South Africa and Canada face off in the round of 32 of the World Cup 2026 in a highly anticipated clash. The match kicks off on Sunday, 28 June at 8 PM (BST) at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.
South Africa enter the knockout stage for the first time, while co-hosts Canada lost their home advantage after a final group-stage defeat. This prediction for South Africa vs. Canada points towards a fascinating encounter between a history-making side and a displaced host nation.
Find out where to watch the match and what our expert predictions are, as well as the expected lineups for today’s encounter.
Match Overview - South Africa vs. Canada
- South Africa enters the World Cup knockout stages for the first time, buoyed by their 1-0 win against South Korea. This historic achievement sets the stage for their round of 32 match.
- Canada, also in their first knockout game, faces disappointment after losing home advantage with a group-stage defeat to Switzerland. They aim to recover on neutral ground at the SoFi Stadium.
- The two nations have only met once before, with South Africa securing the victory. Both teams are in uncharted territory, suggesting a tense knockout tie.
Head-to-Head Record
- South Africa won the only previous meeting between the two nations.
- Canada have been very resilient, losing just four of their last 21 international matches.
- The Canadians have been prolific in this tournament, scoring eight goals in their three group stage games.
- By contrast, South Africa have only managed to find the back of the net twice so far.
- Canada’s Jonathan David is in fine form, with three goals in three appearances in the competition.
- Midfielder Nathan Saliba has also been influential, contributing one goal and two assists for his team.
South Africa's Historic Run
South Africa are riding a wave of confidence after reaching the World Cup knockout stage for the first time. A 1-0 win against South Korea secured their spot, following a loss to Mexico and a draw with the Czech Republic in the group.
Their campaign has been built on a solid defence, which has conceded only three goals in three games. While not prolific scorers, Thapelo Maseko’s winner showed they can be clinical in crucial moments, which will be vital in this knockout tie.
This team has no injured players but has one suspended member (Zwane), who received a red card against Mexico.
Canada's Quest on Neutral Soil
Canada’s group stage included a strong 6-0 win against Qatar. A 2-1 loss to Switzerland, however, cost them their home advantage. The co-hosts now face their first knockout game on neutral ground, presenting a new challenge.
Their attack has been a major strength, scoring eight goals in three games. Jonathan David is in superb form, having netted three times. His clinical finishing will be vital for Canada’s hopes of advancing.
The team has shown great resilience, losing only four times in their last 21 matches. Without Flores and Kone, and maybe even Jones, this squad is fairly decimated. Still, they look to make their mark in the knockout phase.
South Africa vs. Canada Prediction: Canadians to overcome historic challengers
Canada enters this knockout tie with a potent attack, having scored eight goals in the group stage. With Jonathan David in fine form, a bet on him to find the back of the net could be a valuable consideration.
South Africa’s historic run is built on a solid defence, but they will face a stern test against the resilient Canadians. Expect an engaging first half, making "Over 0.5 Goals" in the opening 45 minutes an attractive option.
Despite losing their home advantage, Canada’s superior firepower and consistency should see them through this historic clash. Therefore, our main prediction is for Canada to win the match in regular time, overcoming the newcomers.
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| Goalscorer | Jonathan David to score anytime | |
| Over/Under | Over 0.5 goals in the first half | |
The odds mentioned were collected during the writing of this prediction and may change. Always check with the bookmaker for the latest information.
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| Goalscorer | Jonathan David to score anytime | |
| Over/Under | Over 0.5 goals in the first half | |
Where to Watch South Africa vs. Canada
For those looking for where to watch South Africa vs. Canada, there is currently no broadcast information available.
- TV: STV (Gbr), BBC One (Gbr), BBC Sport (Gbr), ITV 1 (Gbr), UTV (Gbr), ITV X (Gbr)
- Streaming: STV Player (Gbr), BBC iPlayer (Gbr), BBC Sport app (Gbr)
South Africa vs. Canada Predicted Lineups
With a place in the next round of the World Cup 2026 at stake, team selection will be crucial. The expected South Africa lineup suggests a strategy focused on maintaining balance and controlling the tempo of the match. On the other side, the probable Canada lineup indicates that they will rely on key players to execute their game plan and disrupt their opponents’ rhythm. Both sides are gearing up for a tactical battle to secure the win.
South Africa
Williams; Modiba, Okon, Mudau, Mbokazi; Appollis, Mokoena, Mbatha, Mofokeng, Maseko; Makgopa.
Manager: Hugo Broos.
Canada
Crépeau; Johnston, Cornelius, de Fougerolles, Davies; Ahmed, Eustaquio, Saliba, Buchanan; Larin, David.
Manager: Jesse Marsch.
Match Details
Here are the match details:
- Match: South Africa vs. Canada
- Competition: World Cup 2026
- Date: 28/06/2026
- Kick-off: 8 PM (BST)
- Venue: SoFi Stadium, United States
- Broadcast: BBC One (Gbr), UTV (Gbr), BBC iPlayer (Gbr), BBC Sport (Gbr), ITV 1 (Gbr), BBC Sport app (Gbr), ITV X (Gbr), STV (Gbr), STV Player (Gbr)
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