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FIFA World Cup Day 18 Highlights (29 June): The excitement of the FIFA World Cup 2026 knockout stage has reached its peak. On the 18th day of the tournament, in a fiercely contested Round of 32 match, Canada defeated South Africa 1-0 by scoring a historic goal in the dying minutes. With this sensational victory, Canada has made history by securing a spot in the World Cup Round of 16 for the first time. Let’s take a look at the highlights of this historic match and some unique records set on the field.
Round of 32: Canada vs South Africa Match Highlights & Results
Result: Canada won 1-0 (Advanced to the Round of 16)
A nail-biting contest unfolded between the two teams over the full 90 minutes. Both sides created several excellent scoring opportunities, but thanks to outstanding performances by the defenses and goalkeepers, the match appeared headed for a goalless draw. Then, the tide turned during injury time.
- Stephen Eustáquio's Magical Goal: In injury time (90+2 minutes), Canada's star midfielder Stephen Eustáquio unleashed a powerful shot on a bouncing ball just outside the box; it beat the South African goalkeeper and buried itself into the bottom corner of the net.
- South Africa's Spirited Performance: South Africa orchestrated several brilliant moves in the first half, but their finishing let them down. Captain and goalkeeper Ronwen Williams kept Canada at bay for 90 minutes with several brilliant saves, but he could not prevent the team from losing in the dying moments.
- African Team Makes History: Although South Africa lost the match, they wrote a new chapter in their country's football history by reaching the World Cup knockout stage for the first time.
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Hugo Broos Sets FIFA World Cup Record as Oldest Coach
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During this match, South Africa's head coach Hugo Broos etched his name in the history books of the FIFA World Cup.
- At the age of 74 years and 79 days, he became the oldest coach to lead a team in a FIFA World Cup knockout match.
- He broke the record held by legendary former Uruguay coach Oscar Tabárez, who achieved this feat at the age of 71 during the 2018 World Cup.
Player of the Match Stephen Eustaquio on Canada's Historic Win
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Canada's hero Stephen Eustaquio, who scored the match-winning goal, was named 'Player of the Match' for his outstanding performance. Speaking emotionally after the game, he said:
"We worked incredibly hard for this victory and wanted to dedicate it to all the people of Canada. When I took that shot, it felt as though the entire team was striking the ball with me; everyone's strength was behind it. Whether we face Morocco or the Netherlands in the next round, we want them to watch our game and realize that they are about to face the toughest match of this World Cup."
Also Read: India vs Ireland: 10 Unwanted Records Broken by Team India
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