Updated

Updated · FOX Sports · Jun 27

Canada, South Africa Open 2026 World Cup Round of 32 in First-Ever Knockout Berths

Updated

Updated · FOX Sports · Jun 27

Canada, South Africa Open 2026 World Cup Round of 32 in First-Ever Knockout Berths

Q: Can Alphonso Davies, returning from injury, propel underdog Canada to a historic World Cup knockout victory?

Yes — if Alphonso Davies is fit enough to play major minutes, he could be the factor that pushes Canada to its first men’s World Cup knockout win. The evidence points that way. Canada has already shown it can create chances without him, with Jonathan David scoring a hat trick against Qatar and Cyle Larin providing a proven focal point. But Jesse Marsch’s side also conceded eight goals in the group stage, so it needs more than attacking volume; it needs control, pace in transition and a player who can change the game on both ends. Davies offers exactly that. Marsch has said he is “ready to perform,” and even if he does not start, his speed and one-on-one ability could be decisive against a South African team expected to defend deep. His return matters even more because Canada is missing Ismaël Koné with a broken leg. That absence removes an important midfield presence, increasing the value of Davies’s ball-carrying and ability to break lines from wide areas. He also brings big-stage pedigree as Canada’s first World Cup goalscorer in 2022. Still, Davies alone does not guarantee advancement. South Africa has been one of the tournament’s surprise defensive teams, gets key midfielder Teboho Mokoena back from suspension, and has already shown it can frustrate stronger opponents. Canada remains the favorite, but the match is likely to hinge on whether Davies can turn possession and pressure into a breakthrough against a compact, disciplined defense.

Q: Is this historic knockout round a true milestone, or just a product of the World Cup's newly expanded format?

It is both a real milestone and a clear product of expansion. For Canada and South Africa, reaching the knockout stage is undeniably historic. Neither had ever done it before, and both earned their places with meaningful results: Canada finished second in its group, while South Africa advanced after beating South Korea and also taking second place. That matters regardless of format, because these runs reflect genuine progress, coaching stability, and players delivering on the biggest stage. At the same time, the scale of this “historic” moment is inseparable from the 2026 World Cup’s new structure. The tournament now has 48 teams and a Round of 32 instead of the old Round of 16, with eight third-place teams also advancing. That creates far more pathways into the knockout rounds and makes first-time qualifiers much more likely. This year, several countries reached the knockouts for the first time, and African representation in particular surged. So the fairest reading is that the format opened the door, but the teams still had to walk through it. Expansion did not manufacture Canada’s or South Africa’s performances, but it did lower the threshold for what counts as a knockout-stage breakthrough. If either side now wins in Los Angeles and reaches the Round of 16, that would look more like a benchmark that would have resonated in any World Cup era.

3 articles · Updated · FOX Sports · Jun 27

Sunday’s match at Los Angeles Stadium launches the 2026 World Cup knockout phase with both Canada and South Africa in a men’s World Cup knockout game for the first time.
Canada reached the round of 32 as Group B runners-up after a 2-1 loss to Switzerland, while South Africa advanced from Group A with a 1-0 upset over South Korea.
Jesse Marsch’s side enters as the betting favorite but must cope without midfielder Ismaël Koné, ruled out for the tournament with a broken leg after Canada conceded eight group-stage goals.
South Africa brings back midfielder Teboho Mokoena from suspension and will again rely on a compact defense, though veteran attacker Themba Zwane remains banned.
Alphonso Davies could make his first appearance of the tournament for Canada, while 22-year-old Thapelo Maseko arrives after scoring the goal that sent South Africa through.