Canada’s soccer team qualified for the round of 16 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup after defeating (1-0) the South African team in the first match of the last 16 of the final tournament hosted by Canada, the United States and Mexico.
The “Frunzei de Ațar” team had not won any points so far at the WC. And he manages to reach, for the first time, the round of 16 thanks to the goal scored by Stephen Eustaquio (min. 90+2).
The North Americans controlled the game for most of the time. They created scoring chances and deservedly won.
The South Africans had the first chance of the game, a shot from distance sent by Mokoena (min. 6) and rejected by the goalkeeper Crepeau. Canada was close to a goal through top scorer Jonathan David (min. 17), who volleyed wide from 11 meters to Eustaquio’s corner.
The chances multiplied in the second part of the first half. Cornelius (min. 22) missed the header from 5 yards and Oluwaseyi (min. 35) shot from the corner, but Ronwen Williams saved.
The last minutes before the break were very contested. Bombito headed in Eustaquio’s cross from the corner (min. 44), but Modiba deflected off the goal line and then Buchanan shot past goalkeeper Williams.
And in the second half, all of Canada had the bigger and clearer chances. The team prepared by Hugo Broos was dangerous through Appollis, whose shot from the edge of the box went wide (min. 62).
Oluwaseyi, Villarreal’s forward, escaped on the counterattack (min. 65) and shot at the keeper, after which Mbokazi provided a save in front of David. Promise David (min. 76) and Jonathan David (min. 78) also had important goalscoring opportunities.
Appollis (min. 85) shot from the edge of the box, but Crepeau saved twice.
Former FC Porto player, Eustaquio scored the winning goal (min. 90+2) with a shot from the edge of the box, after the ball was rejected by Okon.
Canada will play in the round of 16 with the winner of the match between the Netherlands and Morocco on July 4 in Houston.
South Africa and Canada have only met once before, in a friendly in Durban in 2007, when the hosts won 2-0 thanks to a Teko Modise brace.
South Africa made it past the group stage for the first time, something they failed to do in 2010 when they hosted the final tournament.
