"We never stopped believing." — Stephen Eustáquio
Canada 1-0 South Africa
Canada secured its first victory in a World Cup knockout match, defeating South Africa 1-0 on Sunday at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. The result sends Canada to the round of 16 for the first time in the nation's third World Cup appearance.
Match Summary
The match remained scoreless until the second minute of second-half stoppage time, when Canadian midfielder Stephen Eustáquio volleyed the ball into the bottom corner from outside the penalty area. The goal was set up by a clearance from a long pass into the box by Alistair Johnston.
South Africa goalkeeper Ronwen Williams recorded five saves during the match.
Player and Coach Statements
- Canada coach Jesse Marsch referred to his players as "Canadian heroes" after the match.
- Stephen Eustáquio stated: "We never stopped believing."
- South Africa coach Hugo Broos said: "We lost the game because there was a lack of power and speed... We can be fairly satisfied with what we did."
Tournament Context
Canada will face the winner of the Netherlands vs. Morocco match on July 4 in Houston.
Defender Alphonso Davies made his first appearance of the tournament as a substitute in the 75th minute, after recovering from a hamstring injury that kept him out of Canada's opening group matches.
Canada, ranked 30th in FIFA's world rankings, played its first three matches in Toronto and Vancouver. After losing to Switzerland in its final group game, the team was scheduled to play on the road for the knockout stage.
Background
Canada entered the tournament as a co-host alongside Mexico and the United States. The team had not previously won a World Cup match, having lost all six matches in its 1986 and 2022 appearances.
Canada's path to the round of 16 included:
- A 1-1 draw with Bosnia and Herzegovina in its Group B opener
- A 6-0 victory over Qatar, which was Canada's first-ever World Cup win
- A 2-1 loss to Switzerland in the final group match
Canada finished second in Group B, while South Africa was eliminated after being unable to secure a knockout-stage victory.
Jesse Marsch became Canada's coach two years prior to the tournament.