Who: South Africa vs Canada
Content: 2026 FIFA World Cup – Round 32
Location: Los Angeles Stadium, Los Angeles, USA
Date and time: Sunday June 28th, 12pm (19:00 GMT)
How to follow: All content will be broadcast on Al Jazeera Sports from 16:00 GMT, ahead of a live text commentary stream.
The first match of the last 32 of the 2026 World Cup will pit the teams who faced each other in the first and second matches of the tournament, with South Africa taking on co-hosts Canada.
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It will be the first time that both teams will be participating in a World Cup finals tournament, and there will be more history to be made for either team.
So far, this has been a tournament of underdogs, so few have limited expectations as to how far they can go, including two teams who have already won one show each to reach this stage.
Al Jazeera Sports has detailed details of the match.
How did South Africa perform at the 2026 World Cup?
South Africa played in the opening match of the tournament, but lost to co-host Mexico.
Following a 2-0 comeback in Mexico City, Thapelo Maseko’s second-half penalty earned them a point and a 1-1 draw with the Czech Republic in Atlanta.
The crucial match came in Monterrey against South Korea, where they needed a win. Maseko scored the only goal to defeat the Asian giants and secure second place in Group A for Bafana Bafana.
How did Canada perform at the 2026 World Cup?
Canada drew 1-1 with co-host Bosnia and Herzegovina in their second game of the tournament.
Cyle Larin tied the game with Canada’s goal just 121 seconds after coming on as a substitute in the 76th minute.
Jonathan David scored a hat trick in a 6-0 victory over 2022 host Qatar, ensuring Canada’s place in the finals. And he made headlines by defeating a consecutive Asian champion in this way.
However, they lost to Switzerland 2-1 in the final round of the group, and could not claim the top spot in the group.
South Africa form guide
South Africa: DDLDW (last 5 matches, latest result last)
South Africa had gone seven games without a win and lost three before defeating South Korea to advance to the last 32.
The winless situation began in January when they lost 2-1 to Cameroon and were eliminated from the African Cup of Nations (AFCON).
canada form guide
Canada: WDDWL (last 5 matches, latest results first)
It was Canada’s first loss to Switzerland in 11 games.
The team’s 10-game unbeaten streak came in eight pre-World Cup international friendlies, four of which were undefeated.
Their last loss before the tournament came in a friendly against Australia, 0-1.
South Africa vs Canada predictions
Opta’s supercomputer calculated that Canada had a 66% chance of making it to the last 16.
However, the chance of making it to the quarterfinals drops to 25%, and the chance of making it to the finals is only 2%.
South Africa’s chances of reaching the semi-finals are just over 1 percent.
Who could be the winner’s potential opponent in the last 16?
Either the Netherlands or Morocco will play the winner.
Therefore, an all-African team advancing to the last 16 is just around the corner. It will be a mouth-watering showdown between Bafana Bafana and the currently dominant team from the north of the continent. They were the first African team to reach the final four of the World Cup in Qatar in 2022.
Cameroon, Senegal and Ghana are the only African countries to complete the pack that have reached the quarter-finals of the World Cup.
direct confrontation
The two sides have only met once before, in a friendly in 2007, with South Africa winning 2-0.
South Africa team news
Teboho Mokoena makes his return after receiving a yellow card in each of South Africa’s first two matches, serving a one-match suspension and being forced to miss the game against South Korea.
However, Themba Zwane, who was shown a red card in the opening game against Mexico, remains suspended.
Mokoena could replace Yaya Shihole in midfield.
South Africa’s projected starting lineup
Williams (goalkeeper); Mdau, Mbokazi, Ocon, Modiba. Mbatha, Mokoena. Maseko, Mofokeng, Apolis. Makgopa
canada team news
Ismael Cohn has been ruled out after suffering a fractured tibia in the match against Qatar.
Stephen Eustaquio and Alfie Jones have both suffered knocks and face a late fitness test.
The good news is that Bayern Munich defender Alphonso Davies continues his recovery from a hamstring injury, missing the group stage game and could be on the bench.
Canada’s projected starting lineup
Crépeau (goalkeeper); Johnston, de Fougerolles, Cornelius, Larrier. Buchanan, Eustaquio, Saliba, Ahmed. David, Larin
