986 and 2022 World Cup campaigns. South Africa's group stage produced just two big chances across three matches, with Maseko's winner against Korea Republic coming from the one shot on target he managed across eight total attempts in that game.

Pre-match odds in the 90-minute market placed Canada around -140, with South Africa in the +380 to +420 range and the draw near +250, per comparison data from WSN. These are time-sensitive snapshots and will have shifted by kickoff.

What Is at Stake for the Winner

The winner advances to face either the Netherlands or Morocco in Match 90 at Houston Stadium on July 4, 2026, according to the FIFA knockout bracket. The Netherlands topped Group F and Morocco finished second in Group C Morocco sat seventh in FIFA's pre-tournament rankings and the Netherlands eighth, as TSN reported.

For South Africa, a win here would be their first in a men's World Cup knockout match. For Canada, victory with Davies available for the first time would represent their deepest run in men's World Cup history.

Portugal's João Pinheiro has been appointed referee by FIFA, as confirmed on the official match centre page. FOX carries the broadcast in the United States, with TSN, RDS and CTV covering the fixture in Canada.