Canada just did something it has never done in the history of its football program. On June 28, the team beat South Africa 1-0 at the Los Angeles Stadium to win its first-ever knockout stage match at a FIFA World Cup.
The goal came in the most dramatic fashion possible. Stephen Eustáquio found the net during second-half stoppage time, sending the host nation into the Round of 16 for the first time.
The match and what comes next
The 2026 World Cup expanded to 48 teams this cycle, spread across 16 cities in Canada, Mexico, and the United States. That expansion introduced a new Round of 32 knockout stage following the group phase, meaning teams face an extra elimination match before reaching the Round of 16.
The reward for that win is a Round of 16 fixture scheduled for July 4 in Houston against either the Netherlands or Morocco.
