The co-hosts go toe-to-toe with Bafana Bafana in Los Angeles as both nations contest their first-ever World Cup knockout match.
Round of 32
Monday, 29 June | Los Angeles Stadium
Kick-off time
03:00 (GMT+8)
The match
The FIFA World Cup 2026™ Round of 32 begins with co-hosts Canada taking on South Africa in Los Angeles. Jesse Marsch’s side finished second behind Switzerland in Group B after drawing with Bosnia and Herzegovina, beating Qatar 6-0 and losing to the Swiss in their final group game. Bafana Bafana finished second in Group A, recovering from an opening defeat by Mexico to draw against Czechia, beat Korea Republic and complete a spectacular turnaround.
The two nations have met only once previously in international football – a 2-0 South Africa friendly victory in 2007 – making this their first competitive encounter and first FIFA World Cup meeting. Both countries are contesting their first-ever World Cup knockout match, giving this fixture a significant place in their respective football histories.
Whoever emerges victorious will move on to face a Round of 16 encounter with either Netherlands or Morocco in Houston on 4 July.
South Africa possible starting XI
Williams; Modiba, Mbokazi, Mudau, Okon; Mbatha, Sithole; Appollis, Moremi, Mofokeng; Maseko
Canada possible starting XI
Crepeau; Johnston, De Fougerolles, Cornelius, Laryea; Choiniere, Saliba, Ali Ahmed; Buchanan, David, Larin
What they said…
“It was painful [not to play in the group stage]. The only thing you want to do is play football, it’s what I’m really passionate about. The first game watching it, I was really eager to get on the pitch. The second game more so and the third game I went to [Jesse Marsch] before the game and asked him if I could play a couple of minutes. He could have said, ‘Yes, we’ll throw you in there.’ But he cares about the team as human beings and explained that I had not gone through my progressions to get back on the pitch. It was hard to hear…. and watch those three games.” Alphonso Davies, Canada full-back
“When it comes to World Cup knockout stages and the fact that we haven’t been there means that our team hasn’t been in this situation before. But we have been in similar situations… Alphonso has been in [UEFA] Champions League finals. We’re going to experience difficulty in the match, we’re going to experience success, we’re going to have challenges and the key is that we’re ready to rise to all those challenges. For me, when you do this for a living, I live for these moments.” Jesse Marsch, Canada coach
Los Angeles Stadium
Los Angeles Stadium is the newest venue chosen to host World Cup 2026, having opened in September 2020. It is situated just a 30-minute drive from Pasadena’s famous Rose Bowl, which hosted the World Cup final of 1994. Both the Los Angeles Rams and Los Angeles Chargers play their NFL fixtures at the venue, which also staged Super Bowl LVI as the Rams beat the Cincinnati Bengals 23-20 in 2022. Los Angeles Stadium has already held a number of concerts under its iconic and unique roof, with Taylor Swift, BTS and Ed Sheeran among the artists to have graced the arena.