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South Africa vs Canada FIFA World Cup: The excitement of the FIFA World Cup 2026 has reached its peak. Following the drama of the group stage, the 'Round of 32' (Knockout Stage) matches begin today. In this historic opening knockout fixture, South Africa (Bafana Bafana) will face tournament co-host Canada (The Reds) at the Los Angeles Stadium (SoFi Stadium) in Los Angeles, USA. According to Indian Standard Time (IST), this historic knockout match will be played live tonight, specifically on June 28, 2026, at 12:30 AM (technically the early hours of June 29).
This is a historic moment for both teams, as neither South Africa nor Canada has ever reached the World Cup knockout stage in their respective football histories. The team that loses today will see its World Cup journey come to an end, while the winner will face either the Netherlands or Morocco in the Round of 16.
South Africa vs Canada Match Preview
Under the guidance of Belgian coach Hugo Broos, South Africa made a remarkable comeback in Group A after an initial loss to Mexico. They secured a draw against the Czech Republic and defeated South Korea 1-0 in their final match, thereby booking their spot in the knockout stage by finishing second. The best news for South Africa is the return of star midfielder Teboho Mokoena following his suspension; however, veteran playmaker Themba Zwane remains sidelined due to a red card suspension.
On the other hand, head coach Jesse Marsch's Canadian team finished second in Group B, behind Switzerland. Canada demonstrated their attacking prowess during the group stage by defeating Qatar 6-0. The biggest news for Canada is that their world-class captain, Alphonso Davies, has fully recovered from a hamstring injury and could make an impact coming off the bench in this crucial match. However, midfielder Ismaël Koné is completely out of the tournament due to a leg fracture.
South Africa vs Canada Predicted Playing 11 & Lineups
South Africa's Probable Playing XI (Formation: 4-3-3)
- Goalkeeper: Ronwen Williams (C)
- Defenders: Khuliso Mudau, Ime Okon, Mbekezeli Mbokazi, Aubrey Modiba
- Midfielders: Thalente Mbatha, Sphephelo Sithole, Teboho Mokoena
- Forwards: Thapelo Maseko, Oswin Appollis, Iqraam Rayners
Also Read: FIFA World Cup 2026: Round of 32 Teams List
Canada's Probable Playing XI (Formation: 4-4-2)
- Goalkeeper: Maxime Crépeau
- Defenders: Alistair Johnston, Luc de Fougerolles, Derek Cornelius, Richie Laryea
- Midfielders: Tajon Buchanan, Ali Ahmed, Mathieu Choinière, Nathan Saliba
- Forwards/Strikers: Jonathan David, Cyle Larin
South Africa vs Canada Match Prediction
Since this is a knockout match, both teams will play with great caution during the opening minutes. Canada will rely heavily on the striker duo of Jonathan David and Cyle Larin, who are extremely dangerous on the counter-attack. Meanwhile, South Africa will take the field banking on the excellent form of their captain and goalkeeper, Ronwen Williams, who kept two consecutive clean sheets in the group stage. Mokoena's return to the midfield will provide South Africa with physical and strategic strength.
Who will win the South Africa vs Canada match?
According to Opta Supercomputer's prediction data, Canada is considered the strong favorite to win this match. The Canadian team has a 56.2% chance of winning within 90 minutes, while South Africa has a 19.7% chance.
Our Prediction: Canada could win this hard-fought contest 2-1, leveraging their international-caliber attack and star power. There is also a 24% chance that the match could go into extra time or a penalty shootout.
Also Read: Messi vs Ronaldo FIFA World Cup Stats, Goals, and Records, who is the best?
