Two nations that have never tasted knockout-stage football at a World Cup will meet on June 28 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, in what amounts to one of the more remarkable fixtures in modern tournament history.
Canada and South Africa both emerged from group play with identical records of one win, one draw, and one loss. The reward for their survival: a single-elimination match where one team advances to the Round of 16 and the other goes home.
How both teams got here
Canada, co-hosting this tournament alongside the US and Mexico, secured second place in their group behind Switzerland. Jesse Marsch’s squad navigated the group stage without ever looking comfortable, but comfort is overrated when the alternative is elimination.
Alphonso Davies, Canada’s star and captain, has been confirmed fit to play.
