Canada beats South Africa 1-0 in World Cup’s first knockout match on late goal by Stephen Eustáquio
Stephen Eustáquio scored in second-half stoppage time, and Canada advanced to the round of 16 after dominating shots 12-18.
- On Sunday, Canada defeated South Africa 1-0 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, securing the men's program's first-ever FIFA World Cup knockout-stage victory with midfielder Stephen Eustaquio's 92nd-minute goal.
- Both nations were playing in their first-ever World Cup knockout game, with Canada entering as Group B runners-up and South Africa advancing from Group A after historic group-stage performances.
- Captain and defender Alphonso Davies returned as a 75th-minute substitute, and Canada held 62 per cent of possession thereafter while Coach Jesse Marsch's tactical shift broke South Africa's defensive structure.
- Canada travels to Houston for the round of 16 on Saturday, July 4, 2026, to face the winner of the Netherlands-Morocco match in the next critical test of their deepest tournament run.
- The 48-team tournament format enabled this historic run, while Canada's roster diversity—with players from more than 17 countries—underscores the multicultural foundation of the team's breakthrough performance.
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More history for Canada as Eustáquio's stoppage time goal leads team to first-ever World Cup knockout win
Canada have registered their first win in a FIFA World Cup knockout match in a historic outing for the Les Rouges. Stephen Eustáquio scored in stoppage time to take his team into the round of 16. They will now meet either of the Netherlands or Morocco in the next stage.
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